Air compressor outside?

[8mpg]

Just wondering if anyone has input about leaving an air compressor outside with just a roof. I have seen a couple automotive shops that have compressors outside with just a roof and not a fully enclosed shed. Anyone else do this with their home compressor? I have a pad ready to go, just wondering if I should enclose it or just cover it.

 

[sberry]

It would help if you listed the location.

 

[Packard V8]

Putting three sides under the roof is cheap protection.

jack vines

 

[bsaint]

It would help if you listed the location.

Op, what he said ^^^

 

[Mr_B]

For security and noise I would enclose it, insulate it and have air circulation .
I have mine outside of workshop and works great like this, quiet and no clutter . manual safety on/off is still functional via a cable to wall mounted button .

 

[txvwnut]

Do it with a roof and half walls, gives a little more protection from the elements. That’s how I have mine done.

 

[sberry]

The drain should be different for freezing. Synthetic oil helps in extreme conditions. I agree it can work, I would want the rain off, above freezing and in the shade if I could help it.

 

[joe_padavano]

Here in Northern VA (where it regularly gets below freezing for weeks during the winter), nearly every tire shop has the compressor outside, usually with a small "roof" over the top and a chain link fence for security. No sides, no heat, no worries. Yes, be sure to drain the water regularly, and you likely need to pay attention to the compressor oil in the cold.

I should add that my personal compressor (7.5 HP, two stage, so it's pretty large) lives outside. I throw a tarp over it when not in use to keep the rain off. Haven't had a problem.

 

[Bretny]

My father use to keep his 20gal compressor in the unheated attic of his machine shop. After about 12 yrs we went to take it down and it had 10gal of water in it. We live in NY. That tank rusted out a few years later but im sure it froze and nothing happen in that regard.

 

[8mpg]

Thanks guys..Im in north Texas.

 

[Ilikeike]

Our shop compressor sits outside, with roof and triangle half walls.

 

[sberry]

Many had a petcock for a drain or a hose that layed in the bottom with a valve on the side for drains. If there is a pipe sump on the bottom it may fill and bust. The water freezing in the tank itself can expand and doesn't hurt.
It gets cold in Virginia but its not super brutal. In Texas this isn't much an issue.

 

[cvairwerks]

8mpg: Around here, you should enclose it, with sufficient covered vents for necessary air flow. Depending on what is around your place, all sorts of bugs and critters can and will take up refuge under an open cover. Vents need to be covered with fine screen cloth to cut down the bug entry as much as possible.
Remote your drain valve so that you don't have to enter the enclosure to operate it, and remember to check the oil occasionally too.

 

[lowrider2]

My new shop is heated with in floor hydronics and I'm thinking of putting the 60 gal compressor in the hanger which is unheated but directly adjacent to the shop floor, mostly to keep the noise out of the shop. I put a valve on the drain **** to make it easier to dump water in the bottom and I'm thinking of putting one of those electric pipe wraps on the valve in the Winter to keep it from freezing and run a hose outside to keep the rusty water off the floor. We can get temps to minus 10F.

Anyone else do a similar setup? Does it work?