Three Questions to Ask When Picking an Inline Filter

Consider the last time you made coffee. No, not with a Keurig or a French press, with a good ole drip coffeemaker. You start with water, the cleaner the better, and quality roasted coffee beans. You use a reliable, efficient machine that will make your coffee strong, but not burnt. And you definitely use a filter. 

Sure, you could make coffee without it, but the end result would grainy and gross, full of particles and pieces. That filter, the small piece of thin paper, plays a big role in crafting the perfect cup of joe.

Now consider your compressed air system. Just like a coffeemaker, your air compressor needs a filter. You may not be able to see them, but your compressed air is full of particulates, aerosols and vapors that contaminate your compressed air.

With an inline filter, you can remove any unwanted and potentially harmful particulates. But with so many to choose from, how do you ensure you pick the right filter for your compressor and application? Start by asking yourself these three questions:

1. How clean does my air need to be?

This seems like a basic question, but it’s an important one. Knowing how clean your air needs to be is a first step to choosing a filter. If your air is being used for pneumatic purposes, you may be able to opt for a basic dry particulate filter as opposed to an OSHA-approved activated charcoal filter used for breathing air.

2. Will my process be damaged by oil?

Some oil can still be present in air. If your application is sensitive to oil, installing an inline coalescing filter can limit damaging oil interacting with your end use. A mist eliminator can also be used as an alternative.

3. Is energy efficiency important to my facility?

If you’re like most facilities, the answer is yes. Lower energy usage leads to lower power bills, and who doesn’t like that? High-efficiency filters can produce extremely clean air (think removing particulates less than 0.01 microns) while minimizing the pressure drop.

Before purchasing an inline filter for your air compressor, think about your needs. If you’re not sure which type is right for your facility, reach out to one of our experts to find the right product.