Moving a compressor outdoors!

[Concrete B]

I searched "compressor" and in 5 pages didn't see this. I'm sure it has been discussed, so links are welcome. I want to move my compressor outside. I'll have to build a rather crude structure around it due to my available room. What do i need to know before digging out the embankment outside my garage.

 

[z28toz06]

Put a heavy enough pad in for it. It's going to shake the ground and you don't want to look outside and see your ccompressor rolling down the embankment! Insulate the structure to protect from the elements and keep in mind the more moisture in the air, the more moisture you will have in your compressed air. What exactly are you looking for in the way of info?

 

[bazzateer]

How close is your house/neighbours' houses? Do you need to insulate the structure for sound?

 

[Concrete B]

What exactly are you looking for in the way of info?

Well, I have 2 single car garages. One under the house, one an addition directly to it's left. I am trying to decide between putting it in the corner of my outer garage and building a closet around it (craftsman 30 gal oilless, but have been hunting for larger, it doesn't keep up with me). My other option is to dig out part of the embankment outside, pour a pad and concrete block it in on 2 sides in an outdoor closet. This would mean running wiring and airline to a new spot. I'd rather have it out of the shop, but I don't know how feasible it is in the end.

The neighbors are all around 100yards away.

 

[browntown]

I have the same craftsman 30gal oilless and it is way loud in the garage. If noise is the main reason you're thinking of putting it outside, consider a traditional oiled compressor inside which should be more quiet.

 

[Concrete B]

I have the same craftsman 30gal oilless and it is way loud in the garage. If noise is the main reason you're thinking of putting it outside, consider a traditional oiled compressor inside which should be more quiet.

It is both that and trying to free up space. I'm loaded to the gills with tools and parts

 

[Griff93]

I put mine outside and it's one of the best things I've done with my shop. No more having to listen to it while working on stuff.

 

[sgrant914]

I did the same, best thing i could have done. built a small shed around it and installed a bathroom exhaust fan at the top exhausting towards house to help air circulation moving. Fan turns on when compressor kicks on, added intake grate at bottom against house wall and lined the shed walls with acoustic tiles

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I...installed a bathroom exhaust fan at the top exhausting towards house... added intake grate at bottom against house wall and lined the shed walls with acoustic tiles

So is that shed a distance away from the house that doesn't show in this picture? If so, why not attach it directly to the house wall and put the fan and vent on the side? If not, why would the fan point AT the house or INTO the house?

 

[green.bubbly]

Have you noticed any reduced AC performance?

And Mr. Turtle looks lonely.

 

[Sawbladz]

That little shed looks great. So much better than having it inside creating noise and taking up space.

 

[oldgoat]

The shop I worked at before moved their compressors outside, but they were only enclosed by a framework and steel mesh. Only problems we had were starting up in the winter and water in the air. Ended up adding a separator to get the moisture out. Another guy I knew had his in a shed on the back of the garage something like above but he just had vent grates to circulate the air through it. I would insulate it good, but to be honest any oilless compressors I've been around have been terribly loud. If you have neighbors around it might be a problem.

 

[sgrant914]

I decoupled the shed from the house to reduce noise transfer into the garage/house. There is approx 1.5 inch gap between the shed and house which is hard to see. I purposely put the bottom intake vent and top fan exhaust facing the house hoping any compressor noise exiting those openings would be muffled and not create additional out door noise. Living in California, unfortunately my neighbours are literally 50 ft away, I do lots of work in the garage at nght after kids go to sleep, so being able to run the compressor at night without waking up the neighbours was very important. In regards to the ac performance, there are no issues. I used to have a spa in the back yard, so i was fortunate to have a dedicated 220v circuit allready there

-Steve

 

[TWX]

I'm actually going to be in a similar boat if the new house we're trying to buy comes through, but I'll have the downside of having about 6' between my shop and the neighbors' property line. At least there's a 6' high slump-block wall at the border.

I've got an old National Brand compressor sold through Sears with a twin-piston pump and 240VAC 3hp motor. It's odd, it's got a base that makes it look like it should be fixed to the ground, but it has provisions on the pump and motor mounting area for a handle. Currently it has jury-rigged wheels and legs so it's mobile. It's about 30 gallon. I've got enough motor and pump relative to the air capacity that I'm thinking about adding a second tank. It's not hard to find stripped air compressors on craigslist around here that only have the tank, no pump or motor. I could build a little enclosure for the compressor and just mount the bare tank exposed to the elements (shouldn't be a problem here in Phoenix). What I'm debating on is whether or not to affix the compressor to the ground or not. If I do it's harder to bring it in to the shop for maintenance, but if I don't then it could walk. I do have another compressor, for 125VAC, so I don't *have* to have to keep it mobile, but I'm still unsure. I also have to decide whether or not to have a switch in the garage for the compressor or not. I suppose that would be dependent on how well sealed the lines are, as I don't think a neighbor would be happy if it kicks on at all hours of the night to refill itself as it slowly discharges...

Sorry about hijacking the thread...

 

[ratdoggy]

Have you noticed any reduced AC performance?

And Mr. Turtle looks lonely.

that's a crab not a toitle

 

[nantucket427]

What about the weather? I am from the Northeast and temp get below zero in the winter. Do you need to heat the space to guard agaisnt freezing?

 

[Jack Olsen]

I'm not going down into the crawlspace to take a picture, but thie ons is a lot like mine.

 

[mad57]

heres a pic of mine built with scrap from my pole building. plan on a door and insulate but so far been working fine. its about 25 feet away from my corner of the garage i also ran a 110 line out there for a light and shutter fan when i finally close it in with door and insulation also 1 out let plug for what ever i might need.

 

[Garage5.9]

I'm not going down into the crawlspace to take a picture, but thie ons is a lot like mine.

is that copper coil some kind of heat exchanger ?

 

[noboD]

Jack Olsen, doesn't that get hot in there? If noise is the reason for the move run the intake outside or somewhere else. The intake makes the most noise on a copressor. I ran a pipe above above my suspended ceiling and it made a big differance.

 

[59 wagon man]

hd and lowes sell a rubbermaid style shed which work great mine is about 6'h x 5'w x 3'd .also keeps it fairly quiet outside . have the hf 2 stage 60gal comp and it works fine

 

[e-tek]

I always wanted to put mine outside. Mine is a failry quite oiled unit but still, wouldn't it be nice to barely have to hear it. Unfortunately I'm not sure it'd survive our winters....

 

[Jack Olsen]

Jack Olsen, doesn't that get hot in there? If noise is the reason for the move run the intake outside or somewhere else. The intake makes the most noise on a copressor. I ran a pipe above above my suspended ceiling and it made a big differance.

I think the intake might be a reasonable fix on oiled compressors. The oil-free kind are much louder. The example I posted is not mine, but it's similar. My box has better insulation, and is somewhat bigger, with forced air circulation. (My excuse: it was easier to google a picture of something similar than to go down into the crawlspace under my house.)

 

[M3Pilot]

Supposedly a few years ago,an outside compressor around here froze & exploded causing a lot of damage. I don't know if the story is true or not but I'd be sure to drain it & cut off the power when it was very cold out.