10 Best Air Compressors in 2019

Air compressors can be used for a whole variety of things, and you don’t have to be a pro in DIY to be able to use one, in fact, it can even be your first time. There are a whole variety of things that air compressors can be used for, for instance, they can make spray painting easy for you or if you use a nail gun then you will need an air compressor unless it is battery run.

However, they don’t just have to be used for things around the house, as you can also use them on your car as well, in fact, if you want to change a fuel filter then you will need an air compressor to do this.

Therefore we’ve put together a list of the best air compressors around, to make it easier for you to decide if you need to purchase one.

Looking for big, industrial compressors? Try a 20 Gallon Air Compressor.

Buyer’s Guide

Air compressors are a very handy tool to use, and they can be used for multiple purposes, whether you need to inflate a paddling pool or change a fuel filter in your car, it can be used for both. They are becoming more and more popular and a lot more portable as well, making them easy to use in your garage or around the house. Plus, a lot of them are becoming a lot quieter, preventing your family or maybe even colleagues complaining about the noise.

However, you may be in a huge dilemma over what air compressor you need to buy for the tool that you need to use, and that’s why we’re here to help. In our buyers guide there a whole load of aspects that you need to look out for before you purchase an air compressor.

Oil-Free

You may notice that some of the air compressors in the list above are oil-free while some are not. The oil-free ones are a lot less maintenance and a lot less mess, which makes them a bit easier for you to use. Not only this, but they are also a lot more cost effective because you won’t have to buy oil or dispose of it at all. Oil in an air compressor can also cause you to have to replace the air dryers, which can also be costly. Also, they have a better impact on the environment.

However, there are also some advantages with oil-lubricated air compressors, because these can actually be a lot quieter and will last you a lot longer than an oil-free compressor. Therefore if you need to use an air compressor a lot and it is more for serious DIY jobs then an oil lubricated one may be better for you.

Horsepower

One thing you need to look at before you purchase an air compressor is how much horsepower it has because this will determine how powerful it is. The only problem is that a lot of air compressors do tend to over exaggerate how much horsepower they have. There is one way that you can check if it is a real horsepower, which is by looking at how much electrical power it uses when it is running.

For instance is the air compressor states it has a 5 horsepower motor then it could draw up to 24 amps on a single phase power (220 volts). For more power, see these air compressors with a much larger capacity.

Air Pressure

You may notice on the air compressor there is PSI this stands for air pressure and usually, each tool will need 90 PSI to be able to work. You should be able to see on the product description how much air pressure the air compressor you want has. Air compressors also tend to have two stages, and the first stage builds up to 90 PSI while in the second stage the air compressor can build up to as much as 175 PSI.

Before you use it, you should always check that that there are no obstacles that are restricting the hose in the air compressor, because this can stop the air pressure from working to its maximum.

Tank size

This isn’t actually too much of a big deal, as an air compressor only stores the air and then you’re more than likely going to be using it straight away, so different tank sizes do not limit how much you are able to use the air compressor. The only difference between different tank sizes tends to be the price of them, and ones that have bigger tanks do tend to be a bit more expensive.

There is only one situation that you will need a bigger size tank, and this is if you want your tool to run steady, because it will be able to quickly produce as much air as the tool needs to run at this pace.  The only reason you will need a bigger tank is that smaller air compressors do sometimes have the habit of stopping and starting, so with a bigger tank you won’t have this problem.

How to use an Air Compressor?

Before you use an air compressor, you will need to set it up. To do this, you may need to check the oil levels if it isn’t oil free. You will then need to fix the hose onto the regulator valve. Once you have done this the next step you need to do is attach your power tool to the hose and then you need to plug the main plug into a power socket.

This is then set up for you to use, but before you actually use it you will need to look at the tool you’re planning to use to see how much pressure it needs, and then you can adjust the settings by using the regulator knob. You will also have wait patiently for the air compressor to pressurize before you use it.

What Size Air Compressor do I Need?

This really depends on what you need to use it for; on the tool, you’re planning to use it should say the amount of air pressure that it needs to be able to work. Once you have figured this out, you just need to look at the descriptions of the air compressors and see which one would work with your tool.

How Does an Air Compressor Work?

Air compressors are becoming more and more popular because they are very handy to use for multiple things and you can easily transport them around. They actually only have one motor, and it is able to easily convert electrical energy into kinetic energy. It does this by simply taking air that is all around us, and after it has done this, it compresses it down and then stores it. This air can then be used to work a nail gun for instance, because when the pressure of the air is released, it is able to push nails into a wall.

Conclusion

Overall there are hundreds of air compressors all over the internet and found in DIY shops, but you really need to know what you need to use it for before you buy one. This is because you need to find out if you need a stationary one, which tends to be used for bigger projects or a portable one that can be used for simpler things like putting nails into walls and changing car filters. Not only this, but many of the air compressors that we have listed above come with different features, for instance, some are oil-free which can create a lot less maintenance for you.

Therefore it’s really down to what you need the compressor for that’s when you will know what one you need, but it’s important that you use it the correct way and follow the directions on both the compressor and the tool you’re using.

Expert Tip

After you’ve finished using an air compressor, it is always best to drain the leftover air that is inside it. This is because if you leave the air inside there, then it could actually weaken the compressor.

Did you know?

There are two different types of air compressors a portable one and a stationary one. Stationary air compressors tend to be a lot larger than portable ones.