Year-End Compressed Air Maintenance Checklist

The end of the year is one of the best times to take a closer look at your compressed air system. Production often slows down, holiday schedules create small pockets of downtime, and maintenance teams finally have a chance to address issues that get pushed aside during busy months. A little attention now can prevent unexpected breakdowns and costly emergency repairs when production ramps back up in the new year.

At Industrial Air Services, we encourage facilities across Middle Tennessee to treat year-end as a reset point — not just for budgets and planning, but for their compressed air systems too. This checklist highlights the most important areas to review before the calendar turns.

Start With a Walk-Through

Before touching anything, take a slow walk through the system.

Look for oil spots under compressors or filters, water around drains or tanks, rust on piping or receiver tanks, loose hoses or fittings, excessive vibration, unusual noise, or recurring alarms. Many problems are visible once you slow down long enough to notice them.

Pay Attention to Compressor Run Behavior

How your compressor runs tells you a lot about system health.

Watch for constant operation even during low demand, frequent short-cycling, long unloaded run times, or unexpected shutdowns. Changes in run behavior usually point to leaks, rising demand, control issues, or airflow problems.

Inspect and Replace Filters

Filters work quietly in the background, but when they clog, efficiency drops quickly.

Year-end is a great time to replace intake air filters, oil filters, separator elements, and inline particulate or coalescing filters. Clean filters reduce pressure drop, lower energy use, and help the compressor run cooler.

Drain Receiver Tanks and Verify Drain Operation

Receiver tanks collect water all year long, especially in humid climates.

Make sure wet tanks are fully drained, automatic drains are cycling properly, drain lines are clear, and no water is backing up into the system. Leaving water in tanks over winter accelerates corrosion and moisture problems.

Check Dryer Performance

Dryers work hardest when humidity fluctuates, which is common this time of year.

Confirm the dew point is stable, drains are operating correctly, refrigerated dryers are cooling properly, and desiccant dryers show no signs of saturation or channeling. If moisture is getting downstream, it’s better to deal with it now than during peak production.

Clean Coolers and Improve Ventilation

Dust, dirt, and debris slowly restrict airflow.

Year-end is a good time to clean compressor coolers, check fan operation, remove obstructions near ventilation openings, and make sure hot air is not recirculating. Better airflow helps prevent overheating and improves efficiency.

Check Oil Condition and Levels

Oil condition offers valuable insight into compressor health.

Verify oil levels are correct and look for oil that appears dark, burnt, or foamy. If oil condition looks questionable, replacing it now helps prevent cold-weather and startup issues later.

Inspect Piping and Leak-Prone Areas

Leaks tend to multiply quietly over time.

Focus on quick-connect fittings, hose reels, regulators, drop legs, and older threaded connections. Fixing leaks now reduces energy waste immediately and lowers compressor run time going into the new year.

Review Pressure Settings

Pressure settings often creep up without anyone realizing it.

Ask whether system pressure is higher than necessary, whether pressure was increased to mask another issue, and whether it could be safely reduced after fixing leaks or filters. Even small pressure reductions can create noticeable energy savings.

Document Issues for the New Year

Not everything needs to be fixed immediately, but everything should be noted.

Create a list of aging equipment, recurring problems, planned upgrades, storage or piping concerns, and control improvements. This makes budgeting and planning much easier in the months ahead.

Schedule Preventive Service Before January

If your system hasn’t been serviced recently, year-end is the ideal time.

Preventive service helps catch small issues early, avoid emergency repairs, improve efficiency, extend equipment life, and start the new year with confidence. Planned maintenance is always easier — and less expensive — than emergency repairs.

A Strong Start to the New Year Begins Now

Compressed air systems don’t usually fail all at once. They wear down quietly over time. A year-end checklist helps reset the system, correct small issues, and head into January ready for whatever production brings.

If you’d like help working through this checklist or want a professional system evaluation before the new year, Industrial Air Services is ready to help.

Industrial Air Services
📞 (615) 641-3100
📍 138 Bain Drive • LaVergne, TN 37086
🌐 www.industrialairservice.com