The 5 Best Water Separators for Air Compressor (Review)

Most of the homes are equipped with air compressor systems. It can be used in supplying high-pressure clean air to fill the gas cylinder, supplying moderate-pressure clean air to a submerged surface supplied diver or for driving some office and school building pneumatic HVAC control system valves, or to power pneumatic tools like jackhammers, filling tires, filling high-pressure air tanks, etc.

These can work on a variety of power sources like gas, diesel, and electricity. The gas and diesel-powered air compressors are ideal for remote areas where electricity can’t reach. Thus depending upon the size and purpose of the air compressor you can choose from a stationary or portable device for your use.

Your air compressor system needs the ideal maintenance. It is a costly system and thus you can’t change it, again and again, owing to the missing maintenance needs. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars of your hard-earned money to service your air compressor system.

The most frequent serviceable part of the air compressor system is the oil and water separator that keeps water away from the air compression system and acts as a filter.

These stop the liquids and other impurities from entering the air compressor unit. These small contaminants may not be harmful to you directly but cause irreversible damage to your air compressor unit. Thus, these separators are the lifeline of your air compression system.

The water separators are the best filters that keep moisture away from the air compressor unit. Due to the storage capacity of the air compression unit, it gets hot. Thus, chances are high that moisture gets accumulated in the unit that can make air heavier and wet as well. Thus, the water separator effectively removes large amounts of moisture from the air supply and ensures a dry and clean air stream to your needs.

Thus, you get a precise air compression system without worrying about corrosion and extend the validity of the air compression system at your place. Gladly, you don’t need to be an Engineer in understanding the water separators. So today we bring to you our collection of the best water separators for air compressors in the market.

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Best Water Separators for Air Compressor

If you are looking for buying the best water separators for air compressors, we here bring the collection of exquisite devices for your place that fits well in your budget as well. Have a look:

1. HEAVY-DUTY INDUSTRIAL RATED HIGH FLOW PARTICULATE FILTER

The heavy-duty 3/4 inches compressed air line filter separator works effectively as a particulate filter. It removes liquid and debris from your compressed air line to extend the service life of your air compression system and its accessories as well. It works with both of the low and high-pressure systems and is a heavy-duty and durable water separator.

The 140 CFM rate of the Heavy Duty Industrial Rated High Flow Particulate Filter completes your air compressor with an automatic drain that takes the responsibility to remove the debris and moisture from the metal bowl. The 1/8 inches male NPT auto drain has a connection with 3/4 inches female NPT air inlet port and 3/4 inches female NPT air outlet port. It has a 2.7 oz metal bowl and the wall mounting bracket includes a sight glass on the metallic water collecting bowl to view the moisture level.

This effective air separator protects your air compressor system like air motor grinder, pneumatic actuators, pneumatic control valves, etc. It is an excellent product that is practically free from the expenses of maintenance. The automatic internal float drain works precisely in the auto drain feature and gives you a long-lasting air compressor system.

Pros:

• It is a heavy-duty water separator for air compressors.
• It has a female NPT air inlet and output port.
• It has an internal float drain with a 140 CFM rate.
• It has 175 max output pressure.
• Its package dimensions are 8.78*3.58*2.87 inches.
• It weighs 1.65 pounds.

Cons:

• Its filter can’t get cleaned.
• It has a 5-micron filter only.

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2. Pneumatic Plus SAF3000M-N03B Compressed Air Particulate Filter

Pneumatic Plus SAF series particulate filter offers an effective and most precise solution for filtering the moisture and particulate from your air compression unit. It uses a 10-micron element as a standard element and is compatible with 2, 5, 20, and 40-micron elements. You can choose from the different materials of the bowl. The metal works well in terms of durability and the polycarbonate works well as it is corrosion-resistant and easy to use and maintain as well.

You can choose from the automatic drain or manual drain options. The automatic drain of Pneumatic Plus SAF3000M-N03B Compressed Air Particulate Filter offers high efficiency of the water separator for your air compressor. In case you are looking for a water separator for a rarely used air compressor, you can go for the manual drainage system of the water separator for the air compressor system.

Pneumatic Plus SAF3000M-N03B Compressed Air Particulate Filter is a well-designed water separator that is easy to set up and use and pulls the entire moisture from the air compressor unit. It is ideally installed at a defined distance from the air compressor unit so that the air gets cooled before coming to this water separator.

Pros:

• Its bowl is made up of polycarbonate.
• It uses Npt female connector.
• It is compatible with 2,5,20, and 40-micron elements.
• It has a modular design.
• Its package dimensions are 7.9*2.8*2.8 inches.
• Its package weighs 12.8 ounces.

Cons:

• It is expensive than other water separators.

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3. LE LEMATEC Air Compressor Filter

LE LEMATEC Air Compressor Filter is an oil and water separator that is compatible with any air compressor and any other air tools. It works as a strict filter that efficiently separates oil and water from the air compressor unit. This water separator traps oil and water as a receiving filter for all of your air compression needs.

LE LEMATEC Air Compressor Filter keeps your air compression system in a tip-top working condition. It prevents the costly repairs of the air compression systems. This water separator prevents the dirt and moisture from getting accumulated in your air compressor. Thus all of your air tools and accessories are prevented with the LE LEMATEC Air Compressor Filter.

It is a heavy-duty inline water separator. It is made up of aluminum with solid brass fittings that offer excellent reliability and durability to your air compression system. It comes with a 1/4 inches air female inlet and a 1/4 inches male option as well. It provides a quick and easy cleaning with its push-button drain valve. All you need to do is just push the button to eject the oil, water, and dirt from the parts of the filter. It works under the standard operating procedure of up to 90 PSI and can go up to 150 PSI pressure.

