How to Choose the Best Portable Air Compressor?

Having an air compressor in your home can prove to be the most advantageous thing that you could own. It has endless applications and it could save you a lot of trouble, including not having to go to the gas station to have your tires filled. However, should you settle on buying one for your home, buying the best portable air compressors suppliers UAE is paramount to make sure that you’re able to get the most out of it. While this might not be an easy task, especially if you’re a newbie, there are a set of guidelines that you can follow to help you make the purchase.

Portability

Given that you want the air compressor for your home, you have to make sure that you have to be able to move it around with ease. A good portable one should have size able wheels and it is also worth mentioning that it should be conservative in size. This way it does not take much space in your garage and also it is light enough to be able to be moved from one place to another without a lot of trouble. Depending on your needs back home, you may go for the small and light weight compressor and if you have more pressing needs like powering a frame nail gun, you may want to go for the wheelbarrow air compressor. It gives you sufficient power and is still portable.

Power source

After you have the portability figured out, the next thing that you need to think about is the source of power or the form of energy that will power the machine. Conveniently, there are two primary sources of power that you can be able to use.

Electric air compressors

The first is electricity. The best portable air compressors that use electricity run on a standard household voltage which is normally between 110-120V. However, if the compressor exceeds a 2 running horsepower, it may be a good idea to plug it into a 220-240V outlet. They are best used for an indoor setting considering that they do not emit any fumes.

Gas powered portable air compressors

The other source of energy that you can use to power them is gas. These are slightly more common, especially in commercial use but it is also relatively easy to find one for your home. Since these emit fumes, they are best used outdoors and if not, then the area within which they are being operated should be well ventilated to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

Once you have settled on the portability and the kind of energy source that you would prefer your air compressor to run on, it is time that you start considering the different makes and models that you would like to get. The best way to do this is by comparing and contrasting a number of specifications so that you’re able to get one that is best suited for you.

Performance

This is the single most important feature that you will need to make sure that you get the best portable air compressor for your home. If you’re able to get this right, then the others might not matter as such since they are more or less dictated by the values that you get here. The performance of an air compressor is measured in CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) or SCFM (Standard Cubic Feet per Minute). These units are utterly important, especially when you intend to use it to run pneumatic tools. Each tool has an SCFM figure on it which is required for it to perform optimally. However, the actual SCFM can change depending on the pressure that is accumulated in the air compressor which is also referred to as PSI or pounds per square inch. The essence of this will be explained later.

Getting the right SCFM

The task at hand is to make sure that you get the right SCFM for your portable compressor. That way you’re able to get the best out of the machine and you’re also able to operate all your tools. While this might sound a bit technical, it is actually pretty simple. Simply look at the SCFM values on your tools and identify the highest tool. Multiply the value of the SCFM of that particular by 1.5 and you have your minimum SCFM value.

The PSI

Back to the PSI, this is a great feature to use for comparison so that you’re able to get the best possible compressor. Ideally an SCFM value will always be indicated alongside a PSI value, for example, 2SCFM at 90psi. That way you’re able to get one that has the best value and the PSI can be your determining factor.

Tank size

There is a reason as to why the size of the tank is very important. Ideally you want a portable air compressor for your home, but the larger the tank, the longer you’re able to run your tools before the machine can switch back on. So, if you can be able to get a little more size, it is advisable to squeeze it in.

Pump Type

The difference that this can cause is quite noticeable. However, you may not have to worry about it as such, but it is still worth understanding the importance of the pump type. There are two pump types; the single stage and the two stage. The single stage pump can have one or more cylinders and does not compress the air as much. The two stage has to have at least two tanks. The first tank compresses the air and then passes it to the second tank where it is compressed even further. This allows for more air to be stored in the same tank, allowing for longer use.

Oil or Oil Free

The best portable air compressors that use oil are similar to a lawn mower or a car and are generally larger in size. However, the oil free ones, since they don’t have to have an oil tank and thanks to the technology that they use, are smaller and lighter and as such may be a better fit.

While these are the major things that you should look at there are a number of other things that you can also check. These include the cooling system, the thermal overload switch and also the roll cage. If all these check out, then you can be guaranteed that you have the best portable air compressor possible.