DRY THE FILTER in an open space for 12 hours. DON'T use gasoline to clean a foam filter. It will harden the glue seams and dramatically shorten the life of the filter. DON'T wring out the filter when oiling.
Leave the foam in a drying rack for about 24 hours to air dry completely. Once completely dry, replace the filter in your vacuum.
After rinsing, you will want to lightly shake the excess water out of your filter to allow it to dry quicker. While you can proceed to the next step after allowing the filter to dry for 30 minutes to an hour, for optimal results you should let your filter dry overnight if possible.
A wet air filter is not doing its job properly! Wet air filters result in less airflow and higher energy bills. They can also ultimately cause a blown motor or frozen evaporator. Lastly, they can cause mold issues and poor air quality, which can cause serious health issues.
You can safely use a hair dryer on a low heat setting on both the inside and outside of the filter to speed up drying.
After rinsing your filter, gently shake off excess water and allow the filter to dry naturally. Do not apply oil until the air filter is completely dry.
Don't run your AC with a wet filter. It can cause your AC to work too hard, which will run up your utility bill and cause extra wear and tear on the system. You could also spread moisture and mold throughout your house. Turn off the AC, remove the wet filter, and check for cracks or clogs.
Don't oil filters that are not completely dry because it can cause hydrolysis which can break down the foam.
Unfortunately, this moisture can have some undesirable effects, including: Giving higher restriction readings. Causing any residual dust to cake into mud. Causing blocked vacuator valves.
Rinse thoroughly and dry. Rinse the cleaning solution out of the air filter completely then give the filter a good shake. Position the filter so it hangs upside down and is able to drip dry. Don't apply heat, use a hair dryer, or throw it in the dryer.
For a load of laundry that was spun in a washing machine, and hung indoors in average conditions, the "easy" items will be dry in about 5 hours, and the "difficult" items will finish in about 9 hours. Also see our Air Dry All Types of Clothing article for tips on each different clothing type.
Spray foam typically dries within 24 hours. Full curing may take up to 24-48 hours, depending on the product and conditions.
A clean, well-oiled filter allows for the best airflow and the most efficiency at capturing dirt.
Use only the foam filter for wet pickup. If you are switching from wet to dry pickup, then you must let the foam filter air dry completely before moving on to dry pickup.
DRY THE FILTER in an open space for 12 hours. DON'T use gasoline to clean a foam filter. It will harden the glue seams and dramatically shorten the life of the filter. DON'T wring out the filter when oiling.
Water can displace and close off the pathways that air takes through the filter and into the engine. This disruption can cause the engine to run poorly and possibly damage it over time.
Overview of the Different Types of Car Air Filters
Dry air filters are made of a pleated paper material, which traps dirt and debris. On the other hand, oiled air filters use cotton gauze material, which is coated with a special oil to trap particles.
Make sure that the filter has time to dry before reinstalling it in your unit. Give the filter 8-10 hours to dry completely.
However, if the air filter gets soaked, that water starts to displace and close off all of the pathways that air takes through the filter and into the engine. This cuts the airflow and causes the engine to run rich. Or it can cause performance to drop off.
Check your inlet valve for leaks and run water through the filter to a designated drain for at least five minutes. If you have a water filter equipped with more than one outlet port, be sure to run water through each of the outlet ports for a minimum of five minutes.
Put it in the sun for a few hours if you have the time. If you have an air compressor in your garage dry it out with low pressure air. Use your wifes hair dryer.
You might wonder about the risks of running your AC without a filter, even temporarily. The simple answer is: not for long. Ideally, your AC should never operate without a filter for more than 6-8 hours. Going beyond this can negatively affect both your system's health and your home's air quality.
First, check your filters and coils for dirt and debris that may be impeding airflow. Once you've cleaned the filters and coils, run the air conditioner with just the fan so that the ice accumulation can melt off. If the AC still doesn't blow cold air, it could be that refrigerant levels are too low.