I think it is a matter of usage time, not calender time.  I originally started with a 12 auto tire inflator that turned at some gowd-awful speed and it wore out quickly.    Went to a regular piston compressor and it is still working, but so noisy I switched again to a diaphram unit- quiet but after three years it is showing its heavy usage.  Thinking of going to a tank- fill it from noisy compressor in garage.

It had a long break for 7 or so years, but now as of the last three its seen a lot of use and some long painting sessions where as I'm finishing up the outter case will be pretty warm too the touch.  Its also really noisy, another reason why I wouldnt mind upgrading becasue i know newer compressors make a lot less noise.

Hello!

I'm using a compressor ripped out of a refrigerator - it was given to me by my dad sometime in the mid-nineties. Reliable and quiet - in regular use for more than 25 years! Some 20 years ago I took it to a refrigerator repair shop for an oil refill - and that's it. Cool, eh?

Thanks for reading and have a nice day

Paweł

I had a Badger compressor for about 10 years, but the diaphragm failed due to age.  I didn't fix it because the unit was naturally noisy, and instead bought a silent compressor.  It suffered a head gasket and pressure switch failure after about 10 years, but a friend's dad was a refrigeration tech so he fixed it for me.  But I did buy a bigger, better silent compressor called a Mako Shark, which is what I have been using for the last 15 years.

It's heavy, so I cobbled together a dolly so it could be wheeled around as needed.

Not as long as I wish. My shop compressor is unbreakable but it does need regular maintenance and it's stuck in the shop.

I'm on my third hobby compressor. I get 5-10 years each.

Bill

If you want/need a dual use unit, take a look at the Fortress line at HF.  My 2 gal has dual outlet QD's, up to 135psi, and runs almost whisper quiet at 60db.  Can air up tires and run a nail gun in a pinch.

Runs about $165, but once in awhile can get a coupon special for about $30 less.

goldhammer

If you want/need a dual use unit, take a look at the Fortress line at HF.  My 2 gal has dual outlet QD's, up to 135psi, and runs almost whisper quiet at 60db.  Can air up tires and run a nail gun in a pinch.

Runs about $165, but once in awhile can get a coupon special for about $30 less.

 

Harbor Freight is good, but the holiday season is fast approaching.   Check the sale offerings at your local Lowe's/Home Despot/favorite big box store.  There was a stack of pancake compressors at the Ace Hardware around the corner.  
I got a 2 gallon Porter Cable with an included brad nailer around the holidays acouple of years back for about 50 bucks American

I hear You!

     I have a W.R. Brown Compressor. Have used it on and off for 24 years now. The DeVilbiss I had finally went to the Compressor graveyard with a cracked cylinder! ( Couldn't get a new one either, Unit too old). Sitting in the Wings is a new H.F. Compressor. I believe in being prepared this time.

     I wasn't going to do a lot of AB,ing but being tied up with a Rail Museum, there's a lot of Model rail stuff that needs repainting and dusting from time to time. Sooo.

I had a compressor that stopped running after a few years so I bought a new one.  After a time I thought about maybe getting the old one fixed in case of emergencies.  I took it to a small electroics store and while the man was looking at it he tapped it a couple times and a spider came out.  After removing the critter, he plugged it back in and it started again.  A deffinate bug in the system

TankerEasy

So, as the title states, whats a rough estimate for compressor life span?  Currently Im using a Sparmax that bought new 10 years ago.  It still works as advertised, although at times Ive noticed recently it seems the pressure fluctuates a bit during painting sessions, as in ill set it to say 15psi and itll dip 3 to 4 psi after a few minutes.  I know thats just the regulator starting to show its age.  Im leaning towards retiring the old girl considering most of new compressors are a lot more quite.  is 10 years a god run?  Is there any maintenance I could do?  

Please don't take this as a smart remark, but, what does the manual say?  If there was a manual with the compressor, I would expect it to include tips or instructions for maintenance, for example, and info about service the manufacturer offers.

I have a Craftsman compressor, which came with a manual, and I follow the tips included there.