One Compressor with air hoses from ceiling???

[BHR4CE1]

Has anyone had a compressor mounted out of the way and then had the air routed to pipes on the ceiling with hoses placed around the garage in strategic places for use without dragging them all over the car?

I want to do this but my contractor told me that they usually have the plumber use copper pipe. Isn't there anything new or different to do this now a days? I thought I had seen some sort or plastic pipe system designed with quick-release ******* placed around an area for hoses to be used as needed?

Any help is appreciated...

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I've actually got my compressor mounted in the attic, with just a rubber line, connecting to a hose reel, attached to my ceiling. The hose will reach anywhere in the garage (50 ft).

 

[BHR4CE1]

I've actually got my compressor mounted in the attic, with just a rubber line, connecting to a hose reel, attached to my ceiling. The hose will reach anywhere in the garage (50 ft).

That's a great idea. I sure would love to get the compressor out of the garage. It is so damn loud when it runs. I'd be worried about maintenance though. Getting into my attic could be a pain in the neck if I had to physically get to the compressor all the time.

Maybe someone makes a sound-proof box I can put the compressor into!!!

 

[larry_g]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76533

Just did the above thread about that. New and more modern than copper. I would still use copper as the first choice.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[SteveL]

I ran copper to two overhead hose reels and two wall drops in the garage and three ceiling drops in the basement shop. Was not hard at all and works well. You can use pvc rated for high psi but I prefer old school.

 

[BHR4CE1]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76533

Just did the above thread about that. New and more modern than copper. I would still use copper as the first choice.

Thanks. I'll check it out.

 

[nate379]

My Dad did that about 15 years ago and use... OH NOES... PVC pipe.

 

[bazzateer]

I want to do this but my contractor told me that they usually have the plumber use copper pipe. Isn't there anything new or different to do this now a days?

What's the objection to copper?

 

[BHR4CE1]

What's the objection to copper?

None, really...but I figured there might be a better looking and better performing solution now-a-days.

 

[jethro29]

i installed my compressor in my two car attached garage and used cooper to plumb it over to my shop,which is connected to the attached garage via a 20 car port and ran down drops with quick connects every 20 feet on three out of four walls and 1 on each side of the bay door on the fourth wall. no noise no problems.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

None, really...but I figured there might be a better looking and better performing solution now-a-days.

Aluminum piping from Prevost looks better, if you're concerned about looks...

http://www.prevostusa.com/

http://www.prevostusa.com/categories.php?cat=29

 

[BHR4CE1]

Aluminum piping from Prevost looks better, if you're concerned about looks...

I am.. and it does THANK YOU!

 

[TCJ1981]

At my father's shop, we used pvc and it has worked great so far, even w/ a two-stage compressor. Probably alot cheaper than copper also. If you don't mind white, it looks pretty good.

 

[rlcalcote]

i just finished adding on to shop at my house and used nylon air line that is normally used on air brake systems to plumb the entire shop includding 2 drops from roof with retracable reels mounted up there. best thing i ever had in a shop both are 50 ft reels and reach most of the areas needed(3600 sq ft)

i keep a 25 ft hose on wall to extend if nedeed

 

[djd99]

At my father's shop, we used pvc and it has worked great so far, even w/ a two-stage compressor. Probably alot cheaper than copper also. If you don't mind white, it looks pretty good.

Sorry I have to say DO not do this...

Very bad idea to run white pvc for compressed air. Use black pipe or copper.

 

[TCJ1981]

Sorry I have to say DO not do this...

Very bad idea to run white pvc for compressed air. Use black pipe or copper.

Had it in 5+ years, no problems at all. Just remembered my FIL ran pvc for his airlines also and I'd say those are 10+ yrs old with no problems that I can remember. I'm not 100% positive it is pvc, but nothing else comes to mind that it could be.

 

[djd99]

Had it in 5+ years, no problems at all. Just remembered my FIL ran pvc for his airlines also and I'd say those are 10+ yrs old with no problems that I can remember. I'm not 100% positive it is pvc, but nothing else comes to mind that it could be.

