Anyone here keep there air compressor outside next to the garage?

[wazzabie]

Anyone here keep there air compressor outside next to the garage? What did you do to protect the air compressor? How well did this work out?

 

[u2slow]

I do not, but seriously thinking about it. Will have to build an insulated enclosure to be respectful for the neighbours

 

[ozyborn]

I keep looking at the space my 60gal vertical compressor takes up in the garage. Hmm. move it to the shed. Then will need another shed for the lost yard tool space.

 

[Wrench97]

I did it at work once, it was a red steel building so we just added a overhang and metal siding for sides with PT 3/4" as studs.

 

[wazzabie]

The garage does not freeze. Outside the air compressor would encounter freezing temps.

 

[67King]

Yes, kept it under my porch for about 15 years. Now that I've moved, will put it under a landing, so same concept. HOwever, this will be a little closer to the elements, so I may need to put a water diverter above it if the overhang from the roof doen't do an adequate job.

Not sure why the concern about freezing temperatures. About the only drawback I had from that was for whatever reason, some of my joints got loose enough in the really cold weather to let the tank depressurize. In normal weather, it would stay pressurized. New setup will go right through the wall, though, whereas the old one had a really long run of (hard) pipe to get to the garage.

 

[BillK]

I dont now but when I first bought my business we were in a different business and we had 2 compressors that sat outside the back of the shop under a lean too type roof. They had probably been there 5 years or so before I bought the place and then we were there another 6 years. Didnt seem to hurt them at all and I still have one of the compressors in my present location and it is still going strong. Its probably 45 years old.

 

[kwb]

For about 20 years I had mine under a "temporary" sheet of plywood propped up by a couple of 2x4's. Not visible to anyone so it never got to be all that important. I got that compressor when my Grandfather moved to assisted living. It spent probably 30yrs behind his shop under a simple open lean-to.
I painted the house and shop last fall so I did build a shed for it to live in that looks a bit nicer, it also hides the shipping container behind the shop.

Never a problem with cold weather but it also rarely gets down to even 0F. Compressors make a lot of heat and starting up from cold with no load on them gets the oil moving pretty quick.

 

[Jack_K]

I want to move mine outside simply to save space. I just don't have power outside. They just built heaps of townhouses next to me so I'm sure they'll be impressed.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Mine is super quite, but for the sake of floor space you have me considering it.

 

[cody1325]

Mine's upstairs from the tiny ex-garage "farm shop" (so narrow, having a staircase again would take 30% of the room) in the apartment above (which I'm cleaning out to be my "man cave" here pretty soon). Pretty sure it's partly because that's where the fuse box is.

 

[67King]

I want to move mine outside simply to save space. I just don't have power outside.

So how do you plan to get the air lines to the inside of the garage (rhetorical question)?

 

[minytrker]

My compressor has been outside my shop since 2017. I did put a roof and two walls up to keep it out of the weather.

 

[CoogarXR]

At my last house, I had the compressor in a shed about 3ft behind the shop. I had a little section of fence connecting the buildings, and I had the air line ran inside a conduit mounted to the fence. It worked for 15 years like that, no matter the weather. And here in ohio, we get the whole range, lol.

 

[scooterbum46]

I had the pressure relief valve open on my 80 gallon 175 psi 2 stage Campbell Hausfeld when I was letting the side room in the shop get cold. Reason? The line to the switch had some moisture in it and apparently froze solid, the pressure switch never opened. I was standing next to it when it popped. (I pooped)...

As far as I know, if the pump is cold on initial startup it is just like any other reciprocating mechanism, it will be hard to turn over and the lubrication will be slow to flow. IIRC there are heaters available for larger ones. I keep my side room at a balmy 45 degrees now and use the best oil I can find (Mobile Rarus 427)..

 

[johnre]

I checked when I saw this thread because I was curious; my Pneumatics Plus air filter regulator combo is rated 23°F to 125°F; the Milton mini bench regulators are rated 40°F to 120°F. While I would suppose no one would mount either of these on the compressor itself, you still have the tank drain system and the safety pop-off to be concerned about freezing up.

