Where is best location for the compressor?

[Kroggers]

I have purchased a lift for the garage that requires air to operate, so will also be picking up a compressor - would be nice to have one anyway for air tools etc.

But I am not sure where to locate it? I will mainly use it for the lift and some air tools in the actual garage part, but might be nice to run a line into the workshop as well.

At first i thought about putting it in the garage, but as they can be rather loud I am now wondering if I would do better to put it somewhere else where i spend not so much time.

Here is a Visio layout to help - where would you suggest I put the compressor?

 

[Alchymist]

Put it in my garage - you won't even hear it running!

 

[kyleholmes]

really depends on the size and style compressor you will be putting in. there are places in there you could tuck a small stand-up, or there are places that have a bit more space for something like a 180 gallon lay-down style unit.

give us some information as to what you're intending to purchase.

keep in mind how easy it would be to box in a compressor with a stud-wall closet and ventilate it on an outside wall. insulate the studwall and once its sheet-rocked you'll cut 95% of your noise and heat.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

You really don't have any good places to put it. Somewhat depends on how large the compressor is, and how loud it will be. What are the chances of building a lean to on the outside of the building and putting it outside. I know its cold in Finland, but synthetic lube in the compressor will most likely allow operation down to the lowest temps it will see. Other concern with cold is condensate inside the tank drain freezing and breaking it. Another issue with selecting a location is running electricity to it. How difficult will that be? Where is your electric panel located?

Does the lift need air to raise it? or is the air just to release the locks? Everyone needs a good sized compressor in a garage in any case, but to operate a lift will take a large compressor.

Charles

 

[steel 35]

Under the stairs.

 

[weegaz22]

is there anything upstairs? or is that a living space?

 

[holdover]

If you buy a belt driven compressor the noise will not be too bad, if you buy a direct drive most will make a lot of noise. I suppose the compressor is needed for the safety interlocks to release, if so for the time being you can get by with a very small unit, that isn't too expensive and later on you can upgrade. Such a unit here in US can be bought as a china import for 40.00 US. It won't do much more than operate the locks and a very small HVLP spray gun, but it will operate a framing nailer or brad gun well, as long as you are not doing production work.

 

[Hawk Thor]

I would build a small shed with its backside being the outside wall of your garage. Make the shed blend in with your house, same paint or siding, that way it won't stand out and possible become an eyesore.

If the compressor is small I would just have a hinged single grade roof on the shed and make the "frontside" removeable for access. If the compressor is big then I would have a big enough door to work in there or built the shed big enough that a person could work inside.

Insulate the shed to cut down noise and to keep the heat outside during summer and the heat inside during winter.

Put louvres down by the floor to draw in cold air and put a fan assisted roof vent on the roof. I would connect the vent fan to a thermostat. That way its just running when it needs to be.

I think the climate in Finland and here in Iceland is close enough so that what works here should work fine there.

 

[luvit]

I would build a small shed with its backside being the outside wall of your garage. Make the shed blend in with your house, same paint or siding, that way it won't stand out and possible become an eyesore.

If the compressor is small I would just have a hinged single grade roof on the shed and make the "frontside" removeable for access. If the compressor is big then I would have a big enough door to work in there or built the shed big enough that a person could work inside...

hey, great idea, hawk!

• besides forced air furnaces and compressors, what other type of machines can be stored this way?

 

[Hawk Thor]

hey, great idea, hawk!

• besides forced air furnaces and compressors, what other type of machines can be stored this way?

Generators, but I would take care to vent that better since those have a much longer duty-cycle and generate more heat than a compressor (no pun intended).

 

[bldgengineer]

Outside in a lean to really is the best spot. I just poured a 4x4 pad and bolted it to it. Framed walls and used leftover plywood and shingles for a roof. No noise and no wasted space. If you don't have this option then you can put it in the furthest corner. That has worked for me in the past

 

[Kroggers]

Some good ideas here, but not all possible for me. I am sorry I did not give enough information, here is some more (and here is a link to my garage thread).

I can not put the compressor outside, as the garage is in the basement and under ground level (apart from the entrance down to the garage doors). Additionally, we are in a built up area and I do not really want to subject the other people in the street to the compressor sounds!

Up stairs is the house, and as I want to keep the compressor sounds as much away from the living space I do not want to put it under the stairs. By putting it somewhere else, I get at least three doors to reduce the sound to the living area above.

I am not 100% sure what operations on the lift requires the compressor - I will find that out when I collect it. But I was told that it will need a small compressor to operate correctly. I was told a small one that is used for a nail-gun will do.

I figured that now was a good time to get a decent compressor and install it properly. My initial thought was to put it in the garage close to the lift, but I am now considering putting it in the Machine Room, which should probably be labeled "the dirty room"

As for what compressor, I was going to go for the largest I could get at a realistic price. I do not plan to do any painting - but you never know what the future will bring! I know it is in Finnish, but this is the one I have been looking to get.

 

[Hawk Thor]

Do you know who makes that compressor for Biltema?

