So You Need a Compressor, Now What?

So, you’ve recently learned that you need a compressor for your new business. 

And we know what you are thinking…

Where on earth do you start?

Between CFM requirements, variable demands, and how in the world the piping will work it can feel like an absolute minefield. You know it is important, you know you have to get this decision right, but you feel lost.

And this is where J&J Air Systems comes in. Here at J&J, we understand that you shouldn’t need an engineering degree to be able to feel confident and empowered in your compressed air choice for your business. 

No one likes to feel in the dark about important, and potentially expensive business decisions, especially with something as vital as your compressed air systems, and because of this we have written our complete beginners guide to your first compressed air system below. 

In this blog we will explore your compressor journey all the way from your first phone call, all the way to installation and servicing.

And if you are not a new client, but someone who knows their compressed air system is in need of an upgrade, this blog is also for you! 

So strap in, grab a cuppa, and let’s get started. 

Step 1: Fact Finding

Now, we would argue that step number 1, is the most important step of all. 

And at first you may think ‘how much do you really need to know?’, but with so many variables and moving parts, getting the most information is the best way to ensure that you get the perfect compressed air system to suit you and your business’ needs. 

So what does ‘fact finding’ actually involve?

Whilst some people like to send in emails with their general information, our best practice would involve both an initial consultation over the phone as well as an in-person visit on site.

Whilst we will discuss your business, what you would need your compressor for, how you would be using your compressor and the general layout of your site over the phone, we would always recommend taking our free site visit option, as oftentimes there might be things that we can see that would affect your compressors that maybe you may have missed.

As each compressed air system is entirely customised to fit your unique business, at J&J we really like to take our time and go over everything with a fine toothed comb in our initial consultation process to ensure that you get the best result.

So what type of information are we looking for?

1. Treatment levels needed

The treatment level needed will depend on the type of business you have and/or product you are producing. For example, whilst basic filtration will work well for many businesses, particular fields like food production, pharmaceuticals, dentistry, medical etc. will need medical grade filtration to ensure the safest air possible for your final consumer. 

2. Application and Demand

This essentially explores what you need the compressor for and how often the machinery will be running. Your answers to this will then affect the type of compressor and the power needed. 

3. Situational

This topic explores where your compressor will go, if you have any size constraints (e.g do you have a nice big spot in your warehouse to Place a lovely compressed air systems, or potentially, may we have to build a compact weatherproof container the carpark), are there any ambient constraints (e.g are there noise constraints if in a residential area, if your compressed air system is going outside it will need to be insulated and heated to prevent frozen, and therefore, unfunctional condensate pipework). 

4. Flow requirements 

The TLDR of this is how much power and flow your systems will need to use. The pressure requirement and flow requirement needed to run your machine efficiently, are added together to create the Overall Compressor Requirement. 

5. Distribution

This is explores the very practical matter of where the pipework will need to go and how big the pipes will need to be to prevent excessive pressure drop*

*Pressure drop is what happens when pipes are too small for the amount of pressure  that needs to be delivered in order to run your  machine. However, to avoid boring you with the small print here, essentially what pressure drop would mean to your business is wasted energy, and therefore wasted money.

How does this process differ if you are a returning customer looking for a compressor upgrade?

Interestingly, our process does not really differ that much if you are a returning customer vs. a new customer. 

Whilst we understand that obviously you do currently have a compressed air system, we also know that this might not be working as efficiently as you would like. Because of this, with returning customers we still have our initial fact finding conversations to understand the foundation of what you are looking for, however, on our site visits we do something a bit different. As well as visually looking at the site to see what is working well, as well as what could be improved, we also use data to back up our findings. 

At J&J we use state of the art data logging technology to help spot the blind spots in your compressed air systems. Whilst doing our site visit, or indeed in our services, we leave our data logging equipment on your machinery 24/7 for a full week to see how efficient your current use of air, power and cost are. 

Using this data, as well as our fact findings, we are then able to discuss how to make your current machinery more efficient for your business. For example, potentially you may currently be experiencing a lot of wastage due to pressure drops, incorrect variable speed compressors, or even just an old machine. However, please rest assured, at J&J we value transparency, so if you really don’t need an upgrade we will not try to upsell you something that is unnecessary. 

Now, whilst this may seem like a lot of information to cover, the best bit about J&J is that you don’t need to worry about most of the above. As we offer and fit entirely unique compressed air systems for each client we take the guess work out of decisions by offering our recommended solutions, so that you can get on with what really matters.

Step 2:  Our Suggestions and Quotes

And this leads on nicely to how our recommendations and quotes actually work. 

As mentioned above, all recommendations from our expert sales team are entirely customised to fit your unique business. You won’t find a cookie cutter approach here!

And like with understanding that everyone, and every business, is different, we also know that your criteria for your compressed air system may differ quite variably from someone else. For this reason, in our recommendations we always try to offer a wide variety of business solutions including a variety of compressor technologies , compressor sizes, warranty options, and installation configurations. No hard sell, just finding you your perfect fit. 

For example, variable vs. fixed usage is a good example of the above point. 

