Air compressor in garage or out?

OH71RRunner

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
9:29 AM
Joined
Apr 28, 2016
Messages
485
Reaction score
848
Location
Fulton, Ohio
I'm finally getting my garage set up after being here almost a year. The garage is an attached 24x24. There's one oversized door on the right, so it's not a true 2-car garage. I'm going to put an electrical panel in just for the garage so it can have dedicated electric.

There's a small room in the garage for storage. Originally thought of putting the air compressor in there. But then I thought it might be best to put the air compressor outside between the garage and pre-built garage, build a couple small walls and roof to house the compressor. There's about 5 feet between the two.

Where is your compressor?
What are your thoughts?
 

themechanic

Oklahoma is OK
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
8:29 AM
Joined
Nov 11, 2012
Messages
16,412
Reaction score
19,060
Location
Moore, Oklahoma
I've never had the need for a large/loud compressor. I have a newer style low noise 5.5 gallon compressor from California Aur Tools. 60db. I don't use air tools or paint cars.

Harbor Freight sells similar compressors.
 

Runcharger

Well-Known Member
Local time
6:29 AM
Joined
Apr 22, 2020
Messages
1,218
Reaction score
2,253
Location
Vernon
IMO, I like it inside where the air is driest with lots of airflow around it for cooling. I've thought about putting it up in the storage area but there's less airflow up there and in the summer it would be hotter, plus I probably wouldn't drain it as often.
 

eldubb440

more miracles than Jesus
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
9:29 AM
Joined
Jul 17, 2008
Messages
13,589
Reaction score
34,125
Location
South Jersey USA
mine is outside in a little block shed, well ventilated....... the downside is I use a hotdog heater to warm it up in cold weather after sitting all night
 

Nxcoupe

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
9:29 AM
Joined
Jul 4, 2021
Messages
1,906
Reaction score
1,953
Location
Red Lion, OH
I'm finally getting my garage set up after being here almost a year. The garage is an attached 24x24. There's one oversized door on the right, so it's not a true 2-car garage. I'm going to put an electrical panel in just for the garage so it can have dedicated electric.

There's a small room in the garage for storage. Originally thought of putting the air compressor in there. But then I thought it might be best to put the air compressor outside between the garage and pre-built garage, build a couple small walls and roof to house the compressor. There's about 5 feet between the two.

Where is your compressor?
What are your thoughts?
In Ohio? Inside, otherwise the water that inevitably collects inside can freeze. I've seen it break the petcock on the bottom, letting all the air escape, triggering compressor to turn on and burnt up sometime through the night. Was supposed to be off I assume, but oversights happen. As rarely as mine kick on, the noise isn't a big deal. And if you're running an air tool or sand blaster, the compressor noise is the least of your worries.
 

toolmanmike

Henchman #2
Staff member
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
8:29 AM
Joined
Aug 11, 2010
Messages
9,916
Reaction score
17,465
Location
Iowa
I'm finally getting my garage set up after being here almost a year. The garage is an attached 24x24. There's one oversized door on the right, so it's not a true 2-car garage. I'm going to put an electrical panel in just for the garage so it can have dedicated electric.

There's a small room in the garage for storage. Originally thought of putting the air compressor in there. But then I thought it might be best to put the air compressor outside between the garage and pre-built garage, build a couple small walls and roof to house the compressor. There's about 5 feet between the two.

Where is your compressor?
What are your thoughts?
Inside if you are in Ohio
 

PlymCrazy

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
9:29 AM
Joined
Mar 19, 2021
Messages
1,379
Reaction score
2,872
Location
Western NY
For the garage air I have a 1.5hp/33gal in the basement of the house. Piped it up and out into the garage to a 50ft retractable line installed overhead. Regulator and air/moisture separator in the garage. I drain the separator and leave it open after every use. The tank I leave full as it’s heated down there and not worried about freezing. I drain off the tank moisture periodically.

In the shop (much newer construction), it’s not heated yet. So I stay in the habit of draining the tank AND the separator after each use so I don’t get caught during freezing temps. I have a 5hp/60gal out there. But I’m using cordless more and more for everything and only fire up the compressor when I need a little extra oomph breaking something free with the impact, running the die-grinder or using the blow gun.
 

Sixpactogo

Well-Known Member
Local time
8:29 AM
Joined
Feb 2, 2014
Messages
1,725
Reaction score
1,581
Location
Eau Claire, WI
I have a 15' X 35' loft in my shop so the compressor is up there. My shop has 2X6" walls and is well insulated so I don't hear it. I installed one of those electronic bleeders on it so when it is powered up, it bleeds the moisture off for 5 seconds every 10 minutes. I shut the breaker off when not in use. Works great for me.
 

OH71RRunner

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
9:29 AM
Joined
Apr 28, 2016
Messages
485
Reaction score
848
Location
Fulton, Ohio
Thank you all for the replies.

Seems as though it will be best to keep it in the garage in more climate controlled environment.
 

zyzzyx

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
8:29 AM
Joined
Aug 5, 2011
Messages
3,269
Reaction score
4,347
Location
Lisle, Illinois
If you want to quiet it down, enclose the immediate area around the compressor with studs and fiberglass
insulation with a 6" round heat duct at the bottom at the floor, and one near the cieling with a booster fan
in it to evacuate the warm air. The cold air will enter at the bottom and rise helping cool the compressor
and then the warm air will be pulled out near the top, keeping the garage quiet, and help with the heat in
the winter. A little booster fan inside the duct doesn't draw alot of current, and it can be wired right into
the compressor so it only runs when the compressor comes on.
 

ykf7b0

Well-Known Member
Local time
8:29 AM
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Messages
1,810
Reaction score
2,295
Location
Tennessee
My shop is 40x30 with a dividing wall down the middle. I use one side (20x30) for work, and it has a ceiling installed to aid with heating and cooling. The other side, also 20x30, is where my 69 roadrunner and 55 Bel Air reside. My 60-gallon compressor will go on the side with the cars to cut down on the noise in my work area.
 

