How Much Space Do You Need Around An Air Compressor?

Author: E. Silva (aka Mr. Awesome - The Niche Specialty Expert)

Let’s start with this question today. Let’s get into it. Excited?

Well, first of all, I would just like to point that with an air – compressor, you need a certain amount of space that is considered safe, so to speak … and by that, of course, I do mean space from the very air – compressor itself, to the wall or other surrounding / enclosure …. basically any other equipment, or anything that can touch it. Usually, that’s the nearest wall, unless you have got something else surrounding the air – compressor or nearly touching it … either way, try to just make the walls the closest things to the air – compressor, and give it about 12 inches of space ( what the experts all generally recommend, especially the people who install these, ha ha ha ha hah hah ) from the wall. Try not to have anything placed, wedged or even closely located between the machine and the wall …. just empty space. Does that make sense, my friend?

Now one of the reasons for which I say all of this is simply due to the fact that air – compressors will naturally generate heat at all hours ( as long as they’re turned on, of course ) . And this heat can quickly change the temperature in your room, cause your AC to over – work itself, and your utility bills to run higher, for one. Such heat can also compound on itself, so to speak ( much like finance interest charges, he he he he heh, to think of an analogy …. as these only add and add and add to themselves, and before you know it, you are paying a ton more money on compounded interest alone than you ever thought you would find yourself paying, at the end of the loan term, he he he he heh ) , and only make the space around the machine hotter and hotter and hotter and hotter ( and yes, hotter ) . This, in turn, can not only cause your machine to over – heat and potentially damage some of its internal hardware and software from such intense temperatures ( especially if you have nowhere to vent it or no cooling unit nearby in the room or area ) . But such heat can also damage other items you have in that room, especially anything within 12 inches ( or closer ) to the air – compressor itself. And anything flammable, under intense heat temperatures, can burst. And it can even set on fire other things nearby. Then, before you know it, you have fire in your space or area … uh – oh.

If you measure in centimeters instead, it’s going to be 30. Keep that in mind. Yup, 12 inches ( 30 cm ) is your basic rule of thumb … for space to make around your air - compressor.