Why a structured borewell enquiry saves time
Most borewell enquiries start as a phone call: “I need a 1,000 cfm compressor.” That is a start, but flow alone does not decide the machine. The same rig can need very different air depending on the hole size, the hammer, the depth, the formation and how much water comes into the hole. A structured brief lets our engineers recommend a suitable compressor, booster or rental package at the first reply, instead of several rounds of questions.
This page lists what to tell us and why each item matters. The technical selection method itself is explained on our DTH compressor selection guide and the borewell project enquiry brief.
What kind of borewell enquiry is it?
Tell us first which of these applies, because it changes the questions that follow:
- New compressor purchase for a new or existing rig.
- Used or refurbished compressor where budget or delivery matters more than a new machine.
- Rental or hire for a project, a season or while your own machine is under repair.
- Pressure upgrade or booster to drill deeper or handle more water.
- Suitability check of a compressor you already own for a new type of work.
- Loss of performance, such as slow drilling, low pressure or overheating, where service or repair may be needed.
- Spare parts for a borewell compressor of any make.
The borehole and the drilling method
Hole geometry
Give the hole diameter at each stage (for example the casing size in the overburden and the open-hole size in rock) and the target depth. Deeper holes need more pressure to lift the cuttings and overcome the water column; larger holes need more air to keep the annular velocity high enough to clean the hole.
Formation and water
Describe the ground as you know it from nearby wells: soil and weathered zone depth, hard rock type (granite, basalt, gneiss, sandstone), fractured zones and the depth at which water is usually struck. Heavy water inflow raises the back pressure on the hammer and calls for higher pressure and flow. Do not worry if the information is approximate; tell us what is known and what is a guess.
Hammer and bit
The hammer’s model and size and the bit diameter set the air consumption at a given pressure. Hammer manufacturers publish consumption curves, and the compressor must deliver that flow at the working pressure with some reserve. Photos of the hammer and bit markings are helpful.
Pressure and flow: the typical bands
The table shows the typical bands we work with for borewell and DTH drilling. The right point within a band depends on the hole, the hammer and the water.
| Pressure | Typical flow | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 200–250 psig (13.8–17.2 bar) | 600–900 cfm | Shallower holes, smaller hammers, moderate water |
| 250–300 psig (17.2–20.7 bar) | 800–1,200 cfm | Common agricultural and domestic borewells in hard rock |
| 300–400 psig (20.7–27.6 bar) | 1,000–1,500 cfm | Deep holes, larger diameters, heavy water inflow |
| Up to about 500 psig (34.5 bar) | Special units | Very deep or demanding holes, usually with high-pressure units or boosters |
State the pressure and flow you believe you need, and whether those are figures from the hammer maker, from experience or from the compressor nameplate. Compressor ratings are free air delivery at the stated working pressure; remember that 1 bar equals about 14.5 psi when comparing figures.
Your current compressor, booster and hoses
If you already have a compressor, tell us its make, model, rated pressure and flow, engine, approximate running hours and condition. Nameplate photos remove most guesswork. For boosters, give the same details and how they are connected.
Also describe the hose and manifold from the compressor to the rig: hose diameter and length, couplings, any lubricator, and the pressure rating. An undersized or very long hose loses pressure that the compressor then has to make up. Every hose must be rated above the compressor’s maximum pressure and restrained with whip checks.
Site, duty and logistics
These items decide the practical package and whether a rental or a purchase makes more sense:
- Location: district and state, with a location pin for site jobs. We serve all of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and supply across India.
- Ambient and altitude: summer temperatures of 40–45 °C in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and above 45 °C on open sites, affect cooling and engine performance, so high-ambient capability matters. Altitude reduces air density and the delivered mass of air.
- Duty: how many holes per month, hours per day, and whether the compressor is truck-mounted, on its own trailer or on a separate vehicle.
- Duration: for rentals, the start date and how long you need the machine.
- Fuel and support: who arranges diesel, whether you need an operator, and the access to site for service visits.
- Dust: borewell sites are dusty; air filter condition and cleaning intervals matter more than on factory duty.
Loss of performance: what to report
If your compressor used to drill well and now does not, describe the symptoms precisely:
- pressure on the compressor gauge while drilling, and when it was last normal;
- engine speed under load, and whether the engine labours or smokes;
- discharge temperature and any high-temperature shutdowns;
- oil consumption or oil in the discharge air;
- the date of the last service, and what was changed (air filter, oil filter, separator, oil).
