What Size Dust Collector Do You Need?

Industrial dust collection systems are essential to many types of industries. They ensure workplace environments are safe and operate efficiently. But how do you determine what size dust collector is right for your industry? And is your current dust collector the size that it should be?

We’ll answer these questions and take you through our process of recommending the appropriate industrial dust collector for you.

Why the size of an industrial dust collector is important

There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all dust collection system. Determining size is based on a customer’s unique needs.

Some industries, like woodworking and grinding, produce a heavier output of dust and therefore will require a larger dust collector. Others may benefit from a more compact solution.

There are two major reasons why the right-sized dust collector is crucial to your business.

1. Effective cleanup

While it’s true that the smaller the dust collector the smaller the hit to your bottom line, having equipment installed that’s too small to capture your industry’s dust output can be detrimental to the safety of your workplace. When warehouses or other large facilities are left with lingering dust particles in the air, it creates a health hazard for employees and leaves your equipment working improperly. Not to mention, if your compact industrial dust collector is continuously at capacity, this will require more frequent filter changes and more need for maintenance.

2. Effective business operating costs

Having too large of an industrial dust collector can also cause issues. While it will certainly collect all the particles in the air, it may not be necessary for your industry to operate with such oversized equipment. Larger dust collectors cost more to install and require more space and energy. Overpaying for a large dust collector will ultimately affect your bottom line.

It's our goal to help our customers achieve their goal of optimum efficiency and safety. Working with an industrial dust collector expert is a guaranteed way to determine what size of equipment is right for you. At A.C.T. Dust Collectors, we consider many factors before recommending a dust collection system.

The process of installing the right-sized dust collector

We’ve been recommending and installing industrial dust collectors for over 30 years. Our process of working with customers to find the appropriate dust collector for their industry is tried-and-true. Here’s how we’ll help you determine what you need.

Step 1: Discussing your needs

We’ll work with you to figure out which piece of equipment will work best for your application needs. If you’re dealing with heavy loading and high-volume particulates, we’d recommend a baghouse dust collector. These machines are highly durable and come in different sizes. If you have less space to work and lighter output, we’d recommend a cartridge dust collector. These conversations can take place over the phone with our team, or we’ll come out and assess your workplace in person.

Step 2: Measuring

The best way to determine the right-sized industrial dust collector is to measure your facility, power usage, size of collection ducts and processing equipment. This will help us analyze and figure out how much airflow is needed in order to clean your entire space. The airflow that passes through your current dust collector for cleaning is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). This total is calculated by multiplying feet per minute of air velocity (FPM) by square footage of your facility. We’ll also measure air-to-cloth ratio, which is the CFM divided by the total cloth area of your filters.

These calculations may seem complicated, but they are necessary for installing the right piece of equipment. We’ll use these measurements to determine the appropriate location for your industrial dust collector (they can be indoor or outdoor depending on city ordinances).

Step 3: Installing

Once we’ve assessed your space and needs and taken the necessary measurements, it’s time to install the correct industrial dust collector to take on the job. Our team will complete the installation and share helpful training resources for knowing when to change your filter and how to maintain other key components of the system. Of course, if there is ever a question or concern about troubleshooting that your team cannot handle, we’re available 24/7 to assist.

The benefits of a correctly sized dust collector

In summary, it’s important to have a correctly sized industrial dust collector for many reasons, including:

• Efficient operating costs
• Highest-quality cleaning
• Maintaining correct pressure and airflow within the facility
• Eliminating particle recontamination into your workspace
• Effective footprint

If you’re in any of the following industries, you’ll need a larger collector, like a baghouse:

• Woodworking
• Grain
• Foundry
• Fibrous dust
• Fiberglass
• Mineral bulk
• Food processing

Or, if you’re in any of these industries, you may need a more compact, or cartridge dust collector:

• Welding
• Laser cutting
• Plasma cutting
• Sandblasting
• Pharmaceutical
• Flame spraying
• Metalworking
• Powder coating

Learn more about the differences between baghouse and cartridge dust collectors, how much you should budget for a dust collector and more benefits to purchasing a dust collector before you move forward in the installation process.

We have equipment on hand and ready to ship before year’s end and are happy to help with any questions or concerns. Please reach out to us to discuss your needs and request a quote.