Enclosing a compressor

[ctardi]

Okay, I have an odd situation, I started searching, but didn't really know what I was looking for.

I work for a rock climbing gym, lately I've been mostly doing maintenance work. We have an old, oiled, compressor that I would like to quiet down a bit, and make it more convenient for me. My first priority is to do an oil change on it. Any advice?

Second, I would like to put it in an enclosure, both for noise while it is operating, and also to keep it away from curious young'ns. I am assuming that it will need ventilation (duh!), and the ideal situation would be an outside wall, but I am not able or allowed to do this. How am I able to both vent it, and quiet it down a bit? I'm not asking for a whisper quiet, just take a bit off of it.

I will also be plumbing in drops every 30 feet, at ceiling level, and I have materials for that, so it is not an issue. My question is if it is a wise idea to use rubber hose for this? We happen to have enough surplus hose, and a box full of T's, each with two females and one male coupling on them. The system does not see extreme use, just once or twice a week for a couple hours running a nailer, ratchet, cutoff wheel, or reciprocating saw.

Thoughts?

 

[sharpshooter]

thats alot of hose, and thats equals alot of moisture

 

[BackMarker]

You could use esp foam board and build a box around it. It's crude...... but works !

 

[eschoendorff]

See if your boss will authorize the purchase of copper pipe. I've heard that that is the best way to do this...

 

[ctardi]

I'm sure authorizing it won't be a problem, but installing it would be difficult, and dangerous. It is high up, in a relatively confined space, but I will see if it is feasible.

BlackMarker - is that ESP or EPS foam?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The little you are using it, the hose will do fine. I assume you have a water separator on the compressor outlet, that will catch the majority of the water. It sounds like the compressor is in an airconditioned enviroment anyhow, so the air it is inhaling is pretty dry. I would not be overly concerned about moisture.

You don't say what size or shape compressor it is, but in any case, I would fabricate a simple, light 2x4 framed "closet" around it and fill the walls with sheets of styrofoam, or the real thick foam rubber, the stuff with the eggcrate finish on one side. Cover the outside with thin plywood, masonite, whatever you have or can buy cheap. Heavier is better, it will asorb more sound. For a couple of hours a week of intermittent use I would not get concerned about cooling, it isn't going to get hot enough to be a worry. Put some kind of louvers or grille in the ceiling of the "closet" that way noise coming out the grills goes up, not out. If after using it you think the unit is not getting enough cooling or ventlation, add some vents near the very bottom near floor level for air to enter.

Charles

 

[ctardi]

Thanks for the idea, Charles.