Once again just because you or your FIL did it doesn't mean it's safe even the pvc company who want's to sell more pvc doesn't recommend it. You people who do have pvc setups should not be recommending it because that's what you did, It's not safe and if it was the company who makes pvc would also recommend it witch they don't. I wish you people would stop telling others it's safe, one of these days someone is going to get hurt with your bad advice.

 

[Scorpion40]

I just helped a friend a couple weeks ago run some compressed air lines in a warehouse, and we used black iron pipe. Pretty sure galvanized can be used, as well. A bit more difficult to work with than copper, but a good deal cheaper.

 

[MichaelP]

It's funny how every discussion about compressed air pipes always involves use of PVC. By this time, I'd expect it to be a well known fact that PVC is not suitable for this application.

Smoking is bad for your health despite the fact that we know a lot of people who smoked and lived to an old age. Similarly, I wouldn't suggest driving through red lights just because, let's say, my neighbor did it and died at 97 of a heart disease.

 

[AllroundfaN]

That's a great idea. I sure would love to get the compressor out of the garage. It is so damn loud when it runs. I'd be worried about maintenance though. Getting into my attic could be a pain in the neck if I had to physically get to the compressor all the time.

Maybe someone makes a sound-proof box I can put the compressor into!!!

Actually, it wouldn't take much to make a box to deaden the sound. basically just line a plywood box with the thickest styrofoam-type insulation you can find. They sell it in sheets at the big-box h/w stores. You'll be very surprised how much quieter the compressor will be. Design it in such a way it can be easily removed for servicing.

 

[MichaelP]

I'd worry about cooling issue in a tightly closed space.

To decrease sound you can redirect the air intake outside. The only two things you should assess are your local outside (vs. inside) humidity and proximity of your neighbours.

 

[ddawg16]

My compressor is behind the garage in a closet...

Airline runs through the wall to a dryer...then back up inside the wall, through the ceiling with 3 different drops in the garage....the most used one is in the front where the hose real is....wife loves it....uses it more than I do..

And I did mine out of copper....easeir to work with up in the ceiling.

 

[drmoonshine]

I know pvc might not work but I'm struggling to think what alternatives you can use.

 

[m.james]

Copper pipe probably works the best and if you don't like how it looks put it inside your wall.

 

[Redhogz]

Just my experience.

Mounted a compressor in the old house in an insulated plywood box just below the ceiling with a draw fan to the outdoors with a dryer cap. A few holes to let air in. It was much quieter and off the floor. Used copper to run the lines in the shop. they worked as a heatsink to condesate the moisture and every drop had a drain.

Did the PVC in my buddies shop at his insistance. Shattered it several times moving material on and off the mill beds. I finally convinced him to replace the drops by the machines with black pipe.

I was in a shop over the weekend that it looked like he used Pex or some other flexible clear line. Anyone see this before?

 

[GilsGarage]

A great choice for air pipe is copper or steel. It has some major advantages over PVC (PVC not recommended - Google 'exploding PVC air pipe').

The hot air coming from the compressor tends to condense on the colder pipe and thereby reduces the downstream moisture. Copper and steel have more ability to absorb the heat than PVC or nylon pipe and results in less downstream moisture in the air, assuming you have installed good drains to bleed off the moisture. Install air drops that come out of the top of the pipe rather than the bottom of the pipe. That also reduces moisture in the line, but is more trouble to install.

Check out the piping diagram at TIP Tools. It shows how to run the pipe to minimize moisture in the line.

 

[TCJ1981]

Once again just because you or your FIL did it doesn't mean it's safe even the pvc company who want's to sell more pvc doesn't recommend it. You people who do have pvc setups should not be recommending it because that's what you did, It's not safe and if it was the company who makes pvc would also recommend it witch they don't. I wish you people would stop telling others it's safe, one of these days someone is going to get hurt with your bad advice.

Whoa, chill out bud. I was just saying that it has worked in my experience and would be a cost effective way to run air lines. Don't do it for all I care. Go spend $400-500 on copper pipe, doesn't matter to me the slightest.

 

[Scorpion40]

I know pvc might not work but I'm struggling to think what alternatives you can use.

Black iron pipe is great for the application, if you don't mind threading the pipe itself, which can be a bit laborious.

