How to Increase CFM on Air Compressor – 2 Easy HACKS!

We don’t need to enlighten you about the necessity of an air compressor, do we? This tool makes numerous jobs trouble-free, yet few things also require you to get a good grasp.

CMF is a sort of thing that has a certain level to maintain according to the job. Thus, without a decent understanding about it can leave you clueless in the midway of conducting a task.

There are various air tools you have to work with. However, a particular air compressor often falls short of reaching your expectation to cover it all.

how to increase CFM on air compressor

That is where CFM comes into play. If you can modify the CFM output, then everything will get through. Now, here we will reveal the methods of increasing CFM on an air compressor. Don’t you want to find out?

What is This CFM in the First Place?

We know the word CFM, but what this actually means?

Well, CFM stands for Cubic Feet Per Minute. In simple words, the pace of the air that ingress into the compressor.

While calculating the CFM, you need to watch two things. Those include the pump’s speed, and the other one is the size of the air holder cylinder.

If your compressor has a 6 CFM rating, this implies 6 Cubic Feet of air it will draw from outside. As CFM is related to the air compressor’s application, which rating of CFM do you need, it is up to the task. For instance, a home garage air compressor has CFM ratings between 2 to 12.

Benefits of Increasing CFM

Each job with an air compressor requires a certain level of CFM. You cannot mess up the relation between a proper CFM level and a perfectly accomplished job.

It depends on your work and the compressor, how much CFM you need, and how it will deal with that.

Suppose you are working with a paint sprayer. Usually, air paint sprayers demand a higher level of CFM to perform. However, nail guns require lower CFM.

So, it is not hard to imagine that you may need to modify the CFM on the air compressor as soon as you switch to different tasks.

How to Figure Out the CFM Level?

It is likely to forget about the same CFM rating of the air compressor. When you own a device for a more extended period but don’t feel like using it often, a guiding manual can help in such scenarios.

But let’s assume you don’t have it either.

So, how to know the CFM rating after all? Here, it would help if you do some math. Sounds boring?

Well, we will try to keep it as least boring as possible. Follow the steps:

  • Turn the knob and shut the machine down. Now, take a glance at the volume of the tank. Whatever the volume is in a gallon, here you need a calculator. Divide the amount by 7.48. As 1 cubic foot= 7.48 gallons.
  • You have got the measurement in a cubic foot (V). Make the tank entirely empty and refill.
  • Take a note of the PSI while reloading. You need to measure the kick in and kick out time. For instance, while kick in, you noted the PSI is 60 and the kick-out time is 90, then the difference is 30. That is what you have to remember for further calculation.
  • After getting the value, it is needed to divide it by 14.7. Thus, you will get the pressure (P) in ATM.
  • Here we are almost done. Multiply the pressure and the volume. Then divide the result by 60. Hence you will get the CFM of your air compressor.

So, the law is, CFM= Pressure × Volume / 60

Techniques of Increasing CFM on Air Compressor

Techniques of Increasing CFM on Air CompressorIf you have come this far, then assumably you have aced it. Now, let’s get a closer look at the techniques of increasing the CFM on the air compressor.

Technique #1:  Lessen the Pressure

Before moving on, let’s get along with the working procedure of an air compressor.

First, the machine drew air from the atmosphere and kept it inside the tank to accelerate the tank’s pressure.

The pressure makes the air going out at a distinct level. We call it Cubic Feet per Minute.

So, the fact is, if we want to raise the CFM, then by lowering the pressure, we can do that. Because you can’t make the machine work beyond its capacity. When you lessen the pressure level, the CFM will escalate gradually.

To do so, the regulator has to be turned down. The tank will fill up slowly because of the lesser air flows, and the pressure will be more inferior. The lower the pressure is, the higher the CFM will be.

Suppose your compressor has a rating of 9 CFM with 125 PSI. That implies after reaching 125 PSI, and then it will provide 9 CFM air output. By simply turning the PSI down, you get increased CFM.

Well, there won’t be drastic change yet that will be efficacious unquestionably. Moreover, this technique is safer enough to proceed where other methods may damage the machine itself.

Technique #2:  Use Two Compressor

In some cases, you need more CFM than your compressor can produce. But you can’t pull the machine out of the limit without damaging it. Yet neither it’s an impossible task. Then how to do it?

Here comes this technique, which is all about using two compressors to maximize the CFM level.

For example, you have two air compressors that have 9 and 5 CFM rating. After connecting both, you will get 14 CFM at once. As simple as that.

So, let’s make a move and connect two of them to accomplishing the goal.

For the entire process, you have to manage an extra hose. The crucial part of the dedicated hose should be the third hole. The first two holes will be used as inputs and the other one as output.

After that, begin with linking two compressor tanks with their hoses. Attach that additional hose with both hoses.

Now connect the third hose’s output with the air tool. And Congratulations! But you might be wondering what if you don’t have two air compressors to with?

Here, the work type will decide whether a high CFM compressor will do the job for you or not. If your job needs high CFM, then owning two compressors won’t be that bad.

Decreasing the CFM on Air Compressor

When it comes to decreasing the compressor’s CFM level, it brings a few questions with it.

  • What is the purpose of decreasing CFM?
  • How lower you need the level to be?
  • Will it affect the air compressor?

Well, for specific jobs, there might be some situations where decreasing the CFM will help. But while lowering it, you have to be careful.

Otherwise, the tool may stop working. Hence, if you diminish too much, it is likely to wait even longer to get the tank filled.

So, we would recommend buying an air compressor that can process lower CFM levels also. That will be expensive compared to the others but will save your day ultimately. But never consider purchasing one if you really don’t feel like useful for your work.

FAQs About CFM of Air Compressor

FAQs About CFM of Air Compressor
What is the difference between CFM & PSI?

As you already know, CFM stands for Cubic Feet per Minute. On the other hand, PSI implies a Pound per Square Inch. PSI determines the pressure imposed in a specific area. In contrast, CFM refers to the volume of the air.

How much CFM is enough?

As there are endless things to do with an air compressor, so there isn’t any definite answer. Different tools require a different level of CFM. So, it is up to that specific task you are willing to do with the air tool. For example, if you are using an air compressor for barbershop, the ideal CFM is at least 5, whereas with larger air compressors used on stationary systems, the ideal CFM typically exceeds 10. If you are using an air compressor for cleaning PC, you need a CFM of between 70 and 90 CFM, and anything higher can damage your computer.

How to calculate CFM?

With simple math, you can calculate the CFM level if you don’t know it already. Take the total volume and divide it by the exchange rate. The answer will be the CFM of your system.

Is higher CFM better?

A compressor with higher CFM will definitely deliver better execution. You will experience ease while working with heftier applications. i.e., nail guns, air impact wrenches.

For the paint gun, how much CFM will be needed?

Usually, the answer is 12 CFM. Most of the paint guns are ‘air hogs,’ and those demand output of 12 CFM for smoother operation.

Is CFM related to PSI?

CFM is related to PSI because, without proper combination, the tool won’t work as expected. Both will increase and decrease according to the horsepower that is applied.

Why does the air compressor take a longer span to fill up?

Well, there might be several cases involved with it. The most common ones are pressure valve failing, gasket failure, and so on. Please give it a proper check and take action correspondingly.

Wrapping Up

Knowing about increasing CFM on an air compressor is quite simple stuff. However, doing it in the right way can be a little rambling in the end.

Hopefully, this particular guide will illuminate you about increasing the machine’s CFM, in our school of thought.

Conclusively, if you don’t want to rush through all of these and eager to buy an air compressor with a better CFM rating, then steel yourself.

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