The main reasons why dust bags need to be replaced

There are three main reasons for dust bag replacement: damaged filter, premature filter failure, and incorrect filter or filter media.
Replacing the dust collector filter element or dust chamber filter adds unnecessary expense and wastes maintenance time. Replacing filters too late risks exposing workers in your facility to dangerous dust and creating a risk of fire or explosion.
Additionally, as filters become increasingly clogged, the energy cost of the compressed air required to run the system will increase, as will the pressure on the dust collection system's fans, bearings, etc.

1. The filter is damaged

The most obvious sign of a damaged filter is dust coming out of the collector's exhaust or accumulating in the clean air chamber. A sudden, sharp drop in differential pressure is another telltale sign of filter damage, making it critical to monitor and chart differential pressure levels on a daily basis. When selecting a system, consider adding a bag break sensor.

2. In addition to obvious uncomfortable conditions such as fire or explosion, many other factors can damage filters.

Moisture and excess heat can damage common filter bag fabrics, such as polyester or aramid, through a phenomenon called hydrolysis. This is a chemical reaction in which water reacts with the fibers of the filter bag and can cause severe damage, causing the bag to lose dimensional stability and fail to collect dust. Other failure mechanisms include mechanical wear from grinding dust, excessive pulses or damaged cages.

3. Filter failure

The most common reason you need to change the filter is that the filter has expired. This means the bag has reached the end of its useful life. It has become filled with dust, and regular cleaning cycles will no longer remove enough dust for it to handle the required airflow levels.