Free checklist · Shop & tools
Air compressor inspection checklist (free, printable)
Each day before use, drain water from the air receiver tank, check the oil and look for leaks, make sure the pressure gauge works and the safety valve isn't blocked, painted over or isolated, and check the belt guard, hoses and couplings. Then run it up: it should cut out at its set pressure, below the safety valve's setting.
- How often
- Daily, before use
- The rule
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.169(b)
- Items
- 19 checks
- Takes
- About 5 minutes
By the CheckBadges team · Updated
Layout
Air compressor inspection checklist
Daily, before use
| Item | OK | Problem | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before starting | |||
| Drain the tankDrain opened until only air comes out; valve closes tight. | |||
| Oil levelAt the mark on the sight glass or dipstick; not milky. | |||
| Belt guardFitted and secure; no belt or pulley exposed. | |||
| Air intake filterClean and fitted; intake away from dust and fumes. | |||
| Tank conditionNo rust-through, dents, bulges or weld repairs; feet bolted down. | |||
| Tank nameplateReadable, showing the maximum allowable working pressure. | |||
| Cord, plug and disconnectNo cord damage or missing ground pin; disconnect works. | |||
| Safety devices | |||
| Safety valveFitted, not painted, plugged or capped; no valve between it and the tank. | |||
| Safety valve pull testWhen scheduled: vents when pulled and reseats without leaking. | |||
| Pressure gaugeReads zero when empty; glass intact; needle moves smoothly. | |||
| Pressure switch (auto shutoff)Cuts out at its set pressure, below the safety valve setting. | |||
| Cut-out pressureWrite the tank pressure when the motor stops. | ________ psi | ||
| Hoses and fittings | |||
| Air hosesNo cuts, bulges, kinks or soft spots; rated above tank pressure. | |||
| Couplings and fittingsLock firmly; no hissing; no mismatched couplers. | |||
| Regulator and outlet gaugeAdjusts and holds the pressure set for the tool. | |||
| Hose safety valveExcess-flow valve at the supply on hoses over ½ inch inside diameter. | |||
| Blow gunsLimited to under 30 psi at the tip, with chip guarding. | |||
| Running | |||
| Leaks under pressureNo hissing at the tank, fittings, valves or hose ends. | |||
| Noise and vibrationRuns smoothly; no knocking, squealing belt or new vibration. | |||
Problems found and action taken:
If anything is a problem, don't use the machine: tag it out and report it. Free checklist from checkbadges.com — put it on a QR sticker and operators can fill it in on their phone.
What to check on an air compressor, item by item
Before starting
- Drain the tank — Drain opened until only air comes out; valve closes tight.
- Oil level — At the mark on the sight glass or dipstick; not milky.
- Belt guard — Fitted and secure; no belt or pulley exposed.
- Air intake filter — Clean and fitted; intake away from dust and fumes.
- Tank condition — No rust-through, dents, bulges or weld repairs; feet bolted down.
- Tank nameplate — Readable, showing the maximum allowable working pressure.
- Cord, plug and disconnect — No cord damage or missing ground pin; disconnect works.
Safety devices
- Safety valve — Fitted, not painted, plugged or capped; no valve between it and the tank.
- Safety valve pull test — When scheduled: vents when pulled and reseats without leaking.
- Pressure gauge — Reads zero when empty; glass intact; needle moves smoothly.
- Pressure switch (auto shutoff) — Cuts out at its set pressure, below the safety valve setting.
- Cut-out pressure — Write the tank pressure when the motor stops. (reading, in psi)
Hoses and fittings
- Air hoses — No cuts, bulges, kinks or soft spots; rated above tank pressure.
- Couplings and fittings — Lock firmly; no hissing; no mismatched couplers.
- Regulator and outlet gauge — Adjusts and holds the pressure set for the tool.
- Hose safety valve — Excess-flow valve at the supply on hoses over ½ inch inside diameter.
- Blow guns — Limited to under 30 psi at the tip, with chip guarding.
Running
- Leaks under pressure — No hissing at the tank, fittings, valves or hose ends.
- Noise and vibration — Runs smoothly; no knocking, squealing belt or new vibration.
How often an air compressor has to be inspected
The operator's checks happen daily, before use; the safety valve and tank get extra checks on the manufacturer's schedule. OSHA's air receiver rule, 29 CFR 1910.169, sets out what you're checking every day:
- A drain valve at the lowest point of every receiver, with the receiver "completely drained frequently and at such intervals as to prevent the accumulation of excessive amounts of liquid" ((b)(2)).
- An "indicating pressure gage (so located as to be readily visible)" and one or more spring-loaded safety valves sized to stop tank pressure exceeding the maximum allowable working pressure by more than 10 percent ((b)(3)(i)).
- "No valve of any type shall be placed between the air receiver and its safety valve or valves" ((b)(3)(ii)).
- Safety valves "tested frequently and at regular intervals to determine whether they are in good operating condition" ((b)(3)(iv)).
Water condenses out of compressed air and collects in the bottom of the tank. Left there, it rusts the shell from the inside, where you can't see it, which is why draining is the first item on the list.
