Causes and Effects of Clogged Air Filters

How to Keep an Air Cleaner Running Properly for Maximum Indoor Air Quality

Droplets of spray paint in an autobody shop. Dust from buffing and filing in a nail salon. Laser smoke in a dental office or veterinary surgical center. These are but a few examples of workplace contaminants that can affect the health and wellbeing of building occupants if the filter in their air cleaner (also called an air filtration unit, dust collector, or fume extractor) becomes clogged.

What Causes Clogged Air Filters?

In any commercial setting, dust, dirt, and other particles can build up and clog an air filter. Why some units are affected and others are not, comes down to one or more causes:

• Excessively high concentration of indoor pollution
• Using an incorrect filter type for the application
• Lack of proper equipment maintenance
• Extreme moisture or temperatures indoors
• Failure to regularly change filters

Negative Effects of Clogged Air Filters

A clogged commercial air filter can lead to various adverse health issues. When a filter is blocked, dust, mold, bacteria, and other pollutants prevent air from circulating throughout the system. When occupants inhale the dirty emissions, they can get sick.

Symptoms can include coughing, sneezing, burning eyes, sore throat, fatigue, headache, and shortness of breath. These symptoms can lead to more serious conditions such as allergies, infections, prolonged respiratory conditions, or worse.

Beyond negative health effects, a clogged filter can impact the performance of the air cleaner in several important ways:

1. Reduced Efficiency: Airflow is restricted when the filter is obstructed. This prevents a unit from effectively collecting indoor pollution.
2. Decreased Suction Power: A clogged filter reduces vacuum strength, allowing dirty emissions to remain in the workplace.
3. Potential System Damage: The increased strain on a piece of equipment can lead to mechanical failure and reduce the overall lifespan of the unit.
4. Increased Pressure: With a clogged filter, an air cleaner must work harder to maintain airflow which increases pressure – this can lead to higher energy consumption.

What to Do

When using a high-quality air filtration system,

1. Perform regular maintenance
2. Match the type of filter to the building occupants’ needs
3. Inspect filters regularly and address any buildup or damage
4. In addition, it is essential that IAQ operators regularly change air filters according to manufacturer recommendations

At AIRSInc., we offer a variety of commercial and industrial air filters. Whether your business is small or your industrial needs large-scale, our air cleaning systems are capable of handling hundreds of different applications. Our Extract-All® products include filter media such as HEPA, ULPA, and disposable carbon filters to name just a few.

Contact us today for a free indoor air quality assessment with one of our specialists and learn about our discounted customer filter replacement program.

Filters

Extract-All® offers a variety of filters capable of handling hundreds of different applications. Whether you need to remove dust, oil mist, smoke, fumes, sparks, chemical vapor, fungus, mold, or even biological material, we have the solution. If you aren’t sure what filters you need for your application, contact one of our experienced air filtration specialists, today!

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