My garage is heated but it's attic is not. The attic is accessible and could make a good location for a large air compressor – saves space & could muffle the noise. But the annual temperature swings in the attic are a concern.
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Winter temps here can go down, at the extreme, to < -10 F (-23 C).
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Summer highs might be less of a concern, but get into the 80s/90s (26/32) outside – probably > 100 F (37 C) in the attic.
Aside from whether extreme temps could be harmful to the motor or compressor pump itself, the tank is bound to get some condensation in it. I would plan to have a drain tube / valve plumbed in, but I wonder if frozen ice inside the compressor tank could cause an issue?
I checked a manufacturer's manual for a somewhat expensive compressor and it literally says nothing about operating temperature.
Reading around internet forums I get kind of a mixed impression – nothing that seems conclusive.
There are indeed some compressors used outside all the time – like at gas stations for filling tires. But those might have been purpose built for the conditions so I don't infer much about a standard workshop compressor from that.
Best Answer
Ice in the tank is not going to cause a problem. The issue is using the air in sub-freezing temps. Ice can form in the hose or in the tool. A good solution is to install a water separator that will catch the water before it goes into the hose and freezes.