air compressor

[hemibee68]

Just to get this started! Question about my air compressor! I have it installed in a area that is not heated as my work area is. Is this going to hurt my air compressor, starting in the cold and all?

 

[Luckydevil]

how cold are we talking here?

 

[Bob]

Just to get this started! Question about my air compressor! I have it installed in a area that is not heated as my work area is. Is this going to hurt my air compressor, starting in the cold and all?

Well, if the temp. gets to freezing or below the condensation inside your compressor will freeze and could do some damage.

 

[sca037]

Just to get this started! Question about my air compressor! I have it installed in a area that is not heated as my work area is. Is this going to hurt my air compressor, starting in the cold and all?

I have had my Craftsman 2HP twin-cylinder air compressor about 20 years now, and it's always been in an unheated space. It does see sub-freezing temperatures (Michigan) frequently. Mine is a 220V model, so that helps it with stone-cold startups......but it's still going strong.
Drain the tank and change the oil before each Winter, and you should be fine.

YMMV,
Brian

 

[OI812]

Biggest thing you need to watch is the oil. Cold oil can lead to alot of tripped breakers. 220V models can probably overcome the cold condition of startup. I would be curious to put a amp meter on a line when you start a 220V unit up. My 5 HP unit can draw a peak of 70 amps on start up. Its one quick spike and then down to the normal 15 amp draw.

 

[dodgecharger-fan]

*Runs out to garage to drain tank.*

 

[Satatic]

Most air compressor oil is straight 30 weight. This stuff gels when it gets cold. One of my small compressors that is stored in a truck gels up in the winter so I preheat it with a torpedo heater.

 

[chevy302dz]

The biggest things are oil and making sure there is enough space for air to circulate around the motor. The cold shouldn't be a issue

 

[hemibee68]

Well got a couple differences of opinion here! What I have is a 220 Volt 7 1/2 horse two stage, runs up to 175 PSI 80 Gallon tank It does not run every day. It is in an unheated part of the Garage so it will get to the same low temperatures we have outside. tonight it is supposed to go to about 20 below. Good idea to change the oil annually, I never thought of the condensation factor so I may try to heat the area at some later point!

Thanks All
Glenn

 

[OI812]

IMO I don't think you will have a problem with a 220V compressor. I do have a 110 V that is in the cold, and if you try and start it in the cold it will trip the breaker. You have to warm it up first.

 

[1ownerT]

Change the oil in your compressor to a synthetic it will make a world of difference.
Place a bottle of conventional oil and a bottle of synthetic in your freezer overnite, observe the flow of the two, you will see what I mean.

 

[OI812]

Good idea I never thought about it.

 

[tatertv]

I do not think so.