I'm starting my new shop and trying to map our where I'm going to put everything. I've always had my compressor inside the shop but have been thinking about putting it outside because I'm tired of the noise when I'm using it for sandblasting etc. I'm thinking of mounting it outside and then put some kind of protection over it for the weather. Has anyone else done this ? Pics ?
Is your compressor inside or outside your shop ?
- Thread starter budco
- Start date
pgilmore7
Well-known member
I'm in the same boat you are, I've considered having it right out side the shop or in a too shed next to it. I don't like the nose and the extra room would be nice. They make quiet compressors but the price goes up with those.
bobcatdan
Well-known member
If you're in a warm climate, outside the shop is fine. In a cold climate, it should be kept in a reasonable warm area. A lot of stress on start up on a 20° compressor.
ABADWILLYS
Well-known member
mine( a 80 gal IR)is outside it its own shed, i used leftover metal panels from my build, 2x4 framing,poured a concrete slab along with a old screen door, it has worked out well
txvwnut
Well-known member
Mine is outside in a structure pretty much like the one above although I used T-111 siding and carried the siding half way down to aid in ventilation.
jabber
Member
I had mine in a building very similar to the one above for years. Now that I've moved the new shop shares a wall with the garage so I put it in the garage and plumbed the air through the attic space. Best of both worlds for me, quiet and out of the weather.
countrytech
Well-known member
I put my compressor up in the trusses of my garage and then ran pex to a couple different drops. It's still noisy, but I don't have time or money to build an outside building just to hold an compressor. So I just deal with the noise, but at least it's out of the way.
Hi budco,
I see you're in South Carolina. I don't think you're compressor will live a long life outside in hot, humid weather. It will also add heat and moisture to the compressed air, not a good thing, especially for sand blasting. Are you buying a new compressor? If so, I would suggest getting one that is as quiet as you can afford. Quincy is a good example and it's made in the good ole US of A! Could you enclose it in it's own room to cut down on noise?
Joe
I'm actually moving back to Fla, just outside of Jax. I was going to mount it outside next to the a/c unit (hopefully!!) and cover it as needed with some open area on the sides or somewhere for vents. I have a 5hp single stage that I bought over 30 years ago that has been used and abused and (knock on wood) keeps running. I was going to give that compressor to my son and buy a new 2 stage so I have the higher pressure that helps with air tools and my blasting cabinet. I'm 60 years old so I'm not doing all the body work, painting and mechanic work I used to. I'm just going to be working on my cars and bikes and maybe do a little work on the side. I'm a mechanic by trade and my hands are getting worn out, just not what they used to be. With that being said, I hate to spend a lot of money on a top notch compressor that won't be used near as much as it's made for. I'm also looking for a 2 post lift and the lift that I buy will be used about as much as the compressor. If I can save some money on the compressor and lift I might be able to put a/c in. It's a 40x30 with 10' walls and I'm going to put scissor trusses on the lift half and regular trusses on the other half so I can use it for storage. I will wire, insulate and put up interior walls also..... I know it's going to be a lot harder doing it now that when I did my last shop 17 years ago...
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Inside in a back room.
countryroad82
Well-known member
I've had my compressor outside since I built my shop. I built a small open lean to that hasn't given me issues in winter months.
Ilikeike
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Inside at the home garage,
Outside at our shop.
Outside at our shop.
finn
Well-known member
Inside, in the mechanical room with the water heater, boiler and associated radiant heat pumps and manifolds, and the electric panel.
Too much snow and cold weather here to deal with a separate, outside access shed.
Too much snow and cold weather here to deal with a separate, outside access shed.
