Are you an electrician, technical worker, or simply an air compressor’s user? Sometimes, you find your CFM not strong enough, but you are totally confused about how to increase CFM on an air compressor?

Don’t worry about that because we are here to help you out. This article certainly guides you on how to increase CFM on an air compressor. Let’s go.

What Does CFM Mean?

What Does CFM MeanFirst of all, we have to know what CFM is to understand the root of the problem.

CFM is the short form of Cubic Feet per Minute. To put it simply, CFM is the unit to measure the velocity of air or gas in or out of space. This linear measurement indicates how much cubic feet of gas/air transported by a certain point in one minute.

CFM plays a crucial part in the air compressor because the machine couldn’t work without it. As far as we’re concerned, depending on what type of air compressor, the CFM will be different too.

Read More: What CFM is Required for Spray Painting?

How To Increase CFM On An Air Compressor?

To increase CFM on an air compressor, we recommend you the two most effective methods as follows.

#1: Decreasing The Pressure (PSI)

Decreasing The PressureWe have the mathematical formula to calculate the power: Power= (Volume/Time) x Pressure

Meanwhile, Volume/Time signifies the CFM. Hence, if you want the higher CFM, we advise you to reduce the pressure. In other words, you should allow your machine to have more time to operate.

Nonetheless, air compressors are only used to generate limited power. Here is the suggested solution. You need to adjust the regulator lower.

When being at the lowest placement, the regulator decelerates the airflow into the tank and lessens the PSI. It means that the velocity of the air compressor will have risen rapidly.

We notice that when the tank keeps enough pressure inside, it is likely to take a long time to deflate. Now, give your compressor extra time to keep up with the air pressure. Then, your machine will successfully work as you wish.

Although this method only allows you to achieve a certain level , we believe that it will bring to your air compressor particular advantages, namely greater lifespan and better maintenance.

#2: Hooking Two Air Compressors Together

Hooking Two Air Compressors TogetherIf you aren’t content with the result gained by the above process yet, you could apply this following method to see how it goes.

All you have to do is to prepare another air compressor and connect both of them. Then you need three hoses, including two hoses of these two air compressors and one three-hole hose to combine them.

  • Attach each hose to each air compressor accordingly.
  • Take the third hose and hook these two machines together.
  • Connect the output of the three-hole hose with your implement.

Well, just following three simple steps as above, you will have a higher capacity as you wish. The more top airflow that you achieve will be the total amount of these two compressors. That would be better for your work efficiency, right?

However, this method needs more time to tolerate the air that goes into two tanks, leading to the air compressor`s superheat and lousy maintenance. You should carefully think about this way before applying.

Tips On Increasing The CFM

#1: Regulate PSI

Regulate PSIThe first advice is that you had better adjust the pressure of the air.

There shouldn’t be any difference between the pressure switches of your two compressors. Please use two compressors which have the same amount of vim in and out PSI. By doing so, your increasing the CFM is highly effective.

However, if you aren’t able to ensure the same pressure, the burden will be put mainly on one machine. Little by little, your air compressor will be out of order.

Hence, balancing the air pressure of two compressors is very significant to have a more powerful CFM.

#2: Assure The Check Valves

Assure The Check ValvesIt’s advisable to review your check valves, whether they are still usable and strong or not. If there are any troubles related to these valves, you might replace them with stronger ones.

Ensuring the durability of check valves means that the airflow is certainly to deflate without being pushed back into the tank.

How To Reduce The CFM?

How To Reduce The CFMNot only can you increase CFM on an air compressor but you can also lessen it.

In many cases, you have no need to compress much air inside the tank, so you can decrease the airflow by yourself. The vital thing you must remember is not to lower too much CFM; otherwise, your tool is not able to operate well.

Do you know what impacts an air compressor can have from decreasing too much gas? Apparently, the speed of transmitting air into the tank will be slower than before. It entails that the airflow isn’t enough for your tool to work.

More seriously, letting too much air go inside the tank could cause the tool to stop working immediately. It must be irritating for you to long for its re-operation.

Thus, under any circumstances should you scrutinize before making a decision to decrease it. And unless you are confident about your technique, you should bring your air compressor to the repair shop and have a professional lessen the CFM.

Final Thoughts

As we mentioned above, to increase CFM on an air compressor, you can consider two above-mentioned methods: decreasing the pressure or connecting two air compressors.

If you want to keep your machine in a safe mode, you might reduce the PSI to increase CFM. However, if you do have to increase the CFM, you need to be competent to proceed to ensure that no issue occurs.

Finally, it would be better if you willingly followed the instructions on how to increase CFM on an air compressor as we introduced. If you have any new solutions, please leave your comment in the box below.

Thank you for reading!