Replacing the filter in the supply ventilation: selection features + instructions for replacing the filter

Many residents of large cities are faced with the problem of dust that enters the apartment during ventilation.It settles on the windowsill of an open window, furniture, and becomes the cause of allergic reactions. Installing fresh air ventilation with a filter will help eliminate the possibility of it entering the house. It will provide sufficient air flow without the need to open windows. And the filter will prevent dust and other small particles from entering the apartment.

But for the system to function without interruption, periodic replacement of the filter in the supply ventilation is required. The information provided below will help you understand what filters are, how often they need to be changed and how to do it correctly.

Types of filters for ventilation systems

Cleaning the supply air helps prevent particles of dust, soot, and small debris from entering the living area. It is relevant in urban conditions, for residents of houses located in industrial zones and near busy highways.

Even when the owner does not consider it necessary to thoroughly clean the air before supplying it to the apartment, a filter is installed to protect the system itself from the negative effects of the external environment. Its presence will increase the cost of maintenance, but repairing ventilation will cost much more than purchasing filter elements.

Dust and small debris entering the ventilation system can not only reduce the air quality in the apartment, but also lead to premature wear and breakdown of expensive equipment

Before you start replacing filters in the air handling unit, it is important to understand what they are.The models differ from each other not only in cost, but also in their functional features.

By design they are:

1. Pocket. Filters combine high dust holding capacity with relatively low safety, durability, and resistance. They are resistant to fire, easy to use, and do not create problems with disposal. Their design resembles pockets attached to the frame.
2. Panel. These filters are often made from polyester fibers. Used in production and at home. They provide high technical performance, are practical, and do an excellent job of retaining dust and small particles.
3. Filter bags — have a high catching capacity, easily cope with the retention of solid particles of various sizes and even gases, therefore they are often used in production.

General purpose filters are used to clean the air entering the apartment.

All filters are divided into general or specialized systems. The former are used in everyday life, the latter provide special protection, which is necessary in laboratories and individual industries

Filter elements are divided according to the principle of operation and degree of purification.

The main groups include the following types:

• mechanical;
• oil;
• coal;
• spongy;
• HEPA filters.

Next, we will consider these varieties in more detail.

Type #1 - mechanical filters

Mechanical filters are designed to clean the air entering the apartment from sufficiently large particles. This could be dust, insects, animal hair, or other debris, the size of which is 50-10 microns. A feature of large particles is their ability to accelerate equipment wear and render expensive fine filtration elements unusable.

Mechanical filters are found in almost every ventilation system.Some of them must be disposed of after use, but there are more and more models that are easy to clean and reuse.

Type #2 - oil products

Oil filters are a mesh made of metal, polymer fibers, impregnated with synthetic oils.

This ensures a higher degree of air purification, since small particles stick to oily surfaces that could otherwise slip through the mesh barrier.

Type #3 - coal models

Carbon filters are able to clean the air not only from mechanical impurities, but also from harmful vapor impurities and unpleasant odors.

Such models are used only in conjunction with products that provide rough air purification - grease traps. The lack of additional filtration will lead to the fact that the pores of the coal will quickly become clogged. This will make his work ineffective.

The advantage of carbon filters is their high degree of purification, which is combined with the affordable cost of replacement elements.

A carbon filter is not much different in appearance from a conventional mechanical cleaner. Compressed carbon is packaged in cells made of polyester fibers, which allows it to easily cope with its stated functions without creating discomfort during use.

Type #4 - sponge devices

Sponge filters provide air purification using the same materials used in their creation. Polyurethane foam and sponge rubber are pre-treated to increase the pore area. They are easy to clean, so they can be reused many times. Sponge models remove dust very efficiently, so they are used not only in everyday life, but also in medicine.

The disadvantage of such traps is their narrow specialization, since they do not retain anything other than small particles.

Type #5 - HEPA filters

HEPA filters, like carbon traps, are always used in conjunction with pre-installed coarse cleaning systems. Depending on the design features, they are capable of trapping the smallest dust particles carrying allergens, pathogenic viruses, and plant pollen. A reduction in allergic attacks and the number of viral diseases is associated with treating the filter surface with special chemical compounds.

The scope of HEPA filters is very wide. They are used wherever cleaning from allergens, spores, dust, and other small air pollutants is required. Catchers are made of special paper and synthetic fibers.

The level of efficiency of HEPA filters depends on the technologies used in its creation and the cleaning class. To ensure good performance, it is worth choosing E- and H-class catchers. Purchasing a U-class filter will help you achieve ideal air purity

The cost of fine filters is much higher than simple mechanical traps. However, they will help not only to retain dust, but also to reduce the level of illness and get rid of unpleasant odors coming from the ventilation.

