How do you know when it's time to change the HEPA filter on the CT 26 E HEPA?

[ryanc]

Hi,

Just wondering how you know when it's time to change your HEPA filter for maximum filtration performance?

Thanks!

Ryan

 

[Mike S]

Take it out and hold it up to the sunlight and see what you can see.  If it is plugged, change it.  Watch out, they are expensive, like any good HEPA filter medium is expected to be. 

Or that is my guess. 

 

[ear3]

I've always wondered, does vacuuming it and spraying it with compressed air affect the filter performance at all (or even ruin it's certification as HEPA)?

 

[Dick Mahany]

I've always wondered, does vacuuming it and spraying it with compressed air affect the filter performance at all (or even ruin it's certification as HEPA)?

Compressed air can definitely ruin the HEPA, even if you can't visually detect it.  Instead, some folks have used high volume, LOW PRESSURE air such as from a shop vac exhaust or a leaf blower to aid in cleaning the filter.

 

[Gregor]

Compressed air can definitely ruin the HEPA, even if you can't visually detect it.  Instead, some folks have used high volume, LOW PRESSURE air such as from a shop vac exhaust or a leaf blower to aid in cleaning the filter.

In case you don't like the mess this makes: CTL-SYS in circulation mode works quite OK: normal big diameter hose sucking on the dirty side, 27mm hose on the outlet to breath onto the clean side of the filter (positioned centered on the big sucking hose).

Just don't run the CT over an extended timespan in that configuration, opposit to the bigger festools (and for reasons unknown to me) it air from the suction hose to cool the motor (the big ones have an extra air path to cool the motor).

 

[tjbnwi]

I change the filters on all of my CT's every 6-8 months. You'll be amazed how much better they perform with new filters.

Tom

 

[James Biddle]

I've always wondered, does vacuuming it and spraying it with compressed air affect the filter performance at all (or even ruin it's certification as HEPA)?

Compressed air can definitely ruin the HEPA, even if you can't visually detect it.  Instead, some folks have used high volume, LOW PRESSURE air such as from a shop vac exhaust or a leaf blower to aid in cleaning the filter.

Is this information from Festool or an opinion?

 

[Dick Mahany]

I've always wondered, does vacuuming it and spraying it with compressed air affect the filter performance at all (or even ruin it's certification as HEPA)?

Compressed air can definitely ruin the HEPA, even if you can't visually detect it.  Instead, some folks have used high volume, LOW PRESSURE air such as from a shop vac exhaust or a leaf blower to aid in cleaning the filter.

Is this information from Festool or an opinion?

I had an Oneida V3000 with a large HEPA filter produced by GE.  They warned that compressed air beyond 30psi would permanently damage the delicate filter media.  I also worked around class 10 semiconductor cleanroom equipment for years and saw the direct effects of damaged HEPA filters from improper use of compressed air which could immediately be seen with particle counters.

I am not an expert by any means, but if using an extractor and depending on the integrity of the HEPA for safety reasons, why take a chance? 

 

[ryanc]

I've always wondered, does vacuuming it and spraying it with compressed air affect the filter performance at all (or even ruin it's certification as HEPA)?

Compressed air can definitely ruin the HEPA, even if you can't visually detect it.  Instead, some folks have used high volume, LOW PRESSURE air such as from a shop vac exhaust or a leaf blower to aid in cleaning the filter.

Is this information from Festool or an opinion?

I saw this video on the YouTube Festool USA channel that says to not use compressed air to clean the filter.  The video didn't really address when to change the filter, though.

 

[Master Carpenter]

Checked my filter today. It is stamped 07/02/2013.  [eek] [eek] [eek]

Way overdue for replacement. Good thing I picked one up while at the roadshow yesterday. Lee Valley had a few on sale.

 

[Mike S]

Checked my filter today. It is stamped 07/02/2013.  [eek] [eek] [eek]

Way overdue for replacement. Good thing I picked one up while at the roadshow yesterday. Lee Valley had a few on sale.

It isn't a jug of milk .....