Air intake filters protect the compressor from any dust and dirt which it might suck in. The intake-air filter is the most important filter on your compressor! Dust is the number 1 enemy of your compressor: it will cause wear to the compressor element, valves and other parts. It will save also your compressors oil, oil separator, oil filters and all other moving parts.

The compressor air filters need to be cleaned and/or replaced regularly. Normally replacing the air intake filter is part the standard service routine. In very dusty / dirty environments it’s better to clean them once in a while (blow the dust off with compressed air).

Save money! An air compressor with dirty inlet filter(s) will reduce the output capacity. You will pay more money through your higher energy bill than the cost of a new filter! And need I say it? Never run your compressor without the air filter connected!

Also, if your compressor is installed in a very dusty or dirty environment (metal workshop with oily air, wood workshop with a lot of dust, sand-blasting workshop, etc) … do yourself and your compressor a favor: put the compressor in its own room with fresh air, or install ducting to supply the compressor with fresh air.

This will save you a lot of maintenance issues (especially clogged air filters and coolers and over-heating compressors as a result of that)