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Why won't my air compressor start with a full air tank?

less than a minute readApr 19Lyle Weischwill
image of air-compressor

If the compressor won't restart after it fills the air tank, the check valve is likely stuck open. The check valve prevents tank air from back flowing to the pump. The stuck-open check valve causes high pump head pressure, preventing the compressor from restarting. Follow these steps to test the check valve:

  1. Shut off the compressor and pull the ring on the safety valve to bleed the air from the air tank until it's empty.

  2. Turn on the compressor to fill the air tank.

  3. Bleed air out of the tank to reach the cut-in pressure, so the pressure switch attempts to restart the motor to refill the air tank.

If the compressor won't start with air in the tank, replace the check valve.


These repairs may help solve your air-compressor problem

JC-ACOM-Replace-the-air-compressor-check-valve

Replace the air compressor check valve

The check valve prevents tank air from back flowing to the pump. A failed check valve will apply high air pressure to the head of the pump preventing the motor from restarting once the tank has filled. If the motor starts when the tank is empty of air but won't restart when the tank is full, replace the check valve.

Air compressor check valve

Find the required part specific to your product.
May 01
By Lyle Weischwill
How to replace an air compressor check valve

If your air compressor won't restart after the tank fills, the check valve might be the problem. Th…

Repair time and Difficulty

 15 minutes or less