Implementing a solid maintenance routine can significantly extend the life of your air filtration system, reduce downtime, and save on costly repairs.
Here are some actionable tips to help you get the most out of your filtration system.
Regular Filter Inspection and Replacement
Over time, filters become clogged with dust, debris, and particulates, reducing their effectiveness and forcing the system to work harder. This can increase energy costs and reduce the effectiveness of your system.
What to do: Schedule regular inspections to check filter conditions and replace them as needed. The frequency will depend on the specific conditions in your facility, but a general rule is to inspect monthly and replace every 3-6 months.
If you’re optimizing your system or building a new one, have your filtration expert get you a list of needed filters for each part of your system. That way you can keep multiple spares on handle and replace as needed without having to wait for shipments, and your system won’t be negatively affected if there are occasional shortages or delays from parts dealers.
Clean the Ductwork and Air Intakes
Even in facilities with working filtration, dust and debris can accumulate in the ductwork and air intake areas. Just like a clogged filter, buildup in the ducts reduces the efficiency of the system, raising energy costs and shortening the lifespan of parts.
This is especially true in facilities with higher than average levels of dust production, such as woodworking and metal fabrication shops.
What to do: Have the ducts and air intakes professionally cleaned twice per year to ensure that there is no blockage impeding the system’s performance.
Check for Air Leaks In Seals and Connections
Regular wear, especially in facilities with extreme temperature or humidity, can sometimes cause air leaks in the seals and connection points of filtration systems.
These can be harder to catch than clogged ventilation systems or filters because you can’t typically just look at filter seals and tell there’s anything wrong. Filtration specialists will often use special leak-detection powder, which is fluorescent, and then shine a blacklight at the seals while in use to see if any is coming out.
If you notice more dust or fumes than usual all of a sudden, and your vents and filters aren’t clogged, this is another place to look. When in doubt, hire a specialist to examine your systems.
Monitor the Differential Pressure
Differential pressure across the filters is a critical indicator of how well your system is functioning. High pressure suggests that the filters are clogged or nearing the end of their useful life. Low pressure may indicate a leak somewhere.
What to do: Install pressure gauges to continuously monitor the system’s differential pressure. When readings exceed the recommended levels, it’s time to clean or replace the filters.
Some systems support automatic alerts that notify you immediately when pressure levels exceed optimal limits. We can help you select and install systems that include this, or to determine whether your current system can send these alerts.
Either way, these alerts allow your team to react quickly and maintain operational efficiency.
Calibrate Sensors and Controls
Sensors and control units play into the above point about pressure differentials. In order to give accurate readings, these sensors will need to be periodically calibrated.
This process may require the use of calibration gasses (for particle sensors), pressure generators (for differential pressure sensors), or other tools to reset the sensor’s accuracy.
In highly demanding environments, such as refineries or chemical plants, more frequent recalibration may be necessary, typically every 6 months to a year. In less demanding environments, annual recalibration may be sufficient.
Put Our Expertise To Work For Your Facility!
Our specialists can help assess your current filtration system for features that may improve efficiency, and can also make system-wide recommendations for new setups.
From renovating older facilities to building new ones, our priority is recommending an ideal setup for your needs — drawing from the greatest strengths of multiple equipment brands.
We’d love to hear about your facility and advise. Call us today!