Interior Compressor Closet Ventilation

[luvmyglockfou]

I built the closet pictured below specifically to house my compressor (when I can afford it). I got the 220 ran and connected, and am now just waiting for the compressor cash. I didn't insulate the closet walls or drywall the interior, mainly because I wasn't sure what I was going to use for sound-deadening. Also, I figured I may have to add some sort of ventilation for the compressor. I have searched through threads, but haven't seen anyone doing an interior structure like this with ventilation. The compressor will be a 60 gallon Kobalt compressor (military discount at Lowes). I have an attic directly above the closet that I have access to, and am wondering if I could install a fan in the ceiling to vent the heat from the closet into the attic? Also, I assume that I should install a vent in the bottom of the door to draw air from the garage into the closet? Thanks for the advice!

I don't have a picture with the door installed, but it's a standard white interior door. THe picture makes the wall appear to be totally crooked, however it is perfectly straight. Odd.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

A vent at the top of the wall, a vent at the bottom- convection is your friend!

Going into the attic is not a good idea. Venting directly up and out the roof would be OK except for the fact that another roof penetration means a greater risk of roof leaks.

 

[luvmyglockfou]

I am not going to go through the roof. There are, however, vented soffits. Could I install a standard "bathroom" type, soffit-venting fan up top and just take it through the attic and out the soffit? Also, why is venting into the attic unacceptable? I know nothing about venting so it's an honest question.

 

[GN4WHLN]

I used a bathroom fan and bottom vent to keep my old compressor setup cool. Worked great.

 

[MoonRise]

I am not going to go through the roof. There are, however, vented soffits. Could I install a standard "bathroom" type, soffit-venting fan up top and just take it through the attic and out the soffit? Also, why is venting into the attic unacceptable? I know nothing about venting so it's an honest question.

Not because of the compressor, but because the compressor is in a garage.

You do NOT want to vent (or in any other way 'connect' ) garage space into non-garage space (attic or house), so that you do not end up putting things like exhaust fumes into the house (carbon monoxide!!!) or into the attic where it may then transfer into the house.

Also, (most places/locales) have building codes with rules and regs about fireblocking from a garage to habitable space (the house), so that a possible fire does not spread quickly or easily into the house where you might be sleeping (or whatever).

Do NOT put 'vents' from a garage into the attic. (even just going 'through' the attic and out through a soffit or roof may require various levels of fireproofing and 'sealing' for fire and fume safety.)

As to venting the small closet you built, put some louver vents down 'low' and up 'high' on your closet walls. Done.

If you want to get 'fancy' with sound isolation, you can add/build some acoustic baffles behind the louvers to reduce sound coming out from those openings.

btw, What do you have venting through that piece of duct going through the aluminum-foil covered window?

 

[luvmyglockfou]

Thank you for the immense amount of knowledge! Ill do just that: Louvers on the walls and door on top and bottom..possible install some sort of fan to vent into the garage space from the compressor closet. The vent going out the window is a portable 10,000 btu air conditioning unit pictures earlier in the thread.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Since you are saving for a compressor and not trying to insulate around a compressor you already have, consider a quieter compressor. I have a5 hp 2stage champion that just chugs along. It has an intake muffler on it. I stand right next to it and while its not silent, it's not offensive. A low pitch chug. I would love to have it in a closet. It would be dang near silent!!

 

[my02v6]

Would a louvered door do any good,at least for providing cool intake air? It would look nice in white.

Also how do you like the PC 18v drill? I have the two batts from the kit and keep adding more tools like the impact driver and sawzall.