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Efficient HVAC Air Filters
If your business relies primarily on equipment and machinery, then there's no doubt you've been faced with the debate of mineral versus synthetic lubricants. In some situations, the decision is part of an overall demand planning exercise; in others, it's simply to assure your facility is receiving the best life cycle value. If you want to know which oil is ultimately better, you'll need to consider the needs of your business.
About Mineral Lubricants
Naturally-occurring crude oil is a cocktail of hydrocarbons. Even after aggressive solvent-based refining, thousands of hydrocarbon compounds, as well as organic compounds of oxygen, sulfur, two, and nitrogen, remain. These three compounds, in particular, can be problematic, as they enable oxidation and acid development, as well as the formation of sludge.
About Synthetic Lubricants
Synthetic lubricants are engineered products created by chemical reactions via the precise application of pressure and temperature to a specific recipe of components. All of these components are high in purity with strong molecular bonds. The end product is a pure compound that is less vulnerable to oxidation, highly resistant to breakdown, and uniform in molecular size. This uniformity keeps synthetics from jellifying in cold temperatures, while its specific molecular structure keeps it from thinning in hot temperatures.
Service Life
Because synthetic lubricants can offer greater tolerance for extreme temperatures, they can allow for longer fluid life. This means fewer oil changes and less downtime. Gear wear should be considered when choosing the best lubricants for your facility; Synthetic oils are recognized to make gears more efficient than mineral oils. Another benefit is the performance of synthetic lubricants in food-grade applications in accordance with USDA-H1 food contact.
Safety
Reduced flammability is a key driver for the growing popularity of synthetic lubricants. Also, in regard to safety and insurance risks, the flashpoint for synthetics as a class is always higher.
The main difference to note between mineral and synthetic lubricants is how they are made, and when it comes to choosing between the two, the bottom line is that you should let the needs, demands, and circumstances of your application drive your decision.
When it comes to choosing a commercial air filter or filtration system, there are many variables that must be considered. Generally, choosing HVAC air filters can be simplified by first defining the overall goal that you are looking to achieve. Is the purpose of your commercial air filter to protect the air circulation equipment, or is it to provide a better environment for the occupants of your building? Before making any filtration changes or upgrades, it's important to understand how an HVAC unit can serve the needs of a business.
Air Filter Efficiency
HVAC air filters are rated based on a Minimum Efficiency Rating Value (MERV). The higher the number (1-16), the more particulate matter it removes from the air. Generally, commercial facilities benefit from MERV 8-10. However, High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration ranges from 17-20 MERV. These filters are for specialized filtrations such as hospitals to present the spread of diseases. Increasing the HVAC filtration efficiency, though, typically results in higher pressure drops.
If Your Goal is to Keep Equipment Cleaner
First, identify the MERV level of your existing HVAC air filters. For example, if you have a MERV 6 filter, the filtration rate can be increased by 70% by switching to a MERV 8 filter. This will keep equipment cleaner and, in turn, maintain better efficiency.
If Your Goal is Cleaner Air for Building Occupants
To provide cleaner air for building occupants, we recommend HVAC air filters with a MERV rating of at least 13. A filter with this rate will remove 90% of particles in the air from 1 to 10 microns in size. However, MERV 14 filters are the minimum standard of care in medical facilities, as airborne particles can spread the disease to patients, visitors and employees.
Whatever Your Goal, Greenleaf Filtration Has a Solution
As the leading HVAC air filter supplier in Richmond, we offer products that represent only the latest in commercial and industrial air filter technology. Before making any filter changes to your HVAC system, we recommend contacting one of our experts to evaluate the feasibility of the change in your facility.
When it comes to your commercial HVAC system, how do you know that it's operating at optimum performance? It can become a complex process, as measuring the output and performance of a commercial HVAC or air handling system can take some work. Luckily, there are practical industry standards that you can depend on to evaluate how well your HVAC system is performing.
Here are some ways to evaluate the efficiency of the HVAC system and HVAC air filters in your facility:
BTU
A BTU, or British thermal unit, refers to a specific scientific unit of heat. It equals the amount of heat it takes to change the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. It can also be defined as the amount of heat released by one wooden match. Each room requires just the right amount of BTU in and out of them, or it becomes uncomfortable. Look for machinery that will measure the number of BTUs released by the system and adjust accordingly.
Tons
One ton of nominal cooling equals 12,000 BTU (however, equipment that delivers 12,000 BTU per ton is no longer manufactured). Under ideal conditions, most cooling equipment delivers around 11,700 BTUs.
