I'm curious about how you all handle the filters in your DIY workshop air filter systems. I know they eventually need to be replaced, but do many of you clean them a few times first? I'm in the process of building a setup using six 20x20" MERV 13 filters, and since they can be pretty pricey here in Australia, it would be great to extend their life as much as possible. Any tips on cleaning methods?
4 Answers
I usually just blow mine out with compressed air outdoors. I replace my filters about once a year. Seems to work well for me!
What I do is put a cheaper MERV 3 filter in front of my finer filter. It’s easy to remove and I just blow it out when it needs it. Once it’s too clogged, I replace the cheap one instead.
Using a soft bristle attachment on a vacuum can help extend the life of the filters. Plus, there are reusable filters you can wash in the sink, but I'm not sure how well they catch fine particles since they're usually metal mesh or perforated.
I clean my filters with a blower outdoors roughly every six months. I still have the original filter I bought five years ago! I reinforced the edges with duct tape, and I'm hoping to get even more years out of it. I totally understand how expensive these filters can be; I’m in NZ and feel your pain on that front!
Reinforcing with duct tape is a solid tip! I've never thought of that—will definitely try it out!