 

[Wrench97]

So how do you plan to get the air lines to the inside of the garage (rhetorical question)?

Through the wall next to where the wires go out to it?

 

[67King]

Through the wall next to where the wires go out to it?

Exactly. You gotta run the air through the wall, running power through the wall requires the same thing. Not having power outside shouldn't be a deterrent at all.

 

[txvwnut]

Mines been outside for over 20 years in a closet type enclosure. If we ever move it will be outside the new shop as well, not so much for the noise as its pretty quiet for a 5hp 2 stage unit, more for the airflow to keep it cool when under heavy use.

 

[TerryH]

Mine sat outside for a long time. I finallly built a pole bar style enclosure for it with additional storage. No issue with it being in freezing temps and it's been out there for 33 years.

 

[finn]

333 inches of snow so far this season.

No F’en way would I even consider keeping a $3000 air compressor outside, unprotected.

 

[driftpin]

I have one (80 gal Campbell-Hausfeld 240V) in a carport, and since it's So. FL, no need to concern myself w/freezing temps potentially affecting it. The Saylor-Beall upright is in another location's garage.

 

[Old Man Roger]

I have one (80 gal Campbell-Hausfeld 240V) in a carport, and since it's So. FL, no need to concern myself w/freezing temps potentially affecting it. The Saylor-Beall upright is in another location's garage.

Hey, West Palm got snow in 1977.

 

[rocksnstumps]

333 inches of snow so far this season.

No F’en way would I even consider keeping a $3000 air compressor outside, unprotected.

Someone must be a yooper in Copper country. See they have gotten a mountain of snow this winter.

 

[Wrench97]

I never had any issues with freezing temps, even had one in a storage trailer next to the shop for years and another mounted to the back of a service truck.

 

[Bodj Built]

I'm in southern california, so no issues with freezing. I have mine against the wall behind the garage (3 car residential), and I built an outhouse looking structure around it. There's plenty of volume and air inlets that it doesn't overheat, but my goodness does it make working in the garage so much more enjoyable. I have to listen closely to try and hear it when it turns on.

 

[BurtEggley]

in the shed. drain lines go outside. When I need it for air tools I bring the airline into the garage. Use it next to the shed to clean things - the dust is always better outside than in the garage. Most air tools have been replaced with battery. Air nailers and a beefy air gun the exception.

 

[Jack_K]

So how do you plan to get the air lines to the inside of the garage (rhetorical question)?

I already have run air lines outside as I often work out there. That means it just requires a bit of reconfiguration. I never did it properly so it needs to be redone anyway.

The problem with power is that it is illegal here to do DIY electrical work. I also want industrial levels of power of course. Two big compressors and enough to run a big welder. On top of that, the wall I need it on is all asbestos.

 

[cpakalolo]

I don't like them outside. I have had the auto drain freeze. I have had lines freeze. The one problem I really didn't like was that in the summer, the humidity outside overpowered my desiccant drier's way too fast. In the winter, a trap outside would dry the air by itself, but then it would freeze. Squirrels are wires. It was much quieter out there. I have it in a room that is farther away now and I like it inside.

 

[BurtEggley]

no. They are in the outdoor shed. If air is needed in the garage I drag the hose 10'. I can't imagine letting any of my assets like that sit in the weather. It is hard enough keeping things clean and from rust.

 

[arturo7]

Did this over a couple weekends with help from my cousin. Pic was taken before the door was installed. The power and air lines go through a vent in the garage wall.

 

[ozyborn]

Did this over a couple weekends with help from my cousin. Pic was taken before the door was installed. The power and air lines go through a vent in the garage wall.

Looks like the same I have for my smaller compressor setup. Pulls air from outside for my positive airflow hood. Dust kills my lungs for woodworking. Easier to filter the air from outside than inside a garage.

 

[BobnCO]

This is what I’ll do eventually.. Champion 7.5hp is sweet.. but a little annoying, it can make you jump when it starts up and you’re really concentrating trying to get a tiny screw in a hole you can barely see! .