There are many types of compressors and they all perform the same job of compressing air. So how do you differentiate between them? We are here to help you know the differences to be able to choose the right air compressor for you. The following paragraphs will give you the information that you need.

HP vs SCFM

Just as cars are, air compressors can be measured by their horsepower (HP). This, however, can be misleading given that the amount of HP doesn’t always equal more compressed air. Standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM) is a better measure of performance as it actually measures the performance of the HP as not all motors are created equal.

Electric vs Gas

Electric motors are good for indoors as they do not emit fumes. Gas motors, however, can be cheaper to run. Electric can also be nice for portable cases but holds the issue of needing a plug into a wall. Depending on your needs one will be better than the other for case reasons.

Single and Two Stage Pumps

Compressors that use pistons are either Single Stage or Two Stage pumps.

The Single stage works by sucking in air and compressing the air to the desired pressure in a single piston stroke. Single stage pistons can reach up to 150 Pounds per square inch (PSI). The cubic feet per minute (CFM) will typically be higher than on a two-stage as every stroke is compressing air.

A two-stage compressor works like a one stage compressor but it has two pistons firing one after the other. They compress air in stages instead of all at once. First, it is compressed then it is cooled and compressed again. These types of compressors can reach up to 200 PSI. They are also efficient because they cool the air between the stages which increases the density.

The 5 Questions To Ask

1. What is the max PSI needed?
2. What CFM is needed?
3. Portable or Stationary?
4. Electric or Gas?
5. Storage Tank Size?