Compressor question

[enjenjo]

I am thinking of building a lean to on my shop and moving the compressor into it. Since I live in a cold climate is there  any problems with doing this?

[sirstude]

I know several guys here, and we definitely are a cold climate, that have them in outside uninsulated sheds.

[kb426]

Frank, there are many compressors outside the buildings in my area. Most have some kind of automatic drain on them. I haven't heard or seen anything negative about this. We don't get as cold as you for as long but days under freezing are very common for 3 to 4 months.

[WZ JUNK]

Mine has been in the very back uninsulated, unheated room for years.  I try to remember to crack the water drain for a few seconds each time I open the main valve that connects the tank to my system of air lines.   I shut the system off each night.    I sometimes worry about how thick the oil is on cold winter days for the first start up of the day, but it has never caused a problem.  I suppose you could add something to preheat the oil before start up,  much like a block heater.  It sure is nice not to listen to that thing run while I am in the shop loafing.

John

[Rrumbler]

Most of the compressors I worked with were mounted in uninsulated metal cabinets outdoors, or  just under a cover of some sort, and the compressors on our line trucks were just out in the open or in a cage; never had any weather related problems, either hot or cold - at least none that we knew were weather related.

[58 Yeoman]

Mine is in my unheated shop and doesn't have any problems. I only heat it up when I work out there, which may not be for weeks. I drilled a hole in the back wall of the shop and ran a 1/2" of pvc pipe out, then connected a hose to it and have a ball valve on the bottom of the compressor. I drain it about every time I'm out there.

[purplepickup]

I have a cable operated air tank drain valve off a truck to drain moisture and it froze one year. The ice opened the valve a bit and the compressor ran a lot til I noticed it.

[papastoyss]

My compressor is under a 12ft deep shed on one side of my shop. I live out in the boonies so I drain the compressor when I go out to drain my bladder, at 70 yrs that's fairly often. A 18" length of 3/8 black pipe & a levered ball valve & I don't even have to bend over to drain the compressor.

[jaybee]

I'm late to the party because work has been pretty busy of late, but my compressor was in an un-insulated "dog house" for 12 years. My Uncle had that same compressor in an un-insulated shop for about 20 before that. Never an issue, though it has a great big, 220v, 5hp continuous duty motor and I think the drive pulley is a little undersized.