Not All Compressed Air Assessments Are Created Equal
When it comes to evaluating your compressed air system, you have options. The question is whether the people doing the analysis have an incentive to sell you equipment, or to find you the truth. Here’s how Peak kW compares.
Peak kW vs. OEM "Free" Audits
Atlas Copco, Kaeser, Ingersoll Rand, and other OEMs offer “free” compressed air audits. But free comes with strings attached.
OEM "Free" Audit
- Conducted by equipment sales reps, not independent engineers
- Recommendation is almost always: buy our new compressor
- Limited data logging
- No incentive to optimize existing equipment
- Findings favor equipment replacement over controls optimization
- Report serves as a sales proposal, not an engineering document
Peak kW Independent Assessment
- Conducted by an independent engineer with zero equipment to sell
- Extended data logging: power, pressure, flow, temperature
- Recommendations prioritized by ROI, not brand loyalty
- Controls optimization explored before any equipment changes
- Full engineering report with metered data and M&V plan
- Utility incentive documentation included at no extra cost
Peak kW vs. ESCOs & Large Consulting Firms
Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) offer broad energy programs, but compressed air is rarely their specialty.
ESCOs & Large Firms
- Compressed air is one of many systems not a specialization
- Junior analysts may conduct the actual assessment
- Long timelines: 3-6 months from engagement to report
- Higher overhead costs passed through to the customer
- May lack deep expertise in controls sequencing and piping design
- Incentive management is secondary to their core business
Peak kW Specialist Approach
- 100% focused on compressed air it is all we do
- Devon Wright personally conducts or oversees every assessment
- Proposal in 5-7 days, full report in 4-6 weeks
- Lower overhead = competitive pricing with higher expertise
- Deep controls, piping, and system design engineering capability
- Full-lifecycle utility incentive management built into every project
Peak kW vs. Doing Nothing
The most expensive option is the one most plants choose by default: doing nothing.
25-35%
of compressed air output lost to leaks in the average facility
$80K-$180K
wasted annually per 1,000 HP in a typical unoptimized system
8,760
hours per year your compressors run every inefficiency compounds
50-70%
of project cost often covered by utility rebates in qualifying territories – money you may be leaving on the table
Ready for an Honest Assessment of Your Compressed Air System?
10-minute call. No obligation. No equipment to sell. Just data, engineering, and quantified savings.
