If your recent air sample is not in compliance due to Total Volatile Hydrocarbon, this AirCheck✓ Tech Note™ may help you identify the source of your Total Volatile Hydrocarbon contamination.
Briefly, problems with gaseous hydrocarbons can be caused:
- from within the compressor – overheating compressor lubricants can cause the generation of lubricant vapors which can slip by piston rings
- from intake air – vapors from nearby dry cleaning shops, beauty salons, chemical plants, industrial/manufacturing plants, motor exhaust, cleaning solvents, etc.
Solutions include: If you are having problems as noted in #1, have your compressor serviced. If it is not a compressor related problem, then typically it will be an environmental problem. Relocating the intake, providing additional ventilation, and being aware of potential hazardous conditions when running the compressor can help alleviate this problem.
Using an ambient periodically (even when sampling stored air) can be useful to Trace’s personnel when we are troubleshooting with you.
Trace’s lab can perform 2 additional tests to help you determine the source of your problem. We can 1) identify the organic compounds that constitute the hydrocarbons in question or we can 2) identify and quantify. Typically, we are able to help you figure out if it’s the dry cleaners next door, the solvents being used to clean parts, motor exhaust, etc. If you would like further testing to help you resolve this problem, please contact us immediately, so that we can re-analyze your sample. The sample will only be held for a few days.
If you have further questions, or need assistance in resolving this problem, please Contact Us or give us a call at 1-800-247-1024. You are entitled to a free resample. Please use the supplies you have on hand to take a retest. Once we have received your sample (you have 30 days) we will restock your kit.
The AirCheck✓™ Team of Experts at Trace would like to thank you for your continued business!
