Thread: Compressor Service Cost

The compressor at work hasn’t been serviced for over 10 years. It’s one of these: https://www.grays.com/lot/0002-30194...air-compressor

According to AS3788 this compressor should have an internal inspection every 4 years and an external inspection every 2 years (assuming my estimate of the tank capacity is correct).

I’ve received the following quotes from one company:

• $360 for an internal inspection of the tank.
• $470 to service the compressor (includes oil and air filter change).
• $315 to fit a new three phase pressure switch (condor MDR3).

Do these prices seem reasonable?

Seems reasonable to me so long as you received a certification.

No idea, but out of interest, is the new pressure switch because the current one failed or is it a code thing?

Originally Posted by jack620

Do these prices seem reasonable?

Nope.

It is a small 5hp reciprocating compressor. I was expecting something like a vane or screw at those prices. How the hell would it cost $470 to service something that small.

Just looking at the bill to service one of the cars here. $243. Includes oils and filters.

Originally Posted by Stustoys

No idea, but out of interest, is the new pressure switch because the current one failed or is it a code thing?

It leaks after the compressor shuts off, which quickly drops the pressure about 20PSI and the compressor starts again. I believe there's a valve inside it that is prone to failure. Whether that valve is replaceable I don't know. I just asked them to replace the whole assembly.

Originally Posted by .RC.

How the hell would it cost $470 to service something that small.

That was my thought too. I'm OK with the cost of the pressure switch and tank inspection, but $470 to change the oil and filters seems OTT. I could do that myself for well under $100. They don't even tell you what they do during a service. I had to ask. We're a school, and I suspect there my have been bit of a markup for that. And everyone seems to be gouging now anyway.

I think I'll cancel the service and just get the switch and tank inspection done. The AS doesn't require servicing anyway. Just internal and external inspections.

Originally Posted by .RC.

Nope.
It is a small 5hp reciprocating compressor. I was expecting something like a vane or screw at those prices. How the hell would it cost $470 to service something that small.
Just looking at the bill to service one of the cars here. $243. Includes oils and filters.

It's only 4HP (3kw) and I agree about the service cost as anyone can do this as it usually just involves changing the oil and filters and checking for leaks on the joints.
Inspection charge sounds about right for that size compressor, as its similar with the only quote I have heard of for inspection/testing and recertification.

In 2016 the mens shed I was a member of bought this 10 year old 7.5kW 1500 L/m compressor with a 200L? tank from a high school for $800. It was in perfect working order but the school needed to have it inspected and re-certified and the quotes they got for this was around the $800 mark. A few years earlier they had obtained a large Govt grant for upgrading their manual arts gear and instead of re-certifying the compressor, replaced the reciprocating compressor with a large screw type with refrigerated cooling. They had also setup a woodwork class room with reticulated air to every bench and a heap of air tools but this gear was no longer used as the teacher who had set this up had left and not enough students were choosing WW as an option in later years when this gear as being used. The students preferred doing things like CAD, 3D printing, laser engraving, and jewellery making which at least involved some metal working.
MScompressor.JPG

Out of interest - I checked with our facilities guy at work, and the last receiver internal inspection he had done (a 330L vertical) was $600.

Steve

Originally Posted by OxxAndBert

I checked with our facilities guy at work, and the last receiver internal inspection he had done (a 330L vertical) was $600.

Thanks Steve. Sounds like $360 for ours sounds reasonable.

May I ask what goes into an internal inspection? I've never heard that wording used before. Is it the same as hydrostatic testing?

Pete

Originally Posted by QC Inspector

May I ask what goes into an internal inspection? I've never heard that wording used before. Is it the same as hydrostatic testing?

Pete

Removal of one or more of the bungs and a physical inspection using a borescope or similar.

Originally Posted by QC Inspector

May I ask what goes into an internal inspection?

From the Australian Standard:

"An internal inspection gathers information about the condition of internal surfaces and usually requires confined space vessel entry or visual inspection using equipment such as boroscopes or video scopes. However, internal inspection may also be executed by appropriate non-intrusive means (e.g. ultrasonic or radiographic testing), where a high degree of confidence can be demonstrated in the reliability of such techniques. Care is needed to ensure that sampling is truly representative of the condition of equipment. Where practical internal inspection may be carried out whilst the equipment is operating."

To follow the standards are for those who wish to ensure their insurances are going to pay out in the event of something going wrong.

In other words if its for home/domestic/handyman use, where monetary rewards are not being exchanged, I wouldn't bother.

Yep, that's why I don't have my home workshop compressor inspected. However, this one is in a school.
There's also Worksafe to consider too. They'll have a field day if something goes wrong and all the required inspections haven't been done.

Originally Posted by jack620

It leaks after the compressor shuts off, which quickly drops the pressure about 20PSI and the compressor starts again. I believe there's a valve inside it that is prone to failure. Whether that valve is replaceable I don't know. I just asked them to replace the whole assembly.

I assume it wasn't a fault with the non return valve then.

https://metalworkforums.com/f65/t207...mpressor-issue