Compressors take in the atmosphere air and compress it internally to provide you with compressed air. It gives out the compressed air with the power level you determine. For all of these processes, a compressed air filter is really important both in terms of the compressor’s service life and the air quality.

Compressors are not only equipped with a compressed air filter. There are two more filters that have important functions, i.e. the air filter and an oil separator filter.

We have prepared a detailed article for you about these 3 filters found in compressors. In this article, you will find detailed information about compressor filters.

 What Is a Compressed Air Filter?

Air compressors take in the atmosphere air, compress it internally and give it out as compressed air. Together with the ambient air, compressors take in all the dust, oil and gas in the air. The compressed air filter is used right at this point to clean the air taken in. It may look like it has a simple function but when checked in detail, we can see that its task is not limited to what can be seen.

 What Is the Function of a Compressed Air Filter?

Functions of a compressed air filter is varied. It depends on the working logic of the air compressor.

• The most important function of the compressed air filter in an air compressor is to catch the dust in the air. Studies show that there is way too much dust per cubic meter in the atmosphere. Air compressors directly take in this dusty air. Direct entrance of dusty air into the machine causes numerous problems. The compressed air filter ensures that the air taken in from the atmosphere is cleaned. This allows for clean air inside the machine.
• Another function of the compressed air filter is to ensure that clean air comes out of the machine. Air compressors are actively used in many areas in our lives. It is important that the air coming out of the compressor is clean, just like the air taken in. The compressed air filter ensures that clean air comes out of the machine.
• Another function of the compressor air filter is to prevent the small particles of oil that air compressors emit while running from entering the machine. Compressors have oil in them. A very small portion of this air may get mixed into the air while the compressor is running. It must be ensured that this oil does not enter the air line. At this point, the compressor’s air filter catches the oil to prevent it from entering the air line of the machine.

 What Happens If You Use a Low Quality Air Filter?

We have already mentioned in detail the definition and function of an air filter in a compressor. Now, let’s talk about what happens if you use a low quality air filter.

• Using a low quality filter instead of the original air filter may cause dust accumulation inside the machine. A machine that has dust accumulation in it will have a short service life and you will not be able to work efficiently.
• The air quality of the compressor will drop significantly.
• We think we save money when we buy a low quality air filter for a low price. However, their service life is much shorter than the original filter or a high quality one. A low quality filter is more expensive because its replacement interval is shorter.
• It also may not be fully compatible with your machine. An incompatible air filter will not function properly.

 What Is a Compressor Air Filter?

Compressors do the air compression with many parts in them. Oil is found in compressors to reduce friction of these parts and ensure that the machine has a longer service life. Compressors are equipped with an oil filter to ensure that this oil is clean and remains high quality. Let’s see what an oil filter does.

 What Does a Compressor Oil Filter Do?

A compressor’s air filter has very important functions. These functions ensure that you compressors have a longer service life.

• The first function of a compressor oil filter is to filter the air inside the machine. The oil inside the machine is constantly circulated among the internal parts. During this circulation, it ensures that a small part or a dust particle coming out of the machine’s parts does not harm the whole inner section of the compressor. It also ensures that deteriorated oil does not enter the machine.
• Another function of the compressor oil filter is to ensure that the compressor does not overheat. There are many parts inside a compressor that are constantly interacting with each other. This interaction includes constant friction, hence heating. However, when the clean oil passed through the compressor oil filter is circulated inside the machine, the heat generated by the friction of these parts will be minimized.

 What Happens If You Use a Low Quality Compressor Oil Filter?

We have already mentioned that there are numerous parts that are constantly interacting with each other inside the compressor. These parts need clean oil. For clean air, you should use an original or a high quality oil filter.

• A low quality oil filter cannot sieve the oil properly. This causes inefficient oil actively circulating inside the machine.
• As a low quality oil filter cannot sieve the oil properly, unwanted items such as dust or sand may enter between the compressor parts. These items increase friction between compressor parts, causing these parts to wear out and the compressor to overheat.
• Extreme friction of the compressor parts will cause the compressor to run quite noisily.

 What Is an Air-Oil Separator Filter?

We have stated that there are two main elements in the operation of a compressor. The first one is the air, which is the main duty of a compressor, and the second one is oil, which is necessary for the compressor. The air and oil are found in the same compressor. As the oil inside the compressor is constantly heated, there is oil vapor generated. This is not the same as the air coming out of the compressor. The air-oil separator filter is used right at this point.

 What Does an Air-Oil Separator Filter Do?

An air-oil separator filter separates the oil vapor and the air inside the compressor. An air-oil separator is required to ensure that the air coming out of the compressor is high quality and clean.

 What Happens If You Use a Low Quality Air-Oil Separator Filter?

We have already stated that the air-oil separator filter directly affects the quality of the air coming out of the compressor. At this point, it is critical to use an original or a high quality filter.

• If you use a low quality air-oil separator filter, there will be oil molecules inside the air coming out of the compressor. These oil molecules will prevent your task from being clean.
• If the air-oil separator filter cannot perform its function, the oil accumulated at the compressor’s outlet will dry out in time and clog the outlet. This will cause you to have problems at the air outlet.
• It also may not be fully compatible with your compressor. Using an air-oil separator filter that is not compatible with the compressor has the same effect as not using a separator filter at all. Because steam passes through it and it will lose its function if there is a gap at any point.

Air compressors require regular maintenance. Compressor filters have a definite life span. You should regularly check these parts to clean and replace them. Compressors whose filters are replaced regularly will have a longer service life and more efficiency. You can replace the compressor filter and oil in time to use your compressors for long years.

If you use the compressor too much on a daily basis, you need to do the maintenance of the compressed air and oil filter every 3000 hours, and the air-oil separator filter every 6000 hours. However, if you use your compressors for less than 3000 hours a year, you need to replace the filter and oil every year.