How you use the air has rules too. Compressed air for cleaning must be "reduced to less than 30 p.s.i. and then only with effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment" (1910.242(b)). On construction sites, hoses over ½ inch inside diameter need a safety device at the supply or branch line to reduce pressure if the hose fails (1926.302(b)(7)).
How to do the check
- Start with the compressor off and the tank at low pressure. Check the oil, the belt guard, the intake filter and the outside of the tank.
- Drain the tank. Wear eye protection, open the drain slowly and let it run until only air comes out. Many manuals say to drain at shutdown; either way, do it daily.
- Look at the safety valve without touching it: no paint, plugs, caps or valves in the way.
- Start it and watch the gauge climb. Note the pressure when the motor stops and compare it with the pressure switch setting on the nameplate or in the manual.
- Listen for leaks at the tank, fittings and hose ends while it holds pressure.
- Pull-test the safety valve when it's scheduled: stand to the side, pull the ring briefly, and make sure it reseats without leaking.
The defects that take it out of service
| Defect | Why it fails |
|---|---|
| Safety valve missing, blocked or painted, or a valve fitted before it | Nothing limits tank pressure |
| Pressure switch doesn't cut out | Pressure climbs until the safety valve blows, or worse |
| Gauge broken, stuck or unreadable | You can't see what the tank is holding |
| Rust-through, bulge, dent or weld repair on the tank | The tank can rupture |
| Belt guard missing | Belts and pulleys are nip points OSHA requires guarded (1910.212(a)(1)) |
| Bulging hose or leaking coupling | A failing hose can whip |
| Drain valve seized | Water builds up and corrodes the tank |
What to do when something fails
Switch it off, isolate the power, bleed the tank down and tag it. Hang an out-of-service tag on the switch so nobody restarts it. A damaged tank is replaced, not welded, drilled or patched. Leaking fittings, hoses and gauges can be replaced by a competent mechanic; a faulty safety valve is replaced with one of the correct rating, never plugged or adjusted up. See what to do when equipment fails inspection.
Keeping the record
OSHA's text doesn't require a written record of the daily compressor check. A dated record with the cut-out pressure is still the simplest way to show the tank was drained and the safety devices worked, and to spot a pressure switch drifting over weeks. In some states, air receivers also fall under boiler and pressure vessel inspection laws; your insurer or state inspector can tell you. See equipment inspection record keeping.
Doing it by QR code
A QR sticker on the tank or the motor housing lets whoever starts the compressor first thing do this check on their phone. A problem, such as a safety valve leaking after its test, emails you with a photo straight away. See QR code equipment checklists.
Skip the clipboard
Put this air compressor inspection checklist on a QR sticker.
- Operators scan the sticker with their own phone's camera. No app, account or password.
- Anything marked Problem emails you right away, with photos, and warns the next operator.
- Every check is saved by machine with who did it and when. Print one or export a CSV.
Free for 3 machines. Every item above is already filled in — edit anything. No card.
Air compressor 1
Air compressor inspection checklist
Frequently asked questions
How often should you drain an air compressor tank?
Daily when it's in use, and more often in humid conditions or heavy use. OSHA requires the receiver to be drained "frequently and at such intervals as to prevent the accumulation of excessive amounts of liquid" (29 CFR 1910.169(b)(2)); an automatic drain can be added, but the manual drain still has to work.
How often should an air compressor safety valve be tested?
OSHA says "frequently and at regular intervals" without giving a number (29 CFR 1910.169(b)(3)(iv)), so follow the compressor or valve manufacturer's schedule and record each test.
What psi is allowed for cleaning with compressed air?
Less than 30 psi, and only with effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment (29 CFR 1910.242(b)). Use a nozzle that limits pressure at the tip, and never blow dust off clothing or skin.
What happens if you don't drain an air compressor?
Water collects in the bottom of the tank and rusts it from the inside, where you can't see the damage. That thins the shell and can lead to a tank failure, and it sends water down the lines to your tools.
Does an air compressor need a belt guard?
Yes. Belts and pulleys are ingoing nip points and rotating parts, which OSHA requires to be guarded (29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1)). Keep the factory guard on and never run the compressor with it off.
Keep reading
- Power tool inspection checklistFree power tool inspection checklist for corded, cordless and air tools: cords, plugs, guards, switches, blades, batteries and hoses. Print it or use it by QR.
- Generator inspection checklistFree generator inspection checklist for portable and towable units: fuel, oil, coolant, leaks, exhaust and CO, grounding, GFCI outlets, cords and controls.
- Out-of-service tag makerPrint DANGER – DO NOT OPERATE and OUT OF SERVICE tags for defective equipment. Fill in the machine, problem and date, or leave blanks. Free, no signup.
- ManufacturingMachine pre-use checklists for manufacturing: a QR sticker on each press, saw, crane and forklift. Operators scan with their phone; problems alert you at once.
- OSHA equipment inspection rulesHow often OSHA requires forklifts, lifts, scaffolds, cranes, slings, ladders, harnesses and extinguishers to be inspected, by whom, and which need records.
Do your air compressor checks by QR code.
Stick a QR code on every machine and operators do the pre-use check on their own phone — no app, no login. Free for up to 3 machines; try it with your real machines before you sign up.