Maintenance costs have caused some stations to hire companies to install and maintain air pumps. Some stations no longer provide air pumps at all. The air pump gauges at free air stations were found to be more accurate than those stations that charge for air. Those stations that do have air pumps tend to locate them away from gas pumps.Ī site is available to find gas stations that offer free air. Not all gas stations have air pumps for safety reasons. But when it is free, the reading on the air pressure gauge may be more accurate. So air at gas stations is not always free. But they did remark that drivers should not assume that just because they are paying for air that the air gauge is more accurate. The NCSA stopped short of this conclusion. So, could it be that stations charging fees try to get customers to use more air, resulting in them spending more money at the air pumps? Or is this just a coincidence? Free pumps were found to be more accurate in all regions. There was also a significant accuracy difference in free pumps versus pumps that have fees. Western state stations that charged fees for air were more likely to have a significant gauge inaccuracy than similar stations in other regions of the United States.īut in stations with a high number of vehicles visiting, the NCSA found that stations in the west were more likely to be accurate than other regions. The region of the United States where the pump was located also had an effect.įirst, they looked at stations where few vehicles visited. The NCSA found a relationship between the traffic volume at the gas station and the pump fees. The National Center for Statistics and Analysis Research and Development, or NCSA, did a study to answer this question. But, most importantly, how does the cost of air affect the air gauge accuracy? Are Air Pumps At Gas Stations Free?Īs mentioned, some gas stations offer free air pumps while some charge fees. For boaters, this provides an added convenience, as trailers have more room to be parked while you pump air. So modern-day stations usually separate their air pumps from the gas pumps.Īir pumps are often located at the extreme ends of the lot. You don’t want people bending over and pumping air while someone else is driving their car away.ĭrivers turning their cars into the station from the highway may not see the air pumpers crouching down to put air in their tires. It is safer to have the air pumps away from the gas pumps. That way, you can adjust the amount of air your tires need. Now you can get air from a machine that is equipped with an adjustable meter. Today, you will typically find air hoses no longer come out of the ground. With it, the air pump locations have changed, as well. There you could not only have an attendant pump your gas, but he or she would also check under the hood to make sure your car had the proper amount of oil and water.īecause of this, air pumps were usually located near the gas pumps for the convenience of the attendant. Years ago, you found service stations, not gas stations. The best part is knowing where to find air before you go. So get out those fishing rods, pick up some bait, and get some air in those trailer tires. There are seventeen stations with free air in the Los Angeles area. Honolulu, Hawaii has eleven stations with free air. If you are going to head to the Atlantic or Pacific oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, or just a lake, you can know before you go where you can find air if you need it.įor example, there are eleven stations to get free air in the Miami, Florida area. The fun part is to use the Free Air Pump service to plan a trip. You just enter your address, city, state, or zip code, and search to find your answer. A service called “ Free Air Pump” lists gas stations that have free air. Chevron, Shell, and Costco are the most likely gas stations to have air pumps.īut the best air is free air. There you find more stations that offer free air. The most air pump-friendly state is perhaps California. Some require air to be free and some do not. Some states require stations to have air pumps, some do not. The laws requiring gas stations to have air pumps vary by state. Where Is The Air Pump At A Gas Station?.
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