How Frequently do I Need to Clean my Electrostatic Filters?

One question we get asked all the time is “How frequently do electrostatic filters need to be cleaned and maintained?” The answer to that question is, it depends! We know that’s not a very good answer but there a lot of different variables that can play a role in determining a cleaning frequency for your air cleaners.

Some of those variables are:

1. The hours of operation – the more hours per day your air cleaner operates the less time it will take for the filters to get dirty.
2. Pollutant Load – This is the density of the contaminants in that air that goes through the air cleaner
3. Pollutant Type – Different types of pollutants affect the electrostatic cells and ionizers differently
4. Type of Air Cleaners – There are a lot of different brands and models of electrostatic air cleaners and they are each designed slightly differently. Meaning they do not all last the same amount of time between cleanings.
5. Air Speed – The last main factor in determining how long your electrostatic filters will last is the air flow speed through your air cleaner.

Will all of these different factors, how are you supposed to accurately determine a cleaning frequency? Well there are a few things you can check.

1. The Back Prefilter – when the back prefilter gets dirty it means that some of the pollutants are not getting captured and the filters need to be cleaned.
2. Trial and Error – Another way to dial in the correct cleaning frequency for servicing your electrostatic air cleaner is to start with your best guess. Typically it is between 1-6 months, you can adjust as necessary. If you notice blow-through before scheduled service – increase the frequency. If your filters are still clean and working effectively you can extend the duration between cleanings.
3. Examine the Collection Cell – the collection cell starts collecting particles at the front of the plates and as the front gets dirty and loses efficiency the particles get collected further back on the cell.

If you have any further questions please feel free to reach out to Bee Clean, we are always happy to help. Our number here is 847.451.0844