Oil-free Shop Air Compressor Location

[jsmithcds]

Just wrapping up the new heated Porsche stable. New polyurethane floor, fresh paint, cabinets and tool box. Now I am bringing things back in and ran into a dilema.

I have searched and found that oil-filled units just need to swap a thinner oil during the cold months to work.

I have a 33 gallon oil-free craftsmen air compressor that is loud but suits my needs. Just can't be anywhere near it while running.

I would like to put this compressor on the cold side of the shed and run a hose to a reel on the heated side. Constant freezing temps here in Wisconsin.

Can this type of compressor handle low temps? Any other think I need to account for? Sounds like I need a dryer for sure from my reading on it.

Thanks in advance,

Justin

 

[disquek]

My oil-less craftsman compressor has lived it's entire 15 year life in a Rubbermaid shed outside of my garage because of the noise. It's never minded the cold. It needed a top end rebuild last year (about $40 in parts), but other than that, it's been flawless. I don't see last years repair as related to the cold.

Seven of those years were in Boston. The rest in Philly.

Go for it.

-Kyle

 

[Warrenator]

I think those oil free compressors have a diaphragm in them, I don't know if they can handle cold temps without damage.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I just looked at the owner's manual on the Sears website, and it doesn't say a thing about operating temperature. Curious.

 

[kywildcat]

Justin,
I have a similar setup and moved my 33 gallon craftsman compressor to my shed this past fall. I don't use it daily but so far the cold weather here in OH hasn't seemed to effect anything. My shed shares a wall with the garage, so I stuck it back in the corner and ran a dedicated circuit for power, and used copper plumbing to bring the line inside to hose reel. Besides clearing much needed floor space in the garage, I barely hear it when it kicks on now. Since I put it on a dedicated circuit I can keep the breaker in the garage turned off when I'm not using it, that way I don't have to climb over all the **** in the shed to manually turn it on/off.
-Bob

Do you ever drain your tank???

 

[oldtractors]

My 33 gallon has lived for about 10 years in the cold. They work fine. You can't drain the tank during the winter because the drain valve will be frozen. I had moisture in the line leading to the shop freeze one time. It took a while until it finally warmed up enough to thaw out. Try not to have a low place in the line heading to your shop so it doesn't puddle up and block the line. This is in Northern Iowa.

 

[mkdive]

I foresee problems with these compressors that don't get routinely drained. I wouldn't want to be around when one of them blows.

 

[crewchief888]

ive had my CM oilless for at least 20 years. it's been subjected to hot humid central fl weather, extremes of heat and cold in nw indiana.
had it's 1st "top end" overhaul about 4 years ago.
she's about due for another one soon, it's taking forever to build up pressure.

 

[Bob911]

Do you ever drain your tank???

I open the valve every so often to drain it but there never seems to be much in there.