You can easily find out the pressure drop in your system yourself. Note the pressure in the compressor room (on the big air receiver), and subtract the pressure that is left at the point of use:
pressure drop = pressure in the compressor room − pressure at the point of use
In general, this pressure drop shouldn't be more than 1 bar.
Measure while air is flowing
Pressure drop is only created by compressed air flow. Without flow, there is no pressure drop!
If we have a completely clogged, dirty compressed air filter, and we close the outlet pipe (we don't use compressed air), there is no pressure drop, because there is no air flow. The pressure before and after the filter will stabilize and become the same, and everything looks fine.
So always measure when your machines are in use, when there is compressed air flow.
Walking the system
If the total pressure drop is too big, the next question is: where does it happen?
Measure across one component at a time: note the pressure before it and after it. Before the air filter, we have 7.2 bar. After the air filter, 7.0 bar. The pressure drop over that filter is 7.2 − 7.0 = 0.2 bar.
Work your way from the compressor room towards the point of use: the dryer, the filters, the piping run, and the hose and couplings at the machine. The component with the biggest pressure drop is the one to fix first.
Watch out with built-in gauges. The air dryer always creates a little pressure drop, for example 0.3 bar. If your compressor measures its pressure before the dryer, the pressure after the dryer (in your air receiver and piping) is 0.3 bar lower! Keep this in mind, and always check the pressure on the compressor, and not only on the air receiver.
Written by Cas · Updated Aug 2026