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How to use a vertical air compressor

Updated: October 2026

The upright compressor is in the garage, the tank is empty, and two gauges are new to you. How to use a vertical air compressor the first time is a short sequence: close the drain, let the tank gauge rise until the motor stops, set the regulator, and drain after use. Switch off if the motor will not cut out. The steps follow the eight amazon.co.uk listings on the [vertical air compressor comparison](/hub/compressors/vertical-air-compressor), captured on 15 October 2026, plus HSE and British Compressed Air Society guidance. There was no lab start. A qualifying purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.

The upright compressor is in the garage, the tank is empty, and two gauges are new to you.

Our top picks

Einhell Einhell TE-AC 24 Silent

Best overall

Einhell Einhell TE-AC 24 Silent
7.7/10about £169.93
View offer
Einhell Einhell TC-AC 240/50/10 OF

Alternative

Einhell Einhell TC-AC 240/50/10 OF
6.9/10about £212.95
View offer
Stanley Stanley DST 150/8/50V

Alternative

Stanley Stanley DST 150/8/50V
6.6/10about £268.52
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Before you switch it on
  2. 2.Tank gauge, then the regulator
  3. 3.Drain the tank, even if it is oil-free
  4. 4.Blow gun, hose, and when to stop

Before you switch it on

Stand the receiver on a flat floor, and read the manual in the box. Close the drain. An open drain is why a machine never builds pressure. Leave the air tool off the outlet for this first fill. Wear eye protection, and ear protection if the stated noise is in the mid-90s. Do not copy an open-drain break-in from a 120 V American manual. These cards do not state that procedure. Most of them say oil-free, which means there is no pump oil to check. The Stanley table does not say oil-free. The Craftsman states 120 V. Do not start it from a UK socket. Plug mismatches belong on the vertical air compressor buying guide.

Tank gauge, then the regulator

The tank gauge shows stored pressure. On a first fill it should climb toward the cut-out on the card, and the motor should stop by itself. Stated ceilings are 8 bar or 10 bar. Those are listing claims. Stanley reviews include machines that stop near 6 bar. A closed regulator does not explain that. The regulator is hose pressure. Turn it only after the motor has cut out once, with the tool still off, and read the outlet gauge. A brad nailer and a blow gun do not want the same hose pressure. The Einhell 50 litre states a pressure switch. The silent model states a pressure reducer. One UK review times about 3 minutes to charge the silent 24 litre tank from empty.
Einhell Einhell TE-AC 24 Silent

Testsieger

Einhell Einhell TE-AC 24 Silent
7.7/10about £169.93
View offer

Drain the tank, even if it is oil-free

Oil-free means the pump is not splash-lubricated. Condensate still collects. Sealey’s SAC100V instructions tell you to drain condensation. A trade handbook says to drain the receiver at no more than about 2 bar, so a little pressure pushes the water out. After use, switch off, unplug, and set the regulator down. Open the drain until the water stops, then close it so the next start can build pressure. The Einhell 50 litre states a drain. The silent model’s live bullet states a drain cock. If your card does not mention one, use the valve the manual shows. A short hiss when the motor stops is the unloader, and trade notes treat that hiss as normal. A leak that empties the tank overnight is a fault.

Blow gun, hose, and when to stop

HSE’s HSG39 says not to dust clothing with compressed air. Vacuum the dust instead. The British Compressed Air Society says not to point a gun at anyone, and that a gun with no safety feature should be held to 2 bar on the gauge. Stop if the motor keeps running once the tank gauge has reached cut-out, or if an RCD trips as the motor starts. Switch off and call a repairer. Call a competent person for work use at or above 250 bar litres. On these figures, 24 litres at 8 bar is 192, and a 50 litre tank at 8 bar is 400. A home garage is not made illegal by that sum. Hearing is on the quiet vertical air compressor page.

Common questions

What do I check before the first start?
Stand the compressor on a flat floor, close the drain, leave the tool off the coupling, and use the manual in the box. Switch on and watch the tank gauge until the motor stops. Do not run an open-drain break-in these UK cards do not state. If the card says 120 V, as the Craftsman does, do not start it on a UK socket.
Which gauge does the regulator change?
The regulator changes hose pressure, which you read on the outlet gauge. The tank gauge is stored pressure, and it should reach cut-out and stop the motor. Set the tool only after that first cut-out. A closed regulator does not explain a tank that never climbs.
Should I leave the drain open while it fills?
No. An open drain vents the air you are trying to store, so the tank does not build pressure. Close it before the first start. Open it after use, at low pressure, to let condensate out, then close it again.
Does oil-free mean I can skip draining?
No. Oil-free means no pump oil. Water still condenses in the tank, and the air in the hose is not dry. Drain after use, with the pressure down around 2 bar, as UK handbooks describe. Dry air needs a dryer, and these listings do not include one.
Can I blow dust off my clothes?
No. HSG39 says not to dust clothing with a blow gun. Use a vacuum. Do not point the gun at anyone. If the gun has no safety feature, BCAS advice is to keep it at 2 bar on the gauge.
What if the motor does not stop?
Switch it off and unplug it. A motor that runs on, or a safety valve that is the only vent, is a fault. Call a repairer. Do the same if an RCD trips as it starts, or the tank will not hold. Do not keep using a cut-out that never opens.
When should a competent person take over?
For work use at or above 250 bar litres, a damaged plug or pressure switch, and a tank that will not hold or will not stop. On the printed figures, 24 litres at 8 bar stays under 250 bar litres. The 50 litre and 100 litre tanks do not. A home garage is not made illegal by that sum.

Related pages

Best vertical air compressor

Vertical air compressor

Vertical air compressor buying guide: tank and plug

Quiet vertical air compressor for a shared garage wall

Vertical vs horizontal air compressor: floor and height

Sources

Public UK sources used for this comparison. Listing prices, stars, and specification lines are from amazon.co.uk on 15 October 2026.

  1. Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000, Schedule 1 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  2. HSE INDG178 — written schemes of examination (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  3. Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, regulation 4 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  4. HSE HSG39 — compressed air safety (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  5. BCAS compressed air dictionary (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  6. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  7. amazon.co.uk listings for the eight kept ASINs (retrieved 15 October 2026)