Badvert65

Well-Known Member
Local time
9:29 AM
Joined
Oct 11, 2013
Messages
1,106
Reaction score
896
Location
Brightwood, Virginia
My garage is climate controlled.....whatever the outside climate is, that is what my garage is......
North central Virginia and I keep my compressor inside covered with a box made from 2 inch thick Styrofoam sheeting I don't have any fans on it, but I have vents around the bottom and top. I also have a remote drain line kit on it so that I can more easily drain it. I might look for one of those electronic ones as I did not know that they made them.
 

Sixpactogo

Well-Known Member
Local time
8:29 AM
Joined
Feb 2, 2014
Messages
1,725
Reaction score
1,581
Location
Eau Claire, WI
My garage is climate controlled.....whatever the outside climate is, that is what my garage is......
North central Virginia and I keep my compressor inside covered with a box made from 2 inch thick Styrofoam sheeting I don't have any fans on it, but I have vents around the bottom and top. I also have a remote drain line kit on it so that I can more easily drain it. I might look for one of those electronic ones as I did not know that they made them.
This is the one I installed on my compressor. About 30 bucks on Ebay. Electronic timed Moisture drain. I had a habit of forgetting to drain the tank so this took care of that problem. They are adjustable so you can set it where you want. I have mine set to bleed for 10 seconds every ten minutes. Seems to work good. I piped it into a 5 gallon bucket but there is never any water in it.

s-l500.jpg


100_0641.JPG


100_0642.JPG
 

69 Charger

Well-Known Member
Local time
9:29 AM
Joined
Jul 1, 2022
Messages
87
Reaction score
97
Location
Havelock, North Carolina
I've had a Sears Craftsman 5HP, 33 gal. compressor since about 1991. I've painted a car with it, but now use it mostly to keep the tires inflated and occasionally to drive air tools. I've never been bothered by the noise. It's kept inside an unheated garage with the cars. In eastern NC, freezing is not much of a problem.
 

Mackman

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
9:29 AM
Joined
Sep 24, 2020
Messages
348
Reaction score
579
Location
Holley, NY
My shop building is 36x90. I have 36x36 portioned off and heated. The first 10 years I had a 5hp compressor on the heated side, and I didn’t like the noise. I now have a 7 1/2hp on the ingested side, and I like it much better. Been there 7 years. I have a flexible block heater attached to the lower 1 inch of the crankcase, which I plug in when the temp starts to drop into the 40’s. Works good, no issues with moisture at the bottom.
 

Big Bad Dad

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
9:29 AM
Joined
Jun 11, 2011
Messages
4,553
Reaction score
9,173
Location
Fincastle, Va.
This is the one I installed on my compressor. About 30 bucks on Ebay. Electronic timed Moisture drain. I had a habit of forgetting to drain the tank so this took care of that problem. They are adjustable so you can set it where you want. I have mine set to bleed for 10 seconds every ten minutes. Seems to work good. I piped it into a 5 gallon bucket but there is never any water in it.

View attachment 1362460

View attachment 1362475

View attachment 1362476
Is that your drain line, way up higher than the compressor??? Maybe that's why your bucket stays dry..... What are we looking at here?
 

Sixpactogo

Well-Known Member
Local time
8:29 AM
Joined
Feb 2, 2014
Messages
1,725
Reaction score
1,581
Location
Eau Claire, WI
Is that your drain line, way up higher than the compressor??? Maybe that's why your bucket stays dry..... What are we looking at here?
Yes it is. That black hose is routed from the bottom of the tank where the water accumulates. The pressure in the tank blows it out whenever the timer valve opens. The bucket stays dry because it kicks out any moisture at the bottom of the tank every 10 minutes. I used to get some moisture in my separator before but not any longer. It works, believe me.
 

snakeoil24

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
9:29 AM
Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
5,999
Reaction score
4,934
Location
New Jersey The State of Tax Theives
I'm finally getting my garage set up after being here almost a year. The garage is an attached 24x24. There's one oversized door on the right, so it's not a true 2-car garage. I'm going to put an electrical panel in just for the garage so it can have dedicated electric.

There's a small room in the garage for storage. Originally thought of putting the air compressor in there. But then I thought it might be best to put the air compressor outside between the garage and pre-built garage, build a couple small walls and roof to house the compressor. There's about 5 feet between the two.

Where is your compressor?
What are your thoughts?
Condensation will freeze in winter and risk a crack.
 

747mopar

Well-Known Member
Local time
8:29 AM
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
Messages
13,709
Reaction score
18,850
Location
ohio
I'm in Ohio and I put mine upstairs (my garage is 2 stories). It's not heated but being upstairs has an advantage.. gravity. You can plumb your drain through the floor where it's heated and drain it downstairs. So far no issues even when it's below zero. Even in our old garage where it was only heated while we were out there we didn't have any issues, neighbor down the road does the same thing. Guess it depends on the compressor, the one I have now is a lot quieter but the last one drove me insane!
 
Top