Whilst a fixed demand compressor will use the same air usage whilst running “On Load” consistently, a variable demand compressor will adapt depending on the amount of air usage it may need to use at a time. So for example, whilst a fixed demand compressor would be great if your machines are on 24/7 making the same product over and over again, the same machine would not work as efficiently for someone whose compressors may be turned off for certain days, who air usage may vary,  or whose products and/or needs change throughout the week. 

Now, the variable speed compressor would be a great option for the above example as this compressor will only use the amount of electricity that they need at a time. And this means not only a greener, more efficient operation, but a much cheaper option to run too. However, as the electronic controls within the machine are more  complicated with a variable speed compressor, the initial installation cost reflects this.

Whilst in the long-run we would recommend the variable compressor to get a better ROI, some customers may go for the fixed speed compressor to save on the initial cost. And at J&J, whilst we will advise on our best practise, we will never push you into making certain decisions. We understand that at the end of the day, this is your business, and your money, and we are here to facilitate whichever safe, efficient, compressed air system that will make you happy and suit your requirements.

As with our initial fact finding and onsite visit, our consultation and expertise are always free of charge. 

And with whatever option you pick we will then send over a quote. So no nasty surprises, just a transparent upfront cost.

Step 3: Picking Your Perfect Option and Purchasing

Now comes the fun part! 

Using our recommendations above you can now pick the perfect compressed air system for you. 

Price, size, warranty, it is completely up to you! 

And if you fancy something really simple, J&J  offer a plug & play compressed air system available in shipping containers. All you need is electricity going in and a pipe going out and bobs your uncle. 

And, potentially, if cash flow is a bit of an issue, J&J even offer financing options with monthly payments for your compressor. 

Your expert sales manager will be with you at every step of your selection and purchase so please feel free to contact them via email or telephone if you need any help within any of these steps.

Step 4: Installation

Step 4 is where we finally see the proof in the pudding. 

And the best bit?

J&J project manages everything. 

We will let you know how long the installation will roughly take, and from there we will work around your own schedule of business to make sure all changes are as pain free as possible. For example, if production halts Friday PM, we can install after Friday lunchtimes, or if early mornings (6AM) or even weekends work better for you we will install then. 

As with all J&J installations, our work is entirely customer based so that you can relax knowing that all work is being done in the background with the minimum disruption to your business. 

In terms of timelines and cost, this will depend entirely on your final decision and your business needs and installations can take anywhere from 2 hours, 2 weeks, or longer depending on the project size!

And if an installation is particularly large in a system where compressors absolutely cannot be turned off, we will perform your upgrade in phases like tetris. Whilst one compressor is out and being replaced, the other will be in and vice versa*. 

*J&J would always recommend having 2 compressors working in tandem to help future proof any upgrades or breakdowns without meaning a complete cessation of business. 

And with J&J you can relax knowing that you are in safe hands. We want to create great compressed air systems made right. That means quality solutions every time.

Step 5: Aftersales, Emergency Care and Servicing 

Here at J&J, we know that great service does not stop at purchase.

As part of our continued promise to deliver excellent service, we will always be here for any aftersales or servicing related needs. 

Preventative yearly servicing is needed to guarantee the warranty, but quarterly services may be necessary depending on use (e.g 24/7 use). However, there is no need to get bogged down in the details as J&J will send you email reminders (and optional phone calls) when any minor, interim or major services are due, so you will never void a warranty again!

And as with all our services, we also offer free data-logging to make sure your system is staying in tip top shape.

Additionally, in order to provide the most flexibility to our clients, though services are generally provided from Monday to Friday, we also offer out of hours options (e.g 6AM on Saturday) to clients on a case by case basis. 

And if the worst were to happen, J&J will be with you every step of the way, whether this be with our loan compressors, our 24/7 emergency care with parts and repair included*, or our parts warehouse.**

*as long as your warranty is valid. If your warranty is not valid, we will still come out, but will give an estimate for your cost of care. 

** delivery time may vary depending on the age of your model and the nature of the mechanical problem. 

So if you have any questions, comments, or need help please do not hesitate to get in contact with the team.

Step 6: Upgrades 

And lastly, thinking long-term, it is always worth mentioning our upgrade options.

Depending on your warranty timeline, we would typically recommend 10-15 years as the sweet spot for upgrading after your initial consultation. This gives you the best balance of total life cycle cost, your warranty timeline and the ability to take advantage of the latest energy efficient machines. 

And like life repeats itself, so does our customer journey. When you are looking for an upgrade we will return back to step one above and repeat the cycle all over again.

In Summary

So we hope that this whilst-stop-tour inside the J&J compressor world has been helpful in terms of informing you about our process, giving you some things to think about when purchasing a new compressor, and of course giving you the confidence to take the leap with your own compressed air system. 

If you would like to speak to a member of the team about either purchasing your first ever compressor, or upgrading your current system, then please do not hesitate to get in contact with our friendly team either via phone on 0800 0278 442 or via email at [email protected]. 

We can’t wait to hear from you soon.

J&J- Keeping things flowing.