Air Compressor Installation Ideas

Dennis, that's a great writeup and a very professional job. Very clean install.

I may get flamed for this but, Falkinman stated that you should never use PVC. There is an auto-repair garage a couple for miles from me that has two lifts and a relatively large compressor. The entire shop is plumbed using PVC. I know the owner quiet well so I felt comfortable asking him about the integrity of his system. His answer was he installed it over fifteen years ago and has had no problems. Matter of fact several of the shops in the area are plumbed with PVC.
That's not saying it's a good thing, but people do use it.
I myself prefer black pipe over most other materials. That is what we used in the Gas Meter shop I worked in.

Not trying to argue but his pvc air lines are a time bomb waiting to go off. They're 15 years old and getting even more brittle with age. Sure he has been lucky but do you want to press your luck? These are a bunch of mechanics who installed the pipe and not a plumber. The manufacturers of the pvc do not recommend using it for air, bottom line. Like I said in my previous post, ask at a good plumbing supply store(not Home Depot) and if you get a knowledgable guy at the counter he will tell you the truth about it. I took no offense to what you said retyler. I knew that people do this so I figured someone would say it. Hell, I was going to do it myself!

Originally Posted by Falkinman

Not trying to argue but his pvc air lines are a time bomb waiting to go off. They're 15 years old and getting even more brittle with age. Sure he has been lucky but do you want to press your luck? These are a bunch of mechanics who installed the pipe and not a plumber. The manufacturers of the pvc do not recommend using it for air, bottom line. Like I said in my previous post, ask at a good plumbing supply store(not Home Depot) and if you get a knowledgable guy at the counter he will tell you the truth about it. I took no offense to what you said retyler. I knew that people do this so I figured someone would say it. Hell, I was going to do it myself!

gotta agree mate,i personally would never use pvc pipe,i know for a fact it does become brittle with time,but thats just my opinion

Std copper (type L or M) 1/8 through 1" joined with 50/50 solder is rated at 200 psi at 100 degress ambient. Another good tip for getting rid of water is to run you air line up the wall from as low as possible t as high as possible, 180 degree back down to about 1 or 2 feet from the floor, plumb in a T with a drop pipe and a drain, then plumb back up the wall to the rest of your system. If possible keep a 1% grade back to the trap you have built. If you have a really long run you can put a dip in the run with a drop pipe and drain to catch the water. Not quit as pretty as a srtaight run but it is effective. On my system I ran the drain outside so I don't have to wipe up the water when I drain it. I have glass bowl traps at both ends of my shop and they never have any water in them.