How Much Does it Cost to Install and Operate a Quincy Air Compressor?
Air compressors and compressed air systems are a staple in a variety of industries — from medical to automotive to manufacturing. And while air compressors can help streamline production efficiency and reduce operating costs over the long term, it goes without saying that an appliance such as this does come with an upfront cost. And “What is the Quincy air compressor cost?” just so happens to be one of the common questions we field here at JHFOSTER.
We should note that while air compressors come with an initial investment, the purchase price and installation costs are only a small fraction of the price to operate an air compressor within a facility. In fact, equipment and installation are estimated to only account for about 10 percent of the total cost of ownership. Maintenance accounts for another 10 percent and operational costs account for the remaining 75 to 80 percent of the total cost of ownership.
In this post, we’ll dig a little deeper into an air compressor’s total cost of ownership and take a closer look at various factors that you should be budgeting for beyond the initial purchase and installation. Here’s a closer look at what you should know:
Quincy Air Compressor Cost
So how much does it cost to purchase and install a new air compressor? That’s a difficult question to answer without knowing what type of compressor you’re looking for and more of the specifics associated with what your operations require. For instance, does your facility need to make space for this air compressor or is there already a retrofitted area? Does it need an extensive system to deliver the compressed air to the tools and devices that will be utilizing it? There’s a lot that goes into the cost and initial installation of this type of equipment beyond the type of air compressor and the size that you need. Depending on what you need and the system that your facility requires, the cost may range anywhere from a few thousand dollars to several tens of thousands of dollars.
How to Size An Industrial Air Compressor
One of the most significant cost-influencing factors is the size of the air compressor your facility needs. There are a few ways to ensure that you’re selecting the right type of air compressor:
- Know your CFM, or cubic feet per minute, requirements for each tool that will be connected to the air compressor. Record them, add them up and then increase your calculations by about 25 percent to account for any leaks in the system and to support additional tools. This will help you determine how powerful a compressor you’ll need.
- Another factor to consider is duty cycle, or the amount of time an air compressor is delivering consistent air pressure and airflow. Calculate duty cycle percentage by time on/ (time on + time off). Contact an expert at JHFOSTER if you need assistance evaluating your system to properly determine what duty cycle would best suit it.
- PSI: What tool requires the most PSI to operate? You’ll want to ensure the capabilities of your compressor are able to support it.
- Determine your voltage: Residential facilities generally have different voltage requirements compared to commercial facilities. This is another area where JHFOSTER can help determine what would best suit your facility.
Quincy Air Compressor Operating Cost
We noted the following factors that you should be weighing when selecting an air compressor because of how significant the costs can be to operate such an appliance. Hence, selecting the right type of compressor for your facility is imperative to control these costs. As we mentioned earlier in this piece, the cost of operating an air compressor can account for 75 to 80 percent of the total cost of ownership.
Yes, operating a compressor is generally more costly over the span of your ownership than the initial investment in it itself. Specifically, the power to run the compressor is what can really add up. In fact, these utility costs in a large industrial facility may consist of tens of thousands of dollars each year. There are several factors that contribute to electrical costs, including how long your air compressor runs each day, the cost of electricity in your geographic area, and how large the appliance is.
You can determine the operational costs of your air compressor in a few easy steps:
- Determine how long your compressor runs each day and come up with a weekly average.
- Know how much power your compressor uses. Do this by checking the wattage stamp on the unit.
- Multiply the wattage by the current that is required to operate the appliance.
- Calculate the total kilowatt-hours (watts per hour x total time the compressor operates for / 1,000).
- Take the cost of electricity and multiply this by total kilowatt-hours to determine your EQ, or Efficiency Quotient.
If you’re unhappy with the operating cost of the air compressor that you’re considering or have installed based on this finding, there are more energy-efficient models that you can upgrade to. Considering how many operational costs account for the total cost of ownership of these appliances, it can be worth it to pay a bit more upfront to save more in energy long-term. There are also a number of other things you can do to conserve operating costs, such as changing filters regularly, fixing air leaks in the system promptly, turning off the compressor when it’s not in use, and adhering to a rigorous maintenance schedule, among others.
Contact Us Today
For more information on installation, maintenance, and operational costs that you should account for when selecting a new air compressor, contact us today. Our experts are standing by and ready to help consult with you on expected costs. We’re also here to help understand your situation and help find the right compressor for your needs. For more information, contact us today.