Loss of Capture: What to Check Before Replacing the Extractor

When dust starts escaping, the cause may be a process change rather than a worn-out machine. Stop or restrict the affected task as required by the site’s safety procedures before investigating.

Ask what changed

Check for a new material, increased production rate, moved hood or newly opened branch. A nearby fan, open door or altered workstation can also disrupt capture without changing the extractor itself.

Compare with the baseline

Review documented pressure or flow readings and inspect accessible hoses, connections and filters according to the maintenance procedure. Do not open equipment or clear blockages while it is operating. Electrical or internal investigations require competent personnel and proper isolation.

Verify the correction

After repair or adjustment, assess capture during the actual task and record the operating conditions. Repeatedly increasing fan speed or replacing filters without diagnosing the cause can conceal the underlying mismatch. DusTech can review the system and process together, helping identify whether the appropriate response is maintenance, revised hood positioning or an engineered change to the extraction arrangement.