When I designed my house/garages, I included a 4x4 insulated room in the corner of one of the garages for this purpose. I still need to move the retractable hose to outside the room, but it does a nice job keeping the sound down while the compressor is running.
joe_padavano
Well-known member
Here in Northern VA, where winters routinely get below freezing for weeks in Jan and Feb, I've had my compressor inside an unheated, detached garage and now outside. Neither location has caused a problem. Many of the shops and tire stores in this area have their big compressors outside, some without weather protection. I'd want a rain cover, but otherwise, don't overthink this.
gtae07
Well-known member
I have a single-stage oilless right now (planning on something larger eventually) but I keep it inside. Not annoying the neighbors or the wife is more important than not annoying me; I just bought some good ear protection.
Druesday
New member
Hey Vertguy,
I'd love to see a pic of the room for the compressor. I've got a corner of my garage for a vertical tank compressor, and I want to cover it for quieter operation, but still have sufficient ventilation to keep it cool.
I'd love to see a pic of the room for the compressor. I've got a corner of my garage for a vertical tank compressor, and I want to cover it for quieter operation, but still have sufficient ventilation to keep it cool.
The only thing that concerns me when completely boxing in a compressor is there's no cooling. There are times when I'm using my compressor where it runs for a couple hours non stop and it gets very hot. I actually put a fan blowing on the motor/pump to try to help cool it some. I want to keep the noise level down but feel there's a need to keep it running cool if possible to increase the life of it. I'm going to be on an acre so the noise to neighbors will be minimal. I guess I'll see what I can get for my money and decide. I guess it doesn't make sense to spends $200-300 to enclose it nicely when I can get a quieter compressor by using the money for that.
soj
Well-known member
Last house I was at I put mine in a small attached shed behind the shop. I put a screened vent panel on one wall at the bottom. On the opposite wall I put another screened vent at the top. The compressor flywheel has a fan blowing across the air pump, and natural convection carries the heat out the vents. If you are concerned that isn't enough air flow, you could add an exhaust fan, either wired to the pressure switch or to a thermostat.
Since I have moved from there, the same compressor is in the shop, but will be moved outside.
Jax. FL, you will have no worries about cold temps. I really think most areas of the US a compressor would be fine outside with a good synthetic compressor oil. Notice, I said MOST.
JP
soj
Well-known member
mine( a 80 gal IR)is outside it its own shed, i used leftover metal panels from my build, 2x4 framing,poured a concrete slab along with a old screen door, it has worked out well
I can't see it in your pic, how did you seal between the roof of the shed and the shop wall?
Thanks, jp
ford33
Well-known member
My air compressor is outside in Chicago weather.l I built a small wood cover to protect it from rain and snow. I also changed the oil to a synthetic oil. To remove water from the tank and I added a better drain valve in a readily accessible location. It's been outside in Chicago winters with -10F weather without any issues. During the very coldest days, I have noticed it is slow to start but always does start.
AJ1978
Well-known member
Mine is in the back room of the shop 120' away from the main shop. In the winter the compressor is relied upon day and night, with waste oil heat. Now it's unheated and here is what I have done:
Tried a KATS magnetic heater had that on the cast iron sump, well thank god for circuit breakers, this thing fried and tripped the breaker. NEVER USING THAT AGAIN
On the cold winter days and nights I built a room around it out of fiberglass insulation panels and using a magnet I mounted a forced air small room heater on the tank blowing at the pump.. Never any start up issues, small increase in electric bill but much easier.
This year I am thinking of closing off the area the compressors are. Its under 200 sq feet and I think a small electric fan forced heater will keep me at 55 degrees fine. This should make it easier on the unit during the coldest days.
Tried a KATS magnetic heater had that on the cast iron sump, well thank god for circuit breakers, this thing fried and tripped the breaker. NEVER USING THAT AGAIN
On the cold winter days and nights I built a room around it out of fiberglass insulation panels and using a magnet I mounted a forced air small room heater on the tank blowing at the pump.. Never any start up issues, small increase in electric bill but much easier.
This year I am thinking of closing off the area the compressors are. Its under 200 sq feet and I think a small electric fan forced heater will keep me at 55 degrees fine. This should make it easier on the unit during the coldest days.
djjsr
Well-known member
My workshop is climate controlled and the humidity is usually between 25-35%. The compressor draws inside air so I get very little water in my tank and none in the air lines. I don't like the noise but if I move it outside I have to deal with usually much higher humidity resulting in more water in the air system and then adding more hardware to get the water out. No thanks.
