Air compressor in the cold outside

[jack stand]

I just read a thread on an AC enclosure, but in TX. Not wanting to hijack his thread......... I have a 25' X 80' lean to on the back of my shop (in Maine) and was planning on sticking the comp. and all it's noise outside. My concern is in the winter it can get very cold. I could build a secondary enclosure around it but it is not necessary to keep the rain/snow off of it. Will I have excessive moisture (in the air) problems. Cold start up problems. Lubrication etc...
(It's a 80 gal 220v 5hp Lowes homeowner type a.c)

 

[SGKent]

you said the magic word snow. If you get freezes what will you do to keep the moisture in the lines and tank from freezing?

 

[930dreamer]

If I had a compressor in an outside shed/cover it would need to stay warm with four sides and a light during Winter. The compressor oil doesn't like the Winter temps.

 

[jack stand]

you said the magic word snow. If you get freezes what will you do to keep the moisture in the lines and tank from freezing?

I would sit directly against the shop wall (exterior) and the line would only be "outside" for 30" or so before it jumped into the wall.

 

[bczygan]

Easy enough to make it a sealed and insulated enclosure and heat it with either a bulb or small fan, duct and supply and return air louvers from the main building.

 

[CaseyJoes.]

As far as the oil goes, you could get synthetic multi-viscosity air compressor oil and that should take care of lubrication concerns at least.

 

[trbomax]

You can buy crankcase/oil heaters too. put a heat tape on the line into the shop.This wont address the condensate in the tank though,dumping a quart of airbrake antifreeze in the tank every month or so should take care of it.

 

[Parrish416]

You can buy crankcase/oil heaters too. put a heat tape on the line into the shop.