Why does the safety valve blow on my Atlas Copco compressor?
Short answer: Safety valve venting under load. If your Atlas Copco GA 30+-90 / GA 37+ (Elektronikon Touch) is showing Safety valve blows after loading, the controller has logged a specific, documented condition. This page covers what it means, what causes it, what you can safely fix yourself, and when — and why — it takes a technician.
What exactly is the machine telling you?
Documented causes: oil level too high, oil separator element defective/clogged, inlet valve malfunctioning, minimum pressure valve malfunctioning, or the safety valve itself out of order. The valve venting means internal pressure exceeded its set limit.
Which machines show this?
Atlas Copco's current-generation GA 30+ through GA 90 oil-injected rotary screws — the '+' models such as the GA 37+ — carrying the Elektronikon Touch controller with its color touchscreen. These are the newest machines in the GA line, and their instruction books lean on documented cause lists (oil level, cooling air, relay designations like F21, Q15, F15, K25) rather than bare code numbers, so faults often read as plain-language conditions. Practical tip: the manual warns that pressing the emergency stop does not make the compressor voltage-free — any electrical-cabinet check on these machines starts with switching off and locking out the supply, full stop.
What causes it?
- Oil level overfilled
- Oil separator element defective or clogged
- Inlet valve or minimum pressure valve malfunctioning
- The safety valve itself out of order
Can you fix it yourself?
Only the first cause — correcting an overfilled oil level after a safe stop and depressurization. Everything else on the list is off-limits in-house.
Step by step — what to try, in order:
- Stop the compressor — do not keep running a unit whose safety valve is blowing
- Check the oil level for overfilling once the unit is stopped and depressurized per the manual
- Note running pressure at the moment it blows for the technician
When do you need a technician — and why?
A blowing safety valve means internal pressure exceeded its set limit; separator, inlet valve, minimum pressure valve, and safety valve work all happen on a pressurized vessel, which is strictly technician territory.
If it does come to a service call and you're in Nashville, TN or Birmingham, AL, we maintain independently compiled lists of local companies that service industrial air compressors — real businesses with verified contact information, none of whom paid to be listed.
Related questions
What does Safety valve blows after loading mean on an Atlas Copco GA 30+-90 / GA 37+ (Elektronikon Touch)?
Safety valve venting under load. Documented causes: oil level too high, oil separator element defective/clogged, inlet valve malfunctioning, minimum pressure valve malfunctioning, or the safety valve itself out of order. The valve venting means internal pressure exceeded its set limit.
Can I fix Safety valve blows after loading on an Atlas Copco GA 30+-90 / GA 37+ (Elektronikon Touch) myself?
Only the first cause — correcting an overfilled oil level after a safe stop and depressurization. Everything else on the list is off-limits in-house.
When does Safety valve blows after loading on an Atlas Copco GA 30+-90 / GA 37+ (Elektronikon Touch) need a technician?
A blowing safety valve means internal pressure exceeded its set limit; separator, inlet valve, minimum pressure valve, and safety valve work all happen on a pressurized vessel, which is strictly technician territory. Anything beyond correcting an overfilled oil level — separator, inlet valve, minimum pressure valve or safety valve — is a service-technician job on a pressurized system.
Verified against service documentation: Atlas Copco GA 30+-90 / GA 37+ (Elektronikon Touch) documentation for Safety valve blows after loading (manualslib.com)