I live in Minnesota, so it tends to get cool around here for a few months. Being pretty new to the air horn club, I was wondering if those that live in similar conditions use their air horns year round without problems or if you shut them down when the temperatures drop below freezing.
I’m concerned with the system freezing, in general, but especially concerned with my SMC check valve freezing and my compressor burning up from a continuous run.
Suggestions ??
I live in buffalo ny… You have prob. heard about out weasther on the news once or twice :eek: Once it gets below freezing If my compressor kicks on, it dosent even fill te tank, it just runs… So since i experienced that i installed a shutoff switch to it…
My guess is the checkvalve in line freezes and dosent allow air to go in tank. But i have experienced probs with the solenoid opening too at those temps… so i advise anyone that lived in these climates, dont use your horns below freezing… you dont want that valve sticking and continue nonstop… 
haha, just imagine if you were sleeping one night, with the car in the garage, or even outside for that matter, and the valve opens with a pressurized tank… That would suck so bad…
Noone would get a good night sleep… and the neighbors wouldn’t be happy either.
I’ve heard adding a very small amount of anti-freeze to your tank will help prevent that. I have no idea what it will do the horns or valves but it will keep your air lines open.
Hopefully someone else will fill you in on the details.
Yeah I’ve accidentally dumped all 5 gallons when I guy cut me off from my valve sticking open on a cold day. It seems just to happen when you hold it open for while, short bursts work fine though.
Actually, from a valve diaphragm malfunctioning , twice on me i had similar incidents happen…
1st was i came home from work after a long day, was inside and all of a sudden i heard my train horn for first time, with me not in the truck doing it :mad: :eek:
I ran outside, was trying to hit button, could not shut it off, by now all neighbors were outside , including my nextdoor neighbor cutting his lawn, and i scarred the crap out of all especially him! So i finally drained rest of tank by the drain fitting…
I got a replacement valve / diaphragm , installed it like 3 weeks later… was good that whole night, but next morning , i start my truck, driving down street about 3 houses away from mine, and the damn thing lets go again :eek: lol, i jumped out , turned off the shut off valve and had to replace the diaphragm once again… been good ever since, but was some fun times 
Here’s a thought for those who live in frozen wastelands…
Remove the leader hose and add a T fitting to the head of the compressor. One way, you will have the leader hose going to your tank. The other port, add a safety valve. If the check valve freezes up, the safety valve will vent off any pent up pressure. Be sure to use the same pressure value at this location as you do in your air tank. You must also have a safety valve in your air tank for obvious safety reasons.
i thought you were going to say add a tee with a nipple and cap it facing down to catch any moisture that should come out of head so it would not freeze the check…
Nice idea lance. Simply draining excess water everyday will prevent water or freezing problems in the valve. A good quaility valve will not stick in the cold either.
I know this thread has been dead for a couple weeks but i just got mine up and running not to long ago.
Anyone got any pics of the above safety features they use during the winter. the compressor kicks on when i start the truck and i don’t want it jacking something up before it gets TOO cold.
PS, I’M IN ALASKA!!
Thanks for the help!
Just put a switch between remote turn on wire for pressure switch… if you dont want compressor kicking on, flick the switch and the pressure switch wont get signal to kick it on…
Would that be the safest way or
will i still bust lines if there’s moisture in there?
will i jack up the pressure switch/compressor running in cold weather?
Started the truck this morning and the compressor didn’t even kick on and no WOOT WOOT from the horns. I figured i’d wait to see what this afternoon brings
Any ideas?
I’ve been contemplating whether to just take my Shocker horns and valve off for the winter or not. We are probably going to get another good ice storm this year. It’s not too much of a hassle, they are just installed under my Jeep with metal strapping.
Can’t believe there’s not more hits then this. I know i’m not the only one with horns in a cold climate. AHHHHHH!!
Well i went out to see if she’d kick on and sure enough, KEY ACC and the compressor kicked on. Too cold this morning for the pressure switch?? Roughly 20*
I live in buffalo ny… We get some snow here 
lol
And of course by some, i mean a ton… and along with the snow it gets cold! There are easily days when its single digits in the middle of winter… thats what i get living right off lake erie :eek:
If you have moisture in lines they are not going to bust… all u have is condensation to where the check valve wont open…
The way i think about it is , if the temp is below freezing , i usually wont even try and let my compressor turn on… Unless my truck is sitting in sun even tho its extremely cold, usually the sun warms the bed up and it will work…
Easily flip the switch for the action that i want it to do…
btw- i see you said the compressor kicked on… but did it fill tank? Mine will usually kick on and just non stop run… wont fill tank, or will take much longer than should…
I live near Buffalo NY and snow is a plenty here like 06z71silvy said haha. i have a water seperator i got from Graingers after my comperssor attached to the tank. so basically have no water infiltration into my tank, i just have to drain the water seperator every now and then. I also run a safety valve just to be safe, just in case the pressure switch failed or something crazy happened. My electric horn valve is inside the engine compartment so the radiant heat from the engine will keep my valve from freezing up (if there was any kind of moisture in the air lines), or just randomly getting stuck on and releasing all 20 gallons of air.
LOL, i was just in / near youngstown today delivering paint (i work for ICI paints) I was delivering out to Ryan Homes on lower river rd off pletcher… Development name is “Riverwalk”
Are you around there at all??
haha yea man i live and work in Youngstown. I know right where riverwalk is wheres ICI paints at bro?