59 wagon man
Well-known member
south fla here have the same harbor freight compressor i bought abought 10 yrs ago. it is in a rubbermaid plastic shed about 8ft w x 3 ft deep x 8 ft high. my airline is then run in copper thru the wall and straight up to the ceiling then pitches away from that point and i drain the ends of the main maybe 1 time a yr and get a 1/2 cup of water . the compressor has a ball valve connected to the drain at the bottom of the tank and that probably gets about a quart of water every few months. you can barely hear it run . it used to be in the garage and rattled throughout the house
mike_dmt
Well-known member
rayra
Well-known member
Built a hush cabinet for mine, inside my suburban attached garage. Its top surface and bottom skirts are pegboard so it can 'breathe'. Not a heavy user when it comes to the compressor, just a few mechanics tools. Doesn't seem to run much warmer than it did bare.
Denwood
Well-known member
Outside in an unheated shed outside. Best thing ever in terms of noise. Just had to replace the crank case oil with 5w30 synthetic for -20C cold starts.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
My 5HP Quincy/60-gallon dual stage compressor is inside the main shop but in its own isolated room to help control noise.
Mike.
Mike.
vonhef
Well-known member
Mine is on the inside... but I have one of the old slow quite compressors. It's a 1957 Curtis and it is so quiet that I can have a normal conversation standing next to it.
I consider my compressor a valuable tool, no different than a drill press or welder. As such, it stays inside. Like vonhef, mine is older (1974 Champion R15), so it turns at a modest RPM and produces much less noise. The noise is also much different then the Puma 60 gallon I had previously. Its a slow, low tone that doesn't bother me one bit, as compared to the fast rattle and clatter that you will find on new cheaper pumps.
mine( a 80 gal IR)is outside it its own shed, i used leftover metal panels from my build, 2x4 framing,poured a concrete slab along with a old screen door, it has worked out well
simple, easy, and cheap, and if you keep an eye out, you can get a door on trash day..
waste of money, all vehicles since the late 80's have an air cleaner box with a muffler , a junk yard crawl, for the air-filter box ,hose,etc and plumb the compressors intake into it, so the car air box feeds the compressor, quiets them down, plus you get a bigger better filter for the air going into the compressor..
cost most times, your time and 5-10 bucks..
mine is outside my garage in it's own shed, a little bigger than 4'x4'
I used left over stuff from another project..
added two doors, one to get to the compressor, and the other opens, and I have a wall 4'x6' tall of milk crates wire-tied together with the opening on the side, and use it for storage of ATF, OIL, filters, wheel bearing grease, washer fluid, antifreeze.
I also added a 220v plug so if I have to weld outside the garage, I have power without the need for a long ex cord
when I redo it, I'll make it a little bigger as working on the compressor is tight..
I used left over stuff from another project..
added two doors, one to get to the compressor, and the other opens, and I have a wall 4'x6' tall of milk crates wire-tied together with the opening on the side, and use it for storage of ATF, OIL, filters, wheel bearing grease, washer fluid, antifreeze.
I also added a 220v plug so if I have to weld outside the garage, I have power without the need for a long ex cord
when I redo it, I'll make it a little bigger as working on the compressor is tight..
you ran plastic pex as your line..
tic tic tic tic... that sounds like a bomb waiting to go off,
The tire shops, get to use the compressor repairs or replacements as a business expense.. so using that as a guide isn't a good idea..
They are also used everyday for 12+ hours, so it'll wear out long before the weather harms it.. unlike the guy with one for his garage/shop..
We also don't get to write off that expense like a business can..
vonhef
Well-known member
you ran plastic pex as your line..
tic tic tic tic... that sounds like a bomb waiting to go off,
Although I will run my airlines using stainless steel, PEX is not PVC... no bomb potential.