FILTERS AND OTHER PAINT BOOTH PARTS – FAQ
You have many choices available when it comes to purchasing a filter, but not all filters or filter purchases are made equal. Some paint booth filters include installation services while others include installation by shop personnel. It’s important to know exactly what you need before you complete your purchases.
Choosing the Right Air Filter for Your Spray Booth
Before you begin the process of replacing the filter on your equipment, you must take accurate measurements to ensure that you’re purchasing the right filter. Quite often, we see filters cut too short or not wide enough. If particles pass through into your paint booth from an incorrectly-sized filter or air bypass filters with pre-existing paint still attached to its fan blades, it can cause them to operate out of balance. This leads to vibrations within the entire system, damaging its bearings and other components, loosening electrical connections, and causing additional failures. It’s important to learn how to determine when your filters are dirty or need a change.
You may be tempted to purchase a less-expensive filter, but don’t be fooled—an inferior filter may be costlier to your business in the long run, as a lack of quality air diffusion can ultimately end up damaging your paint booth. We will guide you through the basic process of determining the right filter and replacement parts for your paint booths by providing detailed explanations for our frequently asked questions.
What is the difference between an intake/ceiling and an exhaust filter?
An intake filter (also known as a ceiling filter) captures particles in the air before entering the spray booth to minimize dust and debris that can get stuck within the paint. An exhaust filter captures excess paint and particles after the paint jobs but before the air exits the booth.
Where are intake filters located?
Intake filters can be located in the ceiling, in the doors, and rare instances, on the side of a paint booth.
Where are exhaust filters located?
Exhaust filters can be located on the floor, inside the doors, in a tower at the end of a booth, or on the walls depending on the make and model of the booth.
How often should I replace my intake/ceiling filters?
The frequency of changing your intake or ceiling filters depends on many factors. Some of these include the volume of painting being completed, the type of paint you utilize, the quality of your outside air, environmental humidity, and temperature conditions.
A good recommendation for most low-volume shops is to change your intake filters at least once a year. If you run a busier shop, we suggest changing and replacing your ceiling filters at least twice a year.
How often should I change my paint booth exhaust filters?
Unfortunately, there is no universal, one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Many factors need to be taken into account, including the type of filter, the type of paint, the type of booth, airflow conditions within the booth, and the number of paint jobs you are completing. The best answer is to opt for changing your exhaust filters more frequently instead of less. This ensures you don’t go past a filter’s life expectancy.
Some signs indicate you are past when your filters should have been changed, including poor-quality paint jobs, airflow issues, and uneven paint finishes. In some cases, filters may need to be changed weekly. For others, it’s best to change it at least once per month.
What is a paint booth bag filter?
Paint booth bag filters are used in many types of paint booths, including GFS (global finishing solutions) and Blowtherm spray booths. These filters are made of sewn polyester materials and typically come with a metal frame that is used as a pre-filter and secondary exhaust filter. Our most popular paint booth bag filter is available here: https://shopsprayboothparts.com/product/prefilter-exhaust-blowtherm-bag-filter-23-25-x-47-x-8-6-pocket-2-set/
What is a tower bag/sock filter?
Tower bag/sock filters are used in Garmat tower-style booths to catch exhaust or excess paint before air exits the booth. Our bestselling tower bag/sock filter is available here: https://shopsprayboothparts.com/product/garmat-exhaust-tower-pocket-bag-filter-4-set/
What is the difference between fiberglass and polyester filter media?
When it comes to capturing particles before allowing air to exit your paint booth, fiberglass filters do not perform as well as polyester filters. Most fiberglass filters have a more open pattern than their polyester counterparts, allowing excess paint particles to get past their filters more easily and thus being more likely to damage your equipment in the long run. Fiberglass filters are known for their initial lower costs. Still, many industries don’t often foresee that fiberglass filters tend to be more expensive in the long run because they require an excessive amount of equipment repairs.
For this exact reason, we discourage our customers from settling for cheap, low-quality fiberglass filters. Instead, our experts at Shop Spray Booth Parts recommend choosing polyester exhaust filters for all your paint booth needs.
Do your intake pads have a metal framework?
Yes! For additional support, most of our pad filters have a metal framework to help hold them in place.
What is the waxy substance on ceiling/intake filters?
The waxy substance on a ceiling/intake filter is referred to as a tackifier. This substance helps trap small particles from passing through the filter and getting into your paint finish.
Do all spray booths have a pre-filter or a secondary exhaust filter?
No, not all booths have these types of filters. Some manufacturers do include these types of filters because it helps intake filters last longer as well as keep the fan and ductwork cleaner on the exhaust.
What type of filters does my paint booth take?
With hundreds of models of booths on the market, there are many different types of filters. You can search our site by booth manufacturer to find what you are looking for, or you can always call us at 1-888-912-6684. We’d be more than happy to help you out!
Can you cut custom-sized ceiling/intake filters?
Yes, we can cut whatever size you need. Our cuts typically go up to 82” in width. Contact us at 1-888-912-6684 or email us at service@sprayboothservices.net.
How fast can you ship?
Items that are in stock ship within 48 hours. We offer regular ground shipping as well as expedited shipping.
Do you ship outside of the United States?
Unfortunately, we do not ship outside of the United States at this time due to customs and import/export taxes. However, we intend to keep our options open for the future!
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