Compressor lines - Attic or bury them?

[RTcat]

Just thinking ahead to my summer shop build. I'll need to run about 50' of compressor line to the other end of the shop. I was thinking it would be nice to have them out of sight. What would be the pros/cons of the following...or is either just not a smart thing to do.

Option #1 Use black pipe and run the lines in the attic and drop them down through the ceiling where needed. I'd make some hangers to hang the pipe above the blown in cellouse insulation. Here in WI this ventilated attic will see wide temp swings from -10*F in the dead of winter to high 90's+ with the sun beating down on it. Will sending fresh, compressed warm air through the cold pipes in winter cause too much condensation/water in the lines?

Option #2 Using black or galvanized pipe, run the pipe in the 5" concreate floor that will have in-floor radiant heat. This pipe would would just basically be like rebar material, correct? Just pop up a piece of pipe through the floor where I need an air outlet. Which type of pipe would be better stuck in concrete, black or galvanized?

Option #2.a Using black or galvanized pipe, run the pipe down through the concreate floor that will have in-floor radiant heat and under the 2" styrofoam and bury the pipe in the dirt under the floor. Just pop up a piece of pipe through the floor where I need an air outlet. Which type of pipe would be better stuck in dirt, black or galvanized? Would I transfer much heat from the floor back down through the pipe and be heating the dirt? Suppose I could put some pipe insulation around the pipe where they pass through the concrete.

Thoughts on any of the options?

 

[akdiesel]

I am all for personalizing your place so if you want to hide the pipe I would do choice #!.
The problem with putting it in the concrete is the concrete is pretty much final with no chance of repairs or change of mind. Concrete can also damage certain pipe. If you do choose to put it in the ground pressurize it to its full capacity and have a gauge near by to watch the pressures when doing your final pour or burying.
The attic temps seem to fluctuate alot. The moisture drop out is what you want, maybe not so much down the pipe but it is better than out your tools, but you could also wrap the pipe in the black foam insulation to help keep them from freezing, but I don't think you will make that much moisture to worry about it.

 

[rieferman]

I'm personally not about burying stuff in cement because it sure is difficult to change or repair later.

 

[trbomax]

Surface mount on walls/or cieling. I had air lines in the walls in the old shop,and after it was built I still ended up running lines along walls because you cannot anticipate where you will need them.

 

[1Garageman]

I'm personally not about burying stuff in cement because it sure is difficult to change or repair later.

Surface mount on walls/or cieling. I had air lines in the walls in the old shop,and after it was built I still ended up running lines along walls because you cannot anticipate where you will need them.

Those sound like two very good temps to keep in mind

 

[PontiacFan]

transair-usa.com
Powder-coated aluminum tubing with push-to-connect fittings that you can install in a matter of hours, not days with black pipe.
Surface mounte, Ceiling, or attic.
Burying them would be really bad many years from now.

 

[RTcat]

I'm personally not about burying stuff in cement because it sure is difficult to change or repair later.

Surface mount on walls/or cieling. I had air lines in the walls in the old shop,and after it was built I still ended up running lines along walls because you cannot anticipate where you will need them.

yup, I've given that some thought. Figured if nothing else I at least will have hidden the major run to the other end of the shop. Over time I might have to tee-off to get to a new, wanted location for air.

 

[PontiacFan]

That's one benefit of using something like the Transair product. Future additions or changes are really easy compared to black pipe.

If you plan it right, you can simply remove a union & install a Tee fitting, or simply drill & install a drop bracket to gain a new line.

 

[sbin]

Black pipe over head.
Good excuse to look for a nice Ridgid hand threader on craigslist.Bought a Ridgid 3-way hand threader, vice and pipe cutter about 20 years ago.Piped several garages for air even more homes for gas.
Black pipe is cheap easy and used everywhere doesn't make sense to not have tools to deal with it.

 

[BEAVO]

up top incase you need to ad another line or something goes wrong you wont have to tear up your floor $$$

 

[ibedayank]

Airlines need a drain to remove water from the line. If buried how do you drain them/repair or change routing. Metal rusts nothing you can do will stop it. Best and easiest to surface mount them and paint what ever color your wall is.