We’ve talked a lot about the different air cleaning solutions and dust collection products offered by Bisco Enterprise.

We are the industry experts in providing those types of systems for industrial applications, after all.

However, we have yet to really dive into the heart and soul of each of our dust collection, mist collection, and other air cleaning systems: The filters.

So what is a filter, anyway?

When it comes to dust collectors, these are the integral parts that allow you to harness and prohibit harmful dust or other particles from floating through the air.

But what happens when the filter in your dust collection system begins to wear down or get too clogged?

These heavy duty filters have to endure a heavy duty workload day in and day out, after all.

Should you clean them or just replace them? Well, that’s what we’re here to help answer.

If you’re looking for replacement air filters for your dust collecting, mist collection, or wet/dry vacuum systems, then contact Bisco Enterprise. We’ve been the industry leaders in Illinois and beyond for the past 40-plus years, and we are confident that we know air filtration better than anyone.

Dry Or Wet Cleaning Filters

Simply cleaning your current air filters may seem like the easier, more cost-efficient option.

But there are certain drawbacks to this method. For instance, it’s been scientifically proven that having your air filters taken to the cleaners drastically reduces their lifespan, adding an additional cost of having to go out and buy a replacement anyway.

Chances are, whether you dry clean or use water methods to clean your filters, the fabric or fibers will get weak, less effective, and possibly tear or fail.

Additionally, there’s a good chance that you won’t be fully cleaning all of the contaminated particles out of your filter, increasing the chances for cross-contamination or re-distribution of particles that you thought you were totally eliminating from the air.

A “cleaned” filter has only about half the capacity it once did, meaning your dust collection system won’t be running at optimal capacity.

This can create downtime and a loss of productivity for your machinery, and therefore your business, as you will be spending more time cleaning and re-cleaning an ineffective filter that you could have just replaced.

So, the bottom line is, cleaning your filters isn’t the most ideal option, even if it seems appealing at the time.

How Often Should You Replace Filters?

Which brings us to our next question: How often should you replace the hard working filters in your dust collectors?

Well, that depends.

Naturally, you want your industrial building, office, factory, or plant running on clean, dry, and safe air at all times.

That’s why your filters are so important.

In order to prevent your filters from becoming plugged, rendering them ultimately ineffective and increasing the chance for dust and other potentially hazardous materials to float freely through the air, it’s recommended that you have your filters changed on an annual basis.

If you have a particularly hard working dust collector system, dealing with large amounts of dust, dirt, and debris can require you to change out your filters every six months.

However, this all depends on the type and size of your system, what regulatory requirements you are following, and whether or not your filter is working with moisture or mist particles.

Refer to your particular dust collection products’ guide for a more specific overview on when to change your filters.

Our Replacement Filters

When the time does come to change your filters, Bisco Enterprise can help. We offer a wide array of replacement air filters for a variety of air cleaning systems, from dust collection to mist collection to fume collection and more.

Our replacement filter options include:

• Activated Carbon: Perfect for commercial and industrial filtration of vapor and liquid particles, we offer over 20 types of activated carbons, impregnated carbons, and chemically modified zeolites. Available in 30-pound boxes, 50-pound bags, or 1,000 pound super stacks.

• Pleated Panel Filters: Looking for a furnace filter that’s more efficient and features a lower pressure drop? These pleated panel filters are built to withstand rigorous conditions and are perfect for industrial or residential furnace use, allowing your air cleaning systems to stay cleaner and work better.

• Panel Filters: Made up of two polyester layers around an internal wire grid support, these replacement panel filters are great for your air cleaning systems that deal with a heavy dust output and high air velocity.

• Mist-X Filters: For your industrial mist collection systems, these filters cause mist particles to travel through a maze of sorts. Forcing the flow through changes in direction creates a vortex to form in pockets, where the mist gets trapped and sinks into the fabric. Available in a variety of sizes to suit your needs.

• HEPA Filters: For your standard high dust collection systems, these feature a standard filtration efficiency of 99.97 percent to meet industry requirements.

• Cartridge Filters: Used for pools, tubs, and other moisture applications, these filters will not wilt under the detrimental effects of wetness. They are also fire retardant (which is part of the reason you don’t want to have them dry-cleaned, as you’ll run the risk of losing the coating), and made of synthetic and cellulose fibers for heavy duty applications.

• Bag Filters: For the large industrial dust collecting systems, these bag filters are industrial grade, offer a long lifespan, and can be used for both wet and dry filtration.

• MORE: Browse more of our replacement filters including Pleated Bag Filters, REDClean Cartridge Filters, and Bag Filters from AAF International

Contact us for all your replacement air filter, dust collection, and other air quality management needs.