Which Air Compressor Filter is Right for Your Compressor? Is it a Particulate Filter, a Coalescing Filter – or Both?
The question isn’t about your air compressor filter; it’s really about the level of air quality you require. This is because these filters are often used together to achieve a high level of air purity for industries where contamination is a concern. The sanitation requirements of your application or the delicate nature of the products you manufacture determine whether you need one or both. In addition, you need to take into consideration the type of compressor you operate – oil-flooded, oil-less, or oil-free – when choosing a filter. The proper installation and regular replacement of an air compressor filter helps to prevent numerous mechanical problems with both the compressor and pneumatic tools and attachments.
If you own an auto shop or industrial operation in Knoxville, TN, a particulate filter, may be all you need. A particulate filter, also known as a general-purpose filter, is used to remove larger particles of dust and dirt in ambient air that is taken into your machine. It also removes rust that may form in the oxidized pipes inside your compressor. It generally will filter out contaminants from 2 to 5 microns, and it is a major factor in preventing wear on your machinery, blockages in pipes and valves, inconsistent air pressure, and contamination of end products.
If you use a pneumatic device at your dental office, or food processing plant in Nashville, TN, a coalescing air compressor filter will refine your air quality even more. Used downstream from a particulate filter, a coalescing filter goes even further by filtering out oil vapor particles and harmful, minute chemicals smaller than one micron. It traps and absorbs, or coalesces, oil and other contaminants and transforms them into droplets, which can be drained out of your compressor system.
When determining which air compressor filter is right for your compressor, it is beneficial to speak with an experienced air compressor company, like A&W Compressor. We have been fitting air compressors in Dickson, Clarksville, Franklin, Hendersonville, Cookeville, and all across Tennessee with the proper particulate filter and coalescing filter for more than 25 years.
Call or e-mail A&W Compressor today for more information on our top-brand air compressor filter selection and other accessories, like regulators, lubricators, and more.