 

[bigdummy30]

my uncle HAD pvc in his shop til lit exploded ....nice slivers of pvc everywhere ,just lucky no one was in the shop when it blew.....he tried black iron afterwards but it was too balky and has since gone to brazed copper...the copper is much cleaner air compared to the black iron...

 

[carap]

I manage a tool and die shop that used PVC pipe. It lasted about 10 years before it began to blow up. About every 3 months we would have a major explosion with shrapnel flying everywhere. Luckily no one was ever hurt but many people needed to clean out there pants afterward. Every time it exploded I would have to shut down the entire shop until I could get it repaired. OSHA fine finally convinced the owner to change to black pipe. I don't like the black pipe either because flakes of rust eventually develop inside the pipe. I would have used copper pipe if it was my call. Cost of copper is offset by the ease of making connections. My own shop has PVC but it will be changed soon.

 

[babzog]

I've actually got my compressor mounted in the attic, with just a rubber line, connecting to a hose reel, attached to my ceiling. The hose will reach anywhere in the garage (50 ft).

How do you drain it?

 

[djd99]

Whoa, chill out bud. I was just saying that it has worked in my experience and would be a cost effective way to run air lines. Don't do it for all I care. Go spend $400-500 on copper pipe, doesn't matter to me the slightest.

Sorry wasn't single you in out as there still are a few people here recommending it which they really shouldn't because there's hasn't blew yet. If you use pvc in your garage it just a matter of time before it does blow up and hope to hell no one is around when it does happens. Especially when there's better options like black pipe,copper or even rapid air or harbor freight rapid air clones. If these options are too expensive do it a little at a time.

 

[drmarkr]

I manage a tool and die shop that used PVC pipe. It lasted about 10 years before it began to blow up. About every 3 months we would have a major explosion with shrapnel flying everywhere. Luckily no one was ever hurt but many people needed to clean out there pants afterward. Every time it exploded I would have to shut down the entire shop until I could get it repaired. OSHA fine finally convinced the owner to change to black pipe. I don't like the black pipe either because flakes of rust eventually develop inside the pipe. I would have used copper pipe if it was my call. Cost of copper is offset by the ease of making connections. My own shop has PVC but it will be changed soon.

Yet another damned alarmist.........(sarcasm alert!)

 

[cansari]

I've actually got my compressor mounted in the attic, with just a rubber line, connecting to a hose reel, attached to my ceiling. The hose will reach anywhere in the garage (50 ft).

How do you turn off the compressor if its in the atic? I would like to do the same, but since air would slowly leak out of the lines at the fittings, the compressor would kick on at random times (including at night when we are sleeping)...

 

[LEVE]

How do you turn off the compressor if its in the atic?

Wire the outlet correctly and you can leave the compressor plugged in, and on.

Wire in a switched outlet, with the switch anywhere you want it located. Or, put it on a dedicated circuit and use a breaker to turn it on/off.

 

[ScaldedDog]

Copper pipe probably works the best and if you don't like how it looks put it inside your wall.

That's exactly what I did.

Mark

 

[cnc-me]

Had it in 5+ years, no problems at all.

20+ here with no problems either.
It has to be well terminated (fastened) at each outlet.

 

[Max Power]

My dad used pvc in his cabin shop in the desert. 115 degree summers. He mounted it to the exterior walls of the garage and house and supported the pipe every 8 feet or so. After only a few months it started to SAG. After over 12 years it looks like drapes. Brown discolored sun burnt drapes. I wince every time I'm out there and need air. It's not a question of if but when. Thankfully when he built a shop at his main home he used copper.

 

[mustangmccance]

I used a combination of air net aluminum pipe and the rapid air vinyl tubing. it looks really good I think, it is made for air, and it is very easy to install and modify as the mood hits me. I also mounted my compressors in a closet with a switch inside and a reminder light on the door so I don't forget to shut the compressor off when I leave the shop.

I have had it up for about 2 years now or there abouts. it works great.

here is there website if you are interested. http://www.rapidairproducts.com/index.asp

 

[BHR4CE1]

I have had it up for about 2 years now or there abouts. it works great.

Thanks for the info. I will be having the contractor hide whatever product I end up going with behind all the drywall because I don't want to see it. I am just wondering which product would be the best and most dependable to use for the long term. I'd hate to have to open drywall to repair it.