What does Kaeser alarm 0044 A (no pressure buildup) mean?
Short answer: Machine not building pressure. If your Kaeser Sigma Control 2 is showing 0044 A — No pressure buildup, 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?
The machine does not produce compressed air — gauge working pressure fails to rise above 50 psig within the specified time, or the unit never goes into LOAD. A defective minimum pressure/check valve is a documented cause.
Which machines show this?
the wide range of current-generation Kaeser rotary screw compressors — ASD, BSD, CSD, DSD, ESD and related series — built since roughly 2011 with the Sigma Control 2, the industrial-PC controller with a text display and RFID access. It reports faults as a four-digit number plus a letter: 'A' messages are alarms that shut the machine down, 'W' messages are warnings or service reminders it keeps running through, with arrows marking whether the value went over or under its limit — so 0015 A is the airend-overheat shutdown while 0013 W just asks for an air filter. Practical tip: the same subsystem often has a W and an A code (0004 W before 0022 A on the separator); acting on the W message is how you avoid the A shutdown.
What causes it?
- Air leak in the machine or immediate piping bleeding off pressure
- Coupling or V-belt problem (visual check, machine off and isolated)
- Defective minimum pressure/check valve — a documented cause
- Inlet valve not opening
Can you fix it yourself?
Partly — the leak walk and a visual coupling/belt check are in-house. If neither shows anything, stop there.
Step by step — what to try, in order:
- Check the machine and the immediate piping for audible/visible air leaks.
- Visually check the coupling or V-belt condition (machine off and isolated).
When do you need a technician — and why?
Inlet valve and minimum pressure/check valve diagnosis happens on the pressurized air circuit and requires an authorized Kaeser service representative.
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 0044 A — No pressure buildup mean on a Kaeser Sigma Control 2?
Machine not building pressure. The machine does not produce compressed air — gauge working pressure fails to rise above 50 psig within the specified time, or the unit never goes into LOAD. A defective minimum pressure/check valve is a documented cause.
Can I fix 0044 A — No pressure buildup on a Kaeser Sigma Control 2 myself?
Partly — the leak walk and a visual coupling/belt check are in-house. If neither shows anything, stop there.
When does 0044 A — No pressure buildup on a Kaeser Sigma Control 2 need a technician?
Inlet valve and minimum pressure/check valve diagnosis happens on the pressurized air circuit and requires an authorized Kaeser service representative. If no leak or belt issue is found, contact an authorized Kaeser service representative — inlet valve and minimum pressure/check valve diagnosis requires a technician.
Verified against service documentation: Kaeser Sigma Control 2 documentation for 0044 A — No pressure buildup (airsolcan.com)