Filter Bags & Elements
High-Performance Filter Bags for Industrial Process Filtration
Filtersource supplies industrial filter bags designed for reliable particulate removal across chemical processing, food and beverage production, water treatment, paints and coatings, oil and gas, and general manufacturing applications. Available in a wide range of micron ratings, materials, and industry-standard sizes, our American-made filter bags help facilities improve product quality, protect downstream equipment, reduce maintenance costs, and extend filter service life.
Whether you need economical polypropylene felt bags for water filtration or high-temperature specialty media for demanding chemical applications, our filtration specialists can help identify the right solution for your process.
Need help selecting a filter bag? Try our Filter Bag Configuration Tool to build your custom filter bag or contact our filtration experts for application assistance and product recommendations.
What Are Industrial Filter Bags?
Industrial filter bags are depth or surface filtration elements installed inside a filter bag housing to remove suspended solids from liquids. As fluid passes through the filter media, contaminants are captured while clean liquid continues through the process.
Bag filtration is one of the most cost-effective methods for removing particulate contamination from liquids because filter bags offer:
- High dirt-holding capacity
- Low initial pressure drop
- Simple changeout procedures
- Lower operating costs compared to many cartridge systems
- Wide chemical compatibility options
- Available micron ratings from sub-micron to several hundred microns
Bag filters are commonly used as both primary filtration and pre-filtration before cartridge filters, membrane systems, heat exchangers and pumps.
How to Select the Right Filter Bag
Choosing the correct filter bag starts with understanding your process requirements.
Step 1: Identify the Contaminant
Questions to consider:
- Are you removing sand, rust, or scale?
- Are you filtering gels or agglomerates?
- Is product clarity important?
Different contaminants may require felt bags, mesh bags, or high-efficiency bag designs.
Step 2: Determine Required Micron Rating
The micron rating indicates the size of particles the filter is designed to capture. Check out our Micron Rating Guide to learn more about identifying filter ratings for your application.
Step 3: Choose Filter Media
Media selection depends on:
- Chemical compatibility
- Temperature
- Flow rate
- Product characteristics
- Regulatory requirements
Step 4: Confirm Bag Size
Most industrial applications use standard bag sizes:
| Bag Size | Diameter | Length |
| Size #1 | 7" | 16" |
| Size #2 | 7" | 32" |
However, there are many other bag sizes available to fit a wide variety of applications. Our filtration experts are available to help determine the correct size bag for your filter housing.
Why Choose Bag Filtration?
Compared to many cartridge filtration systems, bag filters offer:
- Lower replacement costs
- Higher contaminant loading capacity
- Faster changeouts
- Reduced maintenance labor
- Lower disposal volume
- Cost-effective pre-filtration
For applications with moderate to high particulate loading, bag filtration often provides the lowest overall cost of operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What micron filter bag should I use?
The correct micron rating depends on the size of contaminants you need to remove and the cleanliness requirements of your process. Contact Filtersource for application guidance.
What is the difference between nominal and absolute filtration?
Nominal filtration captures a percentage of particles at a specified size, while absolute filtration is designed to remove a much higher percentage of particles at that rating.
How often should filter bags be changed?
Replacement frequency depends on contaminant loading, flow rate, differential pressure, and process conditions. Many facilities change bags when pressure drop reaches a predetermined limit.
What is the most common filter bag size?
Size #2 filter bags are the most commonly used industrial bag filters due to their larger filtration area and dirt-holding capacity.
Need Help Selecting the Right Filter Bag?
Every filtration application is different. Our filtration specialists can help you identify the ideal filter bag based on your process fluid, contaminant type, flow rate, temperature, and housing configuration.
Request a Quote | Contact a Filtration Specialist | Configure Your Custom Filter Bag