Airflow
Airflow is the fluid we use in most of our systems to move the BTUs around. An HVAC professional will observe airflow issues to see how much warm or cool air reaches different parts of your facility at a time. However, it's typically easy to assess airflow intuitively by listening to air vents and other apertures to determine whether air is flowing, as well as how much force is behind it.
Run Time
Another way to measure the performance of your HVAC system or HVAC air filters is to observe the furnace, boiler, or whatever is responsible for temperature output and watch for how long and how often this runs. If it's running more frequently and for longer lengths of time, this indicates inefficiency.
If you suspect that your commercial HVAC system or HVAC air filters are performing poorly, contact an expert to discuss concerns such as increased utility costs, decreased heating and cooling performance, or problems reported by building occupants.
Industrial process filters, such as liquid bag filters, are used for the clarification and stabilization of liquids and gases. Solids/contaminants are caught inside the filter bag, which can be cleaned and reused (lowering waste and disposal costs). They are often used in vessel or open filtration systems, industrial water systems, and chemical processing equipment. These filters are best used in small batch applications, where bag replacement is infrequent.
Liquid bag filters are available in an array of materials. Each bag material has its own advantages, depending on your application. Keep reading for information on some of the most common liquid bag filters.
Felt
Felt liquid filter bags are constructed using fibers in polypropylene and polyester and have the ability to remove both solid and gelatinous particles. The proper combination of fiber diameters, weights, and thicknesses result in a very economical depth filter media. These bags offer reduced labor costs, as they require fewer change-outs due to their high dirt-holding capacity. Felt bags have particle retention of 1 to 200 microns.
Monofilament
Monofilament mesh is a very strong material with precise weaving, which ensures consistent pore sizes. This provides both a reliable and predictable filtration performance. For applications where no fiber migration is required at a high level of efficiency, monofilament material is a great choice. Monofilament mesh is available in 1 to 800 microns.
Multifilament
Multifilament bags are multi-strand woven media that are very cost-effective for those applications where nominal filtration is required. The media openings are nominally spaced apart and require the use of a support basket to optimize filter performance. The multifilament mesh is available in 100 to 800 microns.
Greenleaf Filtration specializes in the manufacture and supply of high-quality industrial process filters, including liquid bag filters. Our innovative, reliable, and cost-effective solutions are proven to add value to your processes. You'll notice improved production efficiency and simplified installation and maintenance processes, all while your valuable equipment investments remain protected. Contact us for cartridge filters and industrial bag filters, as well as filter housings for industrial, chemical, gas, pharmaceutical, and food or beverage applications.
Finding the best HVAC air filters for commercial, industrial, medical, gas turbine, and paint filtration applications starts with Greenleaf Filtration. When you come to our business, you can feel confident that you're gaining access to efficient selections you won't find from other companies. We care about your business needs, making sure that our systems work right for your needs. Read more about why using our filters is important:
Enjoy Healthy Air – As you may or may not already know, air filters are crucial for cleaning your indoor air. Whether in your home or in your business, having these filters stops harmful dust, mold, pollen, and other problematic particles from getting into your air. When you use quality HVAC air filters, you can rest assured that dust, mold, and pollen are not entering the air. Without it, allergies can worsen, and disease can spread.
Improve Your System's Efficiency – When you do not regularly change your air filters, air begins to slow down, and it causes your system to work harder to keep your location cool or warm. This will reflect in your electric bill and will eventually cause your system to either freeze up or break down. In fact, neglect is one of the top causes of HVAC system failure. Spending more money on energy costs because you don't want to replace your HVAC air filters is silly!
Go Green – If saving the planet is important to you, then staying up to date with your HVAC air filters is vital! As noted earlier, not staying up to date with your HVAC air filters means that your system will be working overtime to cool or heat your location. When you use more energy, you are increasing your carbon footprint and causing unnecessary damage to our planet. Regularly changing your filters is a simple way to go green!
When you are looking for exceptional HVAC air filters, you can rest assured that Greenleaf Filtration has the right selections for your needs. We specialize in industrial filter supplies, including automatic roll media, high-efficiency supported pleated filters, frames, and latches. Review the selections we have available and place an order online today!
Building, and maintaining a clean room is complicated. There are many aspects you need to take into consideration before you build, including investing in sterile air filters. Selecting the wrong filter can cause a lot of problems, such as introducing contaminates and ruining your air handling system. Whether you are building a new room or just looking for a company to provide you with new filters, Greenleaf Filtration is here for you. We believe that, with a bit of vigilance and the right filter, you can keep your cleanroom in great shape for a long time.
