According to Dictionary.com a ‘filter’ is:
– Any substance, as cloth, paper, porous porcelain, or a layer of charcoal or sand, through which liquid or gas is passed to remove suspended impurities or to recover solids.
– Any device, as a tank or tube, containing such a substance for filtering.
– Any of various analogous devices, as for removing dust from air or impurities from tobacco smoke, or for eliminating certain kinds of light rays.
As you can see from the definitions, a filter can be found in many different products, machines, and other items. The purpose of a filter is to separate one thing from another, usually substances that should not be mixed; oil and water, smoke and air, oil and air, and minerals and water are a few examples of this.
Filters are used in common everyday items, in big industrial applications, in vehicles, and in science and engineering applications.
In the Home
There are many common household items and products make use of filters. One of the most filters in the home is the air filter in the air conditioning or heating system. The air filter filters out the dust, allergens, smoke, and other airborne particulates that are blown through the air ducts. A properly cleaned and regularly replaced air filter will help keep a family healthy, and can usually cut down on allergies and common colds. Another household item that uses a filter is the vacuum cleaner. The things that get sucked up into the vacuum cleaner aren’t always solid pieces of dirt or detritus. Most of the time the vacuum will also suck up dust, ash (from homes with fireplaces) and other super tiny particulates that shouldn’t be blown back into the air. The filter on the vacuum cleaner traps these things.
In the Garage
In the garage you will find that your car uses a filter. The air filter in the car keeps dust, dirt, exhaust, and even oil from getting into the car’s system. You wouldn’t want to turn on your air conditioner and get a big whiff of road dust. Also, the air compressor you use to clean off your work space and inflate the car’s tires uses an air compressor filter, as a well as an air oil separator.
Medical Uses
Filters are used in the breathing apparatuses for patients, and even in the air filtration system. The air filtration system in the hospital also uses an air compressor to keep the air clean, thin, and dry. These air compressors use a different type of air compressor filter, and must have a well maintained air oil separator-you can’t have oil vapor escaping into the hospital.
Filters have many practical uses in the home, at work, and in the garage. Filters should be replaced often and cleaned regularly in order to keep them working-filtering out the things you don’t want to breathe, drink, or clean out of your house or car.