Gaskets for Air Compressors

If your compressor leaks at joints and connection points, you may suffer from old gaskets. Gaskets are crucial for sealing the connection between two pieces of equipment and ensuring that no compressed air leaks out. Not only do they prevent leaks from occurring, but they also reduce the noise volume by keeping the air and noise in.

For starters, gaskets are crucial for keeping compressed air in and your system operating smoothly. Systems operating with leaks are considered inefficient at best, but most of the time, they result in the machine being unable to fulfill demand. 

Placed between adjacent components, the gasket adds cushioning and helps reduce noise by preventing direct contact between the parts. Compressors are noisy and vibrate when running at full load; this vibration can result in metal components running into each other. Preventing this contact between metal parts inherently reduces volume.  

Choosing the Right Gasket Material

When selecting a gasket for your operation, you should be aware of the location and conditions it will be operating under:

• Pressure
  • Your compressed air system operates under pressure, if you plan on including a gasket, make sure it can withstand the pressure of your system. 
• Temperature
  • Just like with pressure, if your gasket is not rated to handle your operation’s minimum and maximum temperatures, it will fail quickly. Make sure it can handle the environmental and internal temperatures.
• Force
  • Depending on the type of materials you are connecting with your gasket, the force required to make a seal can differ. Double-check to ensure that the force needed to seal the components is not more than it can withstand.
• Environment
  • If your gasket is in place, environmental factors such as dirt, dust, and particulate matter should be no problem. It helps keep the compressed air clean and ensures that the system operates smoothly.
• Irregularities
  • The surfaces of the materials that a gasket conjoins can often be uneven and have irregularities. This is where you would want to go with a more malleable material like sponge rubber.