Compressed air filters

How to maintain your air compressor filters

Both the indoor and outdoor air are full of everyday pollutants that get incorporated into your compressed air.
To ensure the safety of your compressor machine and a high-quality product, make sure your compressor is equipped with an air filter system that can capture and remove these contaminants.
Learning how to maintain these air compressor filters is the best way to keep your compressor running efficiently.
Effective maintenance means knowing how to clean your filters and when it’s time to replace the filter.

How a compressed air filter works
There are three types of in-line compressed air filters:
• Particulate Filter: Dry Particulate Filters work to capture and retain corrosive or solid particles from the air during the filtration process, there are various designs in terms of filter capacity in ppm, usually two or more are placed in a row.
• carbon filter: these filters remove water, aerosol and oil from compressed air, but are generally unable to remove gaseous vapours.
• omgekeerde osmose: deze Adsorptie filter helpt bij het elimineren van gasvormige dampen door die dampen chemisch te binden met het oppervlak van de absorbeerder.

Importance of air compressor filters
Clean, functional filters are essential to the performance and life of your compressor.
No matter how clean a production facility or workshop is, there are still undetectable airborne particles and residue that can contaminate and clog your airflow.
Over time, these pollutants can build up and cause your compressor to stop working.
They can also contaminate your product. Some examples of common air contaminants that air compressor filters help capture and remove include:
• Excess water or moisture
• Residue from cleaning agents
• Paints and Solvents
• Residue from ovens
• Lubricants
• Smoke from tobacco or exhaust fumes nearby
• Pollen
• Wood dust
• Rust and other metal particles
•Dust mites
• Humidifiers
• Insectensprays
• Aerosol
• Abrasive residues and fine dust
Filters work to isolate these contaminated particles from clean ones and then capture or remove the contaminants. Result pure, clean compressed air.

Air filters lead to better results
When you operate your compressor with old or dirty air compressor filters, you run the risk of contaminating the compressed air with contaminants such as pollen, dirt, rust and other buildup.
Compressors that operate with clean filters produce better quality air.
The higher the air purity, the safer it is for you, your employees and the environment.
Quality air results in trouble-free quality production.
For certain facilities, such as laboratories and food processing plants, air purity and the quality of your end product is crucial.
Using and maintaining air filters will ensure adequate, clean and effective airflow, while reducing the likelihood of having to make costly corrections or repairs.

How do you clean a filter?
Always refer to the owner’s manual or instruction manual of your compressor or filter for specific instructions on how to properly clean your air filters.
If no instructions are listed – or if no manual is available – these are the general steps you can take to clean your filter:
1. Turn off the air compressor and let it cool down before touching it.
2. Unscrew and remove the top filter cover from the filter base.
3. Visually inspect the filter housing and note any concerns.
4. Verwijder voorzichtig het filterelement van de basis.
5. Inspect the filter element.
6. Blow away any dust, dirt or debris from the filter element with low pressure compressed air.
7. If replacement is not necessary, carefully secure the element in its original position.
8. Reattach the filter housing.
Perform this inspection regularly – ideally every month, but at least once per season – and replace filters if necessary.

When should air compressor filters be replaced?
• Your filters are damaged.
• You keep noticing poor performance.
• Your filters are old.
• You use your filters a lot.
• The quality of the supplied air is poor.
• Your company demands quality.

What to look for when choosing an air compressor filter
When it comes time to replace the filter in your air compressor, choosing the right one is vital.
Here’s what to consider when choosing your next air compressor filter:
• Your specific compressor
• Air filter type
• Brand and quality
• Quality of used air
• Your compressed air needs.
If you are still unsure which air filter is best for your compressor, please call Javac on +32(0)36664417.
Our experienced compressed air experts will ask you questions about your compressor, your current air quality and air production needs.
They will then use this information to help you make the best decision.