These details often point to the cause before an engineer reaches site, such as a choked air filter, a worn separator element, a sticking inlet valve or a worn airend. Our performance diagnostics page explains the common faults.
Photos and documents that help
- compressor and engine nameplates, and the rig and booster nameplates if fitted;
- hammer and bit markings;
- the hose and manifold arrangement;
- gauge readings while drilling, if there is a problem;
- for spare parts, the old part and any part number stamped on it.
Send photos by WhatsApp or email. Keep personal or commercial documents to what is needed for the enquiry.
New, used or rental: which suits the job?
Once the duty is clear, the next choice is how to get the machine. A new compressor makes sense for a rig owner with steady work for years and a need for maximum availability. A used or refurbished unit can suit a smaller operator, a second rig or a budget-limited start, provided its condition is known. Rental suits a fixed project, a seasonal peak, work that needs more pressure than your own machine gives, or cover while your compressor is under repair. Tell us how many months of work you expect and we will compare the options honestly, including running and service needs, not just the purchase.
How Reddy Compressors helps
Reddy Compressors supplies all types, all brands and all models of borewell compressors: new machines, used and refurbished units, rentals and hire, service and repair, and spare parts. We work as an independent multi-brand specialist on ELGi, Atlas Copco, Ingersoll Rand, KAESER, Chicago Pneumatic, Doosan and other makes, not as an authorised dealer of any brand.
From our office at Tarnaka, Secunderabad, active since 2002, our team of over 20 service engineers and technicians covers rigs across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and we supply compressors, rentals and spares across India. When you send a brief, a service engineer reviews it, asks for anything missing and replies with a recommended configuration: pressure, flow, machine type and whether a booster, a used unit or a rental suits the job. Spare parts are identified from the machine’s make, model, serial number and nameplate, and fit is confirmed before we quote.
What to send us
- Type of enquiry: purchase, used, rental, booster, suitability, repair or spares.
- Hole diameter, target depth, formation and expected water.
- Hammer and bit size, and the pressure and flow you believe you need.
- Your existing compressor’s make, model and nameplate photo, if any.
- Site location, duty (holes per month, hours per day) and rental duration.
- Your name, phone or WhatsApp number and preferred contact time.
Frequently asked questions
What size compressor do I need for a borewell?
It depends on hole diameter, depth, hammer size, formation and water inflow. Typical borewell compressors deliver 600–1,500 cfm at 200–400 psig (13.8–27.6 bar), with special units up to about 35 bar for deep or wet holes. Common hard-rock agricultural borewells often fall in the 250–300 psig band at 800–1,200 cfm. Send us the hole and hammer details and we will recommend a specific configuration.
Why is my borewell compressor drilling slowly?
Slow drilling usually means the hammer is not getting enough pressure or flow. Common causes are a choked air filter from site dust, a worn separator element, an inlet valve not opening fully, low engine speed, hose losses or a worn airend. Heavy water inflow at depth can also exceed what the machine can handle. Note the gauge pressure while drilling and the last service details, and send them to us.
Can I hire a borewell compressor instead of buying one?
Yes. We rent borewell and high-pressure compressors from our own fleet for projects, seasonal work or while your machine is being repaired. Hire is often the better choice for a short programme, for a job that needs more pressure than your own compressor gives, or to try a size before buying. Tell us the hole details, location and duration and we will suggest a suitable unit.
Do you sell used borewell compressors?
Yes. Along with new machines, we supply used and refurbished borewell compressors of many makes. A used machine can be a sensible choice when budget or delivery time matters. We check the engine, airend, controls and running hours, and we tell you what has been done to the machine and what to expect, so you can compare it fairly with a new one.
What information do you need to supply spare parts for my borewell compressor?
Send the make, model and serial number from the compressor nameplate, a photo of the nameplate, the engine details, and a photo of the old part with any part number on it. We identify the part from the machine and confirm the fit before quoting, which avoids wrong parts reaching a remote site. We supply parts for all common borewell compressor brands across India.
Do you service borewell compressors at the rig site?
Yes. Our service engineers and technicians attend rigs across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for servicing, fault-finding and repairs, and larger work such as airend or engine overhaul can be planned with you. For sites in other states, we supply spares and arrange project-based support where it is feasible. Tell us the location and the symptom when you call.
Related pages
Enquiry
Send your requirement
Share the application, pressure, air demand and any photos or nameplates. We will reply with the questions a service engineer would ask first.