How to Buy a Garage Air Compressor

Garage air compressors have many uses

A garage air compressor can be used for anything from inflating the tires on your car, to operating air tools for home improvement. It's important to choose the correct compressor for your needs.

Capacity

Air compressors are rated based on the amount of air that they can hold, which can include anything from 1.5 to 17 gallons. A smaller one can be portable and useful for interior projects. A larger one is less mobile, but would be good for a home workshop where a lot of air tools are used in the same space.

Power sources

There are two types of power systems available for air compressors: electric and gas. An electric air compressor simply plugs into a wall socket, or in smaller cases, the cigarette lighter on your car. A gas compressor runs off of gasoline, and is better for large jobs. Gasoline compressors must be run outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.

PSI

Air compressors are also rated based on the amount of power they give off. This is measured in pounds per square inch, or PSI. The standard measurement runs from 150 to 200 PSI. One with a higher rating will give you more force.

References

• Craftsman: Air compressors
• DeWalt: Air compressors