Air Filter Washing

If it is a re-usable filter, back flush with steam of high pressure cleaner after taking apart from the machine. Blow dry and re-install.

I have not tried this with air filters but it works great for non NSF pleated filters used in water treatment. Add about 400 gms ( call it a pound) of sodium percarbonate to a 20 liter pail of water and submerge the filter in it. Leave it there for about 4 hours and then remove it, rinse, and in the case of air filters allow it to dry. Sodium percarbonate will cut the oils released by the compressor and clean the filters very easy. The filter will bubble and froth for an hour or so and then slow fizz. The percarbonate is active while this is bubbling or fizzing action is occurring. You may have to weigh down the filter to keep it submerged. Don not add any metal to this mixture or the bubbling can be violent. Sodium percarbonate is usually all food grade. Cost about $4 per kg. or 2 dollars a cleaning.

This does not sound like an inexpensive piece of equipment, therefore, I would find the manufacturer's recommendations. If the air filter is not of part of the original equipment, but an add on, I would go by the filter manufacturer's recommendation. -- JHF

I would add to the wash rinse dry: inspection.

Make a light box that fits the filter exactly. Inspect your filter media in a dark room for pin holes and defects.

After the soak, back flush the filter with pressurised water (like a garden hose) opposite the direction of air flow. Then obliquely (steep angle) with the direction of air flow. I am not familiar with this type of filter, some can hand everything a home water hose can put out. Done a few thousand industrial air filters this way.

Also we vacuumed them (back washed with air) to get the bulk of the dirt out.

Brad

Big mining co,s in Australia employ a person whose sole job is to wash air filters employed on machinery( this includes paper type)- the procedure is to dunk in large container with water & detergent- then rinse in plain water in container- then let dry naturally over a period- then inspect with a bright lamp for defects- i have used this method also on car air filters with no ill effects.

You didn't say what they were made of so the ones I'm familiar with were shipboard gas turbines. We had large, fine, wire mesh screen filters. Got washed about once a week at sea mostly because of salt buildup. A mild cleaning solution with water would clean them. Depending on what environment they're in and what they're made of, may need to use something stronger than "mild".