 

[Kroggers]

Do you know who makes that compressor for Biltema?

I have no idea, but it is probably some "made in China" thing... Biltema is a bit like IKEA for car, boat and general leisure stuff here in Scandinavia, but have a good reputation.

I have a lot of stuff from Biltema, and to date have been happy with the quality and price. Maybe not the best that is available, but the price is realistic

 

[Hawk Thor]

I'm familiar with Biltema. I think all the scandinavian countries have Biltema except for us. We're probably too few to make Biltema work out here.

 

[Kroggers]

I'm familiar with Biltema. I think all the scandinavian countries have Biltema except for us. We're probably too few to make Biltema work out here.

Where are you then?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I am not 100% sure what operations on the lift requires the compressor - I will find that out when I collect it. But I was told that it will need a small compressor to operate correctly. I was told a small one that is used for a nail-gun will do.

Sounds like my Challenger two post, they use air, run thru tiny plastic tubing, to operate the mechanical lock release cylinders, which are about the size of a fat ink pen.

Charles

 

[Hawk Thor]

Where are you then?

Iceland.

 

[D.J.]

Guys please post a general location of where you are! So the rest of us don't have to guess or ask!

 

[fred26t]

You have two ways to go. Inside=more noise and a cleaner compressor. Outside less noise and more dirt into the compressor. I put mine inside. Sometimes hard to hear in the shop but compressors are expensive. Fred26t

 

[Sureshot]

You could always cut the motor/compressor mount from the tank and put it up horizontally somewhere. Over the garage door,over a walk in door,stairwell. Even put the tank in a remote location and just have the compressor and controls in the garage.

 

[Kroggers]

After some good advice from you all and some more thinking, I have decided that I will put the compressor either in the garage close to the lift or in the machine/welding room.

Wherever I put it, I will build a box round it as suggested and put some sound insulation inside the box. I will make sure there is good ventilation on the box, but hope that will reduce the overall sound from the compressor whilst it is running...

 

[brownbagg]

mine is outside

 

[camarotoolman]

Mine is out back with some scrap tin on the roof, scrap lumber frame and posts. cost 00.00

 

[Kroggers]

I know putting it outside is a nice option, but one I do not have!

 

[justsam]

If you are doing welding, you either have, or will have a plasma cutter. I would put the compressor in the same area as the machines and other welding equipment. I have a 60 gal vertical IR, it is noisy, and it tends to come on just when I don't want it to! I too need to build a noise reduction enclosure.

 

[tig]

Do you have an attic? I put mine in the attic above my garage and am quite happy. It's very quiet inside the garage and hardly noticeable outside the garage.

To put it in such a remote location you'll want to think through the following:

1. How do you get it there? They are heavy.
2. How do you ensure if something goes wrong bad things don't happen?

In my case we used the lift to raise it on the back of a truck.

For safety/reliability I've done the following:

The compressor only gets power if the garage is in use. I built a relay system tied into my home control system such that the compressor is activated only when "occupancy" in the garage is detected (via a motion sensor).
The tanks are drained of water via an automatic drain valve, also activated by the "occupancy" detector.
I've minimized the amount of failure points in the attic to just the compressor, spare tank, and the fittings between them. My air filters and downstream air regulators are all mounted where I can see/access them easily.

You can see all the details in this thread here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91256

In your case, if you don't have an attic above the garage, you could put the compressor in the storage room to reduce noise. I'm also curious why you think putting it under the stairs is not going to work?

 

[Kroggers]

@ justsam - That is exactly what I am going to do - if you read my earlier posts you will see that I have decided to put it in the "welding" room. I think this is the best location as it is rather central and will minimize the length of the air lines that I will have to install.

@tig - the garage is in the basement of a two storage house. Above the garage is the living room, kitchen etc, and above that is the bedrooms. There is no attic in the house.

And as you say, I want to make sure that if there is a problem, I can isolate it from the rest of the house as much as possible.

I do not want to put it under the stairs, as the only thing that separates the stairs from the living space is a thin door - my family will go mad with the sound of the compressor. By putting the compressor in the welding room I am isolating it from the living space by three doors - one is a metal fire door (the one at the bottom of the stairs).

The roof in the basement is concrete, so quite good at isolating the sound.

But if I could put it under the stairs and ensure that the sound from the compressor would not be to loud in the house, then I would love to put it there...

 

[Charles (in GA)]

But if I could put it under the stairs and ensure that the sound from the compressor would not be to loud in the house, then I would love to put it there...

Well, its not a large or stationary compressor, put it there and try it, if you don't like it, move it. Might be able to add insulation to the underside of the stairs to help deaden the sound of the compressor underneath it. Also might consider setting the compressor wheels on soft rubber pads or the like to help isolate it. Also realize that about 80% of the noise from a compressor is intake noise, the air being sucked thru the intake filters. If you can engineer some sort of efficient, yet noise deadening intake system, you will have solved much of your noise problem.

Charles