We provided more information about the types of filters for ventilation in next article.

Recommendations for choosing a model

In order to turn fresh air into clean air during the intake process, it is important to properly organize the filtration system.

The main criterion when choosing a catcher is the degree of air purification:

1. Rough cleaning — will ensure the capture of particles up to 10 microns in size, which will get rid of dust and protect the ventilation system.
2. Fine cleaning will help remove particles up to 1 micron in size and get rid of unpleasant odors.
3. Ultrafine cleaning — filtration of this type will help keep the room sterile and remove up to 99% of suspended particles. Dust grains 0.1 microns in size will not be able to overcome such an obstacle.

The most effective solution is considered to be a cascade of several catchers.

When creating a system, consider the following points:

1. You can install the selected filters directly into the central ventilation. However, before installation begins, preparatory repair work will be required.
2. Using supply valve It will be difficult to use additional filters. The only thing that the design provides is a fine grille that protects the apartment from debris and insects.
3. Availability of individual supply ventilation in the apartment allows you to use those filters that owners consider necessary.

For city residents, the filtration system has become an important component of life support.

In order to correctly select elements for filtration and correctly integrate them into the ventilation system, it is worth using the technical support of professionals

Before purchasing equipment, it is important to decide on the task that it must solve, select the appropriate level of cleaning, and decide what kind of contaminants it must cope with.

When should filters be changed?

The frequency with which the filter in the ventilation system should be replaced depends on how well the equipment is selected. Compared to an open window or a valve in the wall, supply ventilation provides more intense air exchange.

Thanks to the use of filters, less dust gets into the apartment, and it becomes possible to exclude the penetration of pathogenic bacteria and allergens that enter the living space along with spores and pollen.

During operation, the filters become dirty, and the efficiency of their use decreases sharply. As a result, static resistance increases, and much less air enters the apartment than required by the standards. This applies not only to individual supply systems, but also to general ventilation equipped recuperator.

Professionals recommend replacing filter elements at least every six months. For the city, the frequency of filter replacement is every 3 months, provided that the apartment is located in the inner part of the yard, and monthly when the air intake is from the roadway.

To reduce overhead costs and avoid replacing fine filters too often, it is recommended to additionally install coarse dust collectors.

Untimely replacement of the filter reduces the quality of air entering the apartment and also negatively affects the efficiency of the entire system.

Timely replacement of filters allows you to extend the service life of ventilation.

To assess whether the dust catcher needs to be replaced, you should use the following methods:

1. Automatic control — the more the filter becomes clogged, the more noticeable the pressure difference becomes in different sections of the supply ventilation. When a critical indicator is reached, a signal is given. Information about the need to replace the filter appears on the controller panel. It can be displayed as text or a lit indicator light.
2. Visual control the user does it independently. He inspects the filter and decides to replace it. Over time, you can create a schedule. Experts say that routine filter replacement is a better solution than installing a new catcher after it is completely dirty.

When calculating the timing of filter replacement, it is important to take into account the height of the apartment. The higher the floor, the cleaner the air. Accordingly, filters will have to be changed less frequently.

When drawing up a schedule, it is worth considering the season. Snow is considered a natural filter that attracts dust, so in cold weather the filters become less dirty.

The efficiency of dust collection depends on the quality of the filter material. The larger its volume, the greater the number of harmful particles it can hold. If the schedule for replacing and cleaning the filter is not followed, the efficiency of its operation decreases sharply

In addition to dust raised by the wind, in summer it is important to take into account the presence of flowering trees. For example, poplars, whose fluff can quickly clog the filter. As well as other plants whose pollen causes allergies.

Replacement procedure

Regardless of the type of filter element, it is important to regularly update and clean the dust traps. An experienced technician can determine the degree of contamination, so users should strictly adhere to the recommended replacement schedule for elements.

The procedure for replacing the purifier consists of the following steps:

• dismantling the old product;
• air duct cleaning;
• installation of a new filter;
• securing seals and gaskets.

A simple operation will allow you to constantly enjoy clean, fresh air.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

To summarize, it is worth noting that the process of replacing the filter is quite simple. It’s easy to study the procedure in detail by watching the video provided.

To ensure the supply of high-quality air to the apartment, it is important to properly organize the filtration system. The optimal solution is considered to be a combination of products designed for coarse and fine cleaning. To ensure their efficient operation, it is important to timely maintain the ventilation system, periodically replace or clean the filter elements.

What air purification filters do you use? Share your experience of using filter elements with other visitors to our site, tell us about the pros and cons identified during the operation of this or that type of filter. Ask questions, participate in discussions - the feedback form is located below.