I bought this compressor to replace a venerable DeVillbiss unit I used for 25 years. Thought I'd try this new, ultra quiet compressor. I must say it is absolutely the quietest unit I have ever seen or used. Wait, wait though.... what they don't tell you is HOW they get the thing to be so quiet. Here's the fine print: It's so quiet because it DOES NOT work. It just sits there like a stone.
Mine flat out failed after 14 months and certainly less than 20 uses in that time. This is meant to be my secondary compressor, used to inflate tires and use in the house for trim nails or whatever. Very light use. For my primary compressor I have a large DeWalt that I use in the shop almost daily for everything from spraying finishes, to running air sanders. I'm well versed in compressors and tools as I've been using them for more than 30 years as a hobby and professionally.
This company has taken this "quiet" mantra to a whole other level, though. I have written them 2 nicely worded emails and left them 2 voice mails explaining the failure and hoping they could fix it or send some replacement parts or something. Well.... they don't return phone calls or emails apparently. They like to remain quiet on the customer service end of the operation, as well. They take their marketing very seriously, I guess.
I'd like to say they were rude or condescending, or otherwise unhelpful, but the truth is, they are non existent. They are just "quiet." Beyond quiet, actually.... more like dead silent.
I see that the warranty is good for 12 months. The fact that mine failed after 14 months is just my luck. Of course I don't know how anyone could get a warranty claim from them since they refuse to return communications.
CAVEAT EMPTOR - please consider my experience before purchasing. It sucks having a $200 door stop taking up space in my shop.
For those of you who like specific ratings:
PROS:
I ordered it and it was delivered to my house
It works great as a door stop. The rubber feet keep it planted nicely on the floor.
It is EXTREMELY quiet... after 14 months it quite literally could get any quieter
CONS:
It doesn't compress air (that's kind of a biggie for an air compressor)
The plug wire is too short
The internal parts are lightweight, i.e. cheap
When it did work, the regulator was out of whack and inaccurate
Non existent customer service
EVERYTHING ELSE you could possibly expect from a compressor or a tool company
If by some miracle in the future I hear back from California Air, I'll update this review.
UPDATE: Feb 6, 2017
Since it's broken anyway, I decided to take it apart and see what happened. Upon further inspection customers should know this unit has what appears to be a cast aluminum housing. VERY WEAK choice for the guts of the compressor. As you can see in the photos, the area where the valve seats on the down stroke shattered. Metal shrapnel everywhere. The shards penetrated the silicone gasket and blew throughout the motor. I hope the pictures explain it better than my writing.
The valve gaskets are a cheap grade of silicone and were discoloring and hardening, as well. This machine is junk. If you have one and it hasn't failed yet, I think it probably will. If you buy one after seeing these pictures, don't say I didn't warn you! Oh... by the way.... still haven't heard anything from the company after another email and phone call....
| Item Weight | 35.3 Pounds |
|---|---|
| Sound Level | 60 dB |
| Air Flow Capacity | 3.1 Cubic Feet Per Minute |
| Maximum Power | 2 Horsepower |
| Motor Horsepower | 1 Horsepower |
| Amperage Capacity | 8 Amps |
| Manufacturer | California Air Tools- Home Improvement |
| Part Number | 2010A |
| Item Weight | 35.3 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 18.5 x 14 x 13.5 inches |
| Country of Origin | Mexico |
| Item model number | 2010A |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 1.0 hp |
| Color | Silver |
| Style | 1.0 Hp & 2.0 Gal |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Pattern | Air Compressor |
| Horsepower | 1 |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Special Features | Ultra Quiet |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | 1 Year Limited Warranty |
