2 Signs Your Factory's Air Filtration System Needs To Be Replaced

When you own and/or operate a factory, the safety of your employees and the maintenance of the machinery are likely both top priorities for you. Knowing the condition of the building's air filtration system should be a part of this, as the air quality can affect both. If you start noticing either of the signs below, there is a high likelihood that your current system is not doing its job and should be replaced with a new one.

1.  Your Employees Start Becoming Sick More Often

One sign that your factory's current air filtration system is no longer working properly is when you start to notice that your employees are becoming sick more often. They may be exhibiting increased allergy symptoms. They may even start calling out more than usual for illness, especially those that are respiratory-related.

As part of its job, the filtration system should be removing dust, fibers, and other particulates from the air. When this does not happen, they get blown around on the factory floor where your workers breathe them in.

Also, since the particulates may settle in the HVAC system, they can become a breeding ground for germs. As the air is blown through the vents, the germs are spread around, causing illness.

2.  Your Machines Have to Be Cleaned Outside of Their Regularly Scheduled Maintenance

Another sign that your filtration system is no longer fully cleaning the air is when you start having to clean out the machinery outside of their regularly scheduled maintenance times. As part of their cooling systems, they draw in air through exhaust vents.

If large amounts of dust, dirt, and fibers are contaminating the air, they get sucked into the machines, where they build up and eventually cause clogging of the systems. When this happens, the machines no longer work properly, requiring that they be taken down temporarily so that your maintenance staff can clean them out. This not only decreases the production of your factory, but it could also potentially result in repairs and costly part replacements.

If the air quality in your factory has become so poor as to make your employees sick and cause downtime because of increased maintenance on the machinery, your current filtration system may not be removing particulates as well as it should. If you suspect that this is the case, contact a local industrial and manufacturing supply company to discuss your options for installing a new air filtration system in your factory's building.