Can My Air Compressor Be Outside?

The 3 'Wโ€™s' before installing your compressor outdoors.

Considering installing your air compressor outside? Think again. The temptation to save space may sound enticing, but in the long haul is will cost you. Here are the 3 โ€œWโ€™sโ€ to consider before moving or installing your air compressor outdoors.

1. Water:

As you know, moisture is the biggest enemy to any air compressor. Making sure to protect it from rain & snow would be critical to the longevity of your machine. Moisture in a machine can cause rust in your tools & equipment. Also, depending on what you are using your machine for it, water can ruin spraying finishes and painting.

2. Weather:

Extremely cold weather can be very hard on your compressor causing it to fail and as we know, that costs you money. In very cold environments, storing your unit indoors is almost a necessity. Your control valves, drains and lines must be kept from freezing. Remember, rotary screw compressors are not meant to Stored or operated in weather or temps below 34ยฐ F. Your compressor oil may not freeze, but the compressorโ€™s condensate is susceptible to freezing in low temperatures since the liquid consists mainly of water. Condensate could turn to ice anywhere that it collects on or in your compressor and compressor controls adversely affecting the way the system operates.

3. Wear:

Your compressor needs air from a clean, cool source. The cleaner the air your compressor intakes the longer it will last and the better it will perform. Outside air contains dirt, dust and debris that will be sucked into your machine when running. A filthy air filter is only hurting your air compressor by allowing dirty air from the outside in, plus forcing it to work harder to intake air. Check your filters regularly and change them if you notice a heavy buildup of dust and dirt. Moving your compressor outside can be done, however it does come at a risk to your business and your compressor. If you do decide to install it outside, please make sure to keep it covered, insulate your machine & regularly check and maintain.

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Who we are and how Ash Air can help your business!

Ash Air has been around in New Zealand since 1979, and weโ€™ve grown into a nationwide company with international support and a reputation for quality and reliability.We look after all things compressed air for your business!

  • Reciprocating, Screw, air compressors
  • Vacuum pumps
  • Nitrogen
  • An extensive line of air treatment components

Ash Air's range of Chicago Pneumatic, Alup, Pneumatech, and Quincy compressors are used extensively around the world in industries ranging from oil and gas to food, automotive and farming, and we bring you these world class compressors here in the land of the long white cloud.Our technicians are compressed air equipment experts and are dedicated to addressing customer needs. Supported by a 13 locations nationwide, Ash Air offers one of the widest selections of compressed air equipment and parts available today in New Zealand.

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With Ash Air compressors, you can count on reliability and high performance for even the most demanding applications. We focus our efforts on the following:

  • Increasing uptime
  • Reducing unexpected repairs
  • Reducing energy consumption
  • Improving the cleanliness of compressed air


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