How To Clean An Air Compressor Filter (Step-By-Step)

Discover the easiest way to clean your air compressor filter. Avoid system damage, lower energy costs, and keep your tools running at peak performance.

An air compressor filter cleans the compressed air by blocking contaminants and dust particles. But what cleans an air compressor filter? Or, to phrase it better, who cleans it? 

Here’s a hint: you! Yes, it’s your duty to keep your air compressor filter neat and clean. Dealing with dirt and pollutants for a while, every filter is bound to get dirty itself. So, you have to make sure it gets regularly cleaned and maintained for uninterrupted performance. 

And to clean an air compressor filter? I’ll walk you through the process. Stay tuned. 


Why Is It Important To Clean An Air Compressor Filter? 

The performance of your air compressor system, HVAC systems, pneumatic tools, or manufacturing facilities depends a lot on the quality and purity of air. That, again, requires a top-notch air filter.

Now, if you don’t clean it regularly, it will deliver suboptimal performance, leading to the same consequence for your other equipment. All of that will raise your production downtime, increase energy bills, produce low-quality products, and cause other issues that may even require you to halt your operations temporarily. 

But all of this can be prevented if you clean your air filter regularly. It will not only maintain its performance level but also prolong its service life. That will give you more time before you need to change your filter. 


What Types Of Particles Does An Air Filter Block? 

There are different types of particles that an air filter blocks to clean your air compressor system. For example:

 

  • It will block water particles because the moisture can make the system corrode and rust. 

  • Dirt particles are the most common because they impact the system’s efficiency by clogging it. 

  • An air filter also filters oil residue because that can degrade your tools and lower the air quality. 

  • Air filters, when used in the food or pharmaceutical industry, clean microorganisms to maintain a very high level of air purity. 

Basically, these are the things that can affect an air compressor filter’s capability if not cleaned regularly. So, when you clean your filter, you actually get rid of the dust the filter drew in to keep your compressed air clean. 


How Does An Air Compressor Filter Work? 

A filtration system functions by removing water and oil through, which involves a multi-stage filtration process. I won’t discuss the process with minute details. But here’s a simplified overview to understand how it works. The basic knowledge will help you with filter maintenance, cleaning, and replacement. 

  • First, the system collects and depressurizes the condensate or condensed liquid containing oil. 

  • Then, the condensate goes through a filter that draws and blocks oil particles. Such filters are called oleophilic filters. 

  • Now that the initial filtration is complete, the next one starts where the freshly filtered condensate is channeled through activated carbon. This filter does advanced filtering by removing any oil residue that dodged the primary stage. 

  • Afterward, the free oils will go through gravitational separation, leaving the water free of contaminants. The remaining oil residue is collected here.

  • Finally, the filter will safely discharge the remaining water into your sewer system. 


How To Clean An Air Compressor Filter: A Step-By-Step Process 

Alright, now that I have covered the basics, it’s time to jump into the topic of concern. Here it goes! 


Step 1: Switching Off The Power And Spotting The Air Filter 

Switch off your HVAC units or pneumatic tools so that unfiltered air cannot circulate during cleaning. Now, spot the vent and unlock the system with a screwdriver. If you have multiple systems, you have to clean all the filters in their vents. 


Step 2: Removing And Inspecting The Filter 

Remove the air compressor filter. Before starting to clean it, take your time to inspect it thoroughly. If you find no physical damage or concerning issues, then it does not need any replacement. You can start the cleaning process now. 


Step 3: Vacuuming The Filter 

It is better to clean the filter outside to avoid creating a mess of dust inside. Also, use a vacuum cleaner that has a soft brush. Run it gently to reach and remove debris from tricky, hard-to-access areas of the filter. 


Step 4: Washing It 

If the filter needs deeper cleaning, wash it with vinegar and water. Get a large bucket of distilled white vinegar and hot water. Their ratio should be 1:1. 

Let it soak for an hour before watching it with clean water. If the bucket isn’t large enough for your filter, a garden hose will come in handy to wash it. It should have a low-pressure setting so the filter does not get damaged. 


Step 5: Letting It Dry 

When the washing is done, get it out of the bucket and let it dry. The filter must dry properly before being put back in its place. Otherwise, it will cause mold growth in the system. 

Now, take it back to its position and ensure it faces the right direction. This is something to remember because the wrong direction can disrupt the airflow. Most filters have arrow markings indicating the correct area. Follow that when placing your filter.

Afterward, close the vents and switch on the system. 


Do I Follow The Same Process For My Disposable Air Compressor Filter? 

No. Actually, you don’t follow any cleaning process for your disposable air compressor filter. Disposable filters are not designed to be cleaned. Instead, you have to replace them once they get clogged with dirt. Cleaning is for reusable air filters. 

Even if you attempt to clean it, it won’t generate expected results. There will be mold issues, material deterioration, inefficient filtration, and other problems because of this. So, it is best to change it or switch to reusable filters so you can clean and use them for a long time. 


What If My Air Filter’s Performance Doesn’t Improve Even After Cleaning? 

If you’ve cleaned it properly and placed it in the right direction, and the filter’s performance hasn’t yet improved, it can only mean one thing: it needs a replacement. 

It is a clear sign that your filter has become too dirty to deliver quality performance. In such a case, you should see our complete air filter collection and get a suitable replacement. 


Note that there are other symptoms, too. For example, your filter has run out of its service life, or there is visible damage to its body. Or, your air compressor’s poor performance can also indicate a weak, excessively dirty air filter. In short, if you notice inefficiency in any area of your entire system, check your air filter and see if it needs a replacement. 


Final Words 

Here’s the summary of how to clean an air compressor filter. Switch off the power, open the vent, take out the filter (better if outside), vacuum it, wash it with water after letting it soak in hot water and vinegar, then let it dry completely before putting it back. 

If you can make it a consistent routine for your air filter, it will serve you efficiently without any drop in its performance quality. Yes, you must replace it once it reaches the end of its service life. But until then, continue to clean it regularly to get the most out of it. 

 

Back to blog