One of the most crucial aspects of maintaining a clean room is making sure that you stay on top of your sterile air filters. There are rules put into place to make sure that you are continuously monitoring and testing filters, but instead of following a specific time frame, you should be monitoring as necessary. Take into consideration what things your filters may be picking up in the room. If you are working with a substance that could cause problems, you should be keeping an eye on filter pressure gauges. Furthermore, you can do testing using a Velometer.
When you shop for sterile air filters at our business, you are gaining access to a wide array of filters that are trusted by hospitals and other areas that require hygienic filters. Specifically, our high-efficiency supported pleated filters are ideal for systems with difficult operating conditions, such as the ones used in clean rooms. As one of the largest full-line suppliers of after-market filter products, we are known for offering the broadest range of air filters for any existing housing. Our business also has a strict quality assurance program that we follow to guarantee that you are satisfied with the sterile air filters you purchase.
Don't wait to place an order for sterile air filters from our Greenleaf Filtration! Our business has more than 10,000 filters in stock for immediate delivery. We also provide expedited deliveries for emergency situations with no additional fees. Call us today at (888) 974-6171 for more information about our filter selections and specialty selections.
Just as with any long-term investment, the HVAC system at your commercial facility requires proper care and maintenance. Without proper maintenance, your HVAC system will be sure to take up more of your time, money, and patience. With the tips below, you can stay ahead of the game by addressing issues before they become serious problems.
Perform Preventative Maintenance
Proper preventative maintenance not only keeps your system running efficiently but can also help you maintain high IAQ (indoor air quality). However, many facilities still take a reactionary approach to HVAC maintenance. Look at your maintenance history to determine what areas have been presenting problems, and create a maintenance schedule as needed.
Take Advantage of the Winter
If you schedule your maintenance off-season, there will be more technicians available to perform repairs. Addressing cooling maintenance in the winter also means reduced chances of emergency maintenance during the summer months.
Change Air Filters Regularly
Neglecting air filters can pose a lot of harm to the system. HVAC air filters should be changed as regularly as recommended by the manufacturer. You may want to consider changing the filters more often in the spring months to help alleviate allergy symptoms. Changing your HVAC air filter can also help you save on operating costs, as a clogged filter uses more energy compared to a new and clean one.
Clean the Coils
It is essential to clean the coils that reside in the outside unit of your HVAC system. These coils are responsible for the release of heat as it dissipates from refrigerant condensing in the coils. When the coils are dirty, it can lead to similar problems as a clogged filter.
Seek Professional Services
You may be able to clean the coils on your own, but it's not always recommended. To ensure the job is done properly and safely, contact a reputable local technician for professional maintenance services. A technician should be able to clean or replace HVAC air filters and coils, lubricate moving parts, and tighten electrical connections.
Consider a Replacement
If repairs are weighing heavily on your facility's budget, consider a full replacement. Regular repairs can add up; within a couple of years. You may have spent as much on repairs as you would have on a full replacement.
Contamination control breathers (such as Air Sentry breathers) can help you achieve near-total control of fluid system contamination. They are designed to replace the breather cap or air filter on gearboxes, hydraulic fluid reservoirs, bulk storage tanks, oil drums, oil-filled transformers, and other fluid reservoirs. They absorb water from the air before it enters your fluid system and can remove particulate contaminants as small as two microns. The visible silica gel found in a contamination control breather changes color as it becomes depleted, so it's easy to identify the condition of one and quickly replace it if needed.
Air Sentry breathers include four layers of protection: two solid contaminant filters, a layer of high-capacity water vapor absorption media, and an activated carbon filter. A two-way system (the bi-directional movement of airflow) allows expelled air to black-flush, thus extending the life of the air breather.
When contaminated air enters the top of an Air Sentry breather, it passes through the upper solid contaminant filter. This keeps solid contaminants from entering the breather and depositing on critical surfaces. The filtered air then passes through a bed of silica gel that absorbs moisture from the air. It is during this process that up to 90% of the water vapor in the air is filtered out (thus preventing oil vapors, fumes, and odor). Then, the filtered air passes through another filter at the bottom of the breather to ensure that no harmful particles will enter the tank or reservoir. This means that equipment is ensured to get clean and dry air.
As air is expelled from the reservoir through the desiccant breather, the contaminated air travels this reverse path, and expelled water vapors are absorbed by the silica gel. When the silica gel has absorbed to full capacity (indicating that it is time to remove and replace the disposable breather), the gel will turn from gold to dark green.
Additionally, a layer of activated carbon lies at the bottom of our Air Sentry breathers. This carbon pad absorbs small amounts of oil vapor exhaled from the tank, thus protecting the silica gel from oil mist contamination.