Air compressor in attic?

[lawfarm]

Working on updating my 'home' attached 2.5 car garage. I have a single stage, upright 80 gallon compressor. It is your basic 220v compressor (cast iron, oil-lubed pump; couple horse motor, etc.). At present, it's standing on a pallet in the corner of my garage, but I'd like to free up the space, and am contemplating moving the compressor to our attic.

Over the garage there's a separate attic space with plenty of headroom for the compressor...and the garage ceiling/attic floor is framed with 2x12s on 16" centers, on a very short span, so I have no concerns about the weight issues. But I do have a few questions...

1. The garage ceiling is 11' high. What's the best way to hoist the compressor up into the attic? Some sort of overhead hoist attached to a couple of the rafters? Thoughts?

2. Assuming that I did successfully move it up there, any thoughts on how to securely mount it to the floor joists while minimizing vibration transfer?

3. Running electric and air line to it won't be hard. I know it isn't heated up there, so that will be harder on the compressor...but it's lived in unheated spaces before without icing or other issues.

4. Anything I'm not considering?

 

[35mastr]

You can just use a chain fall to bring it up there.

I dont know what your climate is like,But the winter should not be a problem unless its really cold in your area.(Freezing up the pump)But in the summer it may get to hot up there and might burn up the motor.

I ran one in an attic before in my shop.But it was only half closed.Plus I would run one of those round kerosene heaters that would keep me and the compressor nice and toasty.

As far as mounting it.Make sure that you mount it to the joists if you can.Also use rubber mounts.I am sure it is going to vibrate no matter what you do.Due to it just being wood up there and nothing to insulate the noise through.

 

[krooser]

I'd be more concered with summers heat than winters cold. Drawing all that hot moist air into the compressor will result in more water in your air lines. Make sure you have a good water seperator or water trap. I'd also find some way to cool the intake air and compressor head... unvented attic temps can reach into the 100's pretty easily.

 

[goodfellow]

Unless your attic has some insulation, the performance will suffer. Heat is the "killer" and depending where you live, if the relative humidity is very high during the spring/summer, then you might want to rethink the idea.

If there isn't much air circulation and you have a blistering attic temperature, that pump and motor will surely suffer. Better to mount it outside under an overhang or shed that offers adequate circulation.

 

[Jude20VT]

I would be concerned with the drastic temp. changes in the attic.

Mine is in the basement with an air line running to the garage. I built an insulated surround to quite the unit in the house. Wired a basement plug to a switch in the garage; This allows me to power it up without going through the house.

 

[SOA-Nova]

I put my 20 gallon horizontal compressor in the garage attic a few years ago and I ran a dedicated outlet to it off of a heavy duty light switch in the light switch panel next to the garage light switches so I can turn it on and off easily. In my garage I have 2x6 ceiling joists with insulation between the joists and have 1/2" drywall for the ceiling. I can hear it run but it is a lot less than what it was under the work bench.
On mine I took out the drain petcock and used some fittings, hose clamps, and some old air line to extend the drain downstairs and placed the petcock to where it's easy to get at and drain it. I rigged up a quart can to go underneath the petcock to catch the water coming out and when it's drained I can then take the can off it's stand and pitch the water out on the lawn.
I have found out too with it up in the attic I do not check the oil as much as I did when it was under the workbench.

Jim

 

[Jim Stabe]

I have a 2 stage 80 gallon in a mezanine in my shop (separate from the house). The mezanine has 2 x 8 floor joists that are 8' long and doubled up under the unit. I have it mounted on 1/2" rubber pads and used the same drain setup as SOS-Nova. Everything works great but I wouldn't want it attached to the house framing because it really resonates the structure when it runs. I bought a bunch of hockey pucks and made machinery mounts with them and I may try them under the compressor to see if that helps.

Jim

 

[chromeyellow]

how did this work out? what did you decide?