Pros:

• It works with any air compressor and water separator.
• It keeps air cool in tip-top working condition.
• It has a push-button drain valve.
• It works under standard operating pressure.
• Its package dimensions are 6.2*4.1*1.9 inches.
• Its package weighs 5.6 ounces.

Cons:

• It can’t work on less than 40PSI.
• It needs to be cleaned quickly.

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4. Campbell Hausfeld PA212103AV Air Filter

Campbell Hausfeld is termed as the air power expert. Campbell Hausfeld PA212103AV Air Filter completely removes condensed water and dirt to extend the life of your air compression system. It consists of a sintered brass filter element that captures the contaminants as small as 5 microns to deliver exceptional filtration. It includes a quick-release bowl that protects against the metal guard impact. It has quarter drains that make Campbell Hausfeld PA212103AV Air Filter as an easy to maintain water separator. It has a flow capacity of 57 SCFM at 90 PSI pressure.

Campbell Hausfeld PA212103AV Air Filter cleans the air and removes water vapor at the point of use in your air compressor that requires oil-free and moisture-free air. It has a quick-release bowl for easy viewing of the fluid level. Hence, you can see the level of the fluid in your water separator and you can thus drain the water content according to the requirements.

The desiccant system of this ideal water separator removes water vapor. The outlet screen keeps the desiccant particles from entering the airstream and protecting your air compression system and other air tools. Campbell Hausfeld PA212103AV Air Filter helps you to finish your projects faster and easier.

Pros:

• It removes water vapor and cleans the air.
• It includes a quick-release bowl.
• The desiccant system removes water vapors.
• The outlet screen keeps desiccant particles away from entering the airstream.
• Its dimensions are 3*3*10 inches.
• It weighs 8 ounces.

Cons:

• Its bowl has less service life.
• Its drain is made up of plastic.

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5. 3/8″ Compressed Air in Line Filter

The 3/8″ Compressed Air in Line Filter by Made in Taiwan is a desiccant dryer. It comes with two refills of the desiccant beads. The desiccant bead dryer removes the water and humidity in the compressed air of your air compressor. Thus 3/8″ Compressed Air in Line Filter effectively protects your air compressor from water, oil, and humidity damages. The best part about using a desiccant system is that the beads of this system change color from blue to light pink when they are saturated. Thus having a look at light pink indicates the need to replace the filter.

The 3/8″ Compressed Air in Line Filter by Made in Taiwan is a water separator that has a quick-release bowl for easy maintenance. It is a clear bowl and has metal guards. The clear bowl helps you to view the fluid level in the water separator for the air compressor. The metal guards protect the bowl from impact damages.

It is an ideal water separator for painting purposes, sandblasting, and plasma cutters. It has a maximum inlet pressure of 150 PSI. The direction of flow of the air in the water separator is mentioned for easy operations. You can check the in and out markings. Out of all of the desiccant filters available in the market, this water separator is made up of good quality and is highly durable.

Pros:

• It comes with two refills of the filter unit.
• It removes water, oil, and humidity from compressed air.
• The direction of the flow of air is mentioned.
• Its bowl has a metal guard to protect from impact damages.
• Its package dimensions are 7.4*3.39*3.19 inches.
• It weighs 1.85 pounds.

Cons:

• There are no mounting brackets or holes.
• It lacks affordability.

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FAQ

• How does water get inside the air compressor?

The condensation of the air in the compression unit causes dew to settle which is the source of water.

• How to drain the water catching tank of the water separator?

The water-catching tank of the water separator should be drained on regular basis.

• Will these air separators fit in my air compressor?

All of the latest air separators are compatible with the low pressure and high-pressure air compressors.

• How can I check the airflow direction of my water separator?

It is easy to find the airflow direction of your water separator as most of the air separators cones with a flow direction indicator.

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Buyer’s Guide:

Still, confused about choosing the best water separators for an air compressor? Let us help you with the basic buyer’s guide in choosing the best for you. Here are certain points to understand before you start your search for an ideal water separator for air compressors for your use.

• The pressure of the water separators for air compressor

The working pressure of the water separator should match with the working pressure of the air compressor. The best water separators for air compressors are compatible with the leading air compressor units. You are thus advised to check the operating pressure of the inlet and output of the water separator before using it with your air compressor.

• The bowl of the water separators for air compressor

The moisture from the air compressor unit gets collected in the bowl of the water separator. Thus, the bowl should be made up of high-quality material that can hold the water for a longer duration. It should be made up of corrosion-resistant material and should not be weak. It should bear the damages due to impact and should be highly durable.

• The drain quality of the water separators for air compressor

The collection of moisture requires efficient draining to prevent the accumulation and overflow of the water from your air compressor system. Thus, the quality of the drain of your water separator for the air compressor is the final step of the excretion of moisture from the air compression system. The latest water separators for the air compressor unit come with automatic and manual drains. The automatic drains are more preferred due to the self-cleaning process.

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Conclusion:

The best water separators for air compressors ease the working of the air compression unit as you can free yourself from the troubleshooting needs of the system that arise due to the accumulation of moisture. These water separators are the ideal filters that protect the expensive air compressor unit from the damages due to water that is an inseparable part of the air compressor system due to the condensation principle.

Thus the water separators for the air compressors solve the best problem of the air compression units and extend their service life as well. All of these water separators are available at affordable rates and prevent hundreds of service costs. Grab a water separator for an air compressor unit today!