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.
If you need to clean mid trip using warm water will make it dry faster, setting it on one of the heater vents in your truck, camper, or hotel room will do the trick too. Ringing it out and letting it sit over night will usually get it dry enough to use the next day. Filters are cheap, just get a few.
Step 4: drying - shake out as much water as you can from the filter cone. 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.
Dry. Shake the filter to get rid of any excess water, then set it down to air dry. Make sure the filter is completely dry before oiling (if you have an oiled filter) and replacing it.
If taking an air filter out to be washed, be sure to let it air dry for about 20 to 30 minutes before replacing.
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.
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.
If your filter is wet for a long time, your engine may choke or run rich. This might eventually result in water getting inside your engine, where it could mix with the oil and make a big mess.
Regarding airflow, oiled air filters tend to take the victory. With less-porous media designed exclusively for performance, oiled air filters typically net slight gains over traditional dry filters. In high-output, heavily-modified applications, you'll likely be better off with an oiled engine air filter.
HVAC Systems Without Filters Can Cause Serious Problems
According to the experts at DVAC Heating & Air LLC, an AC Repair in Mill Creek, WA operating your air conditioner without filters for more than 6-8 hours can cause severe damage to your system.
No, you should never run your AC without a filter!
The purpose of your air filter is to clean your home's air and to keep your AC system dust- and dirt-free, which is why it's important to only run your AC with a filter installed.
Answer: NO!
You should, in fact, never put dryer sheets in vents ever.
Their life can be extended by using compressed air to blow some of the dirt off, but that can only be done so many times. OEM dry filters are generally effective up until 10,000 to 15,000 miles (check your service manual), then they must be replaced.
Leave an inch between garments to allow faster drying. Indoors, place clothes near an air vent, extractor fan, heat source or dehumidifier to speed up the process. Always have a window ajar when possible to allow fresh air to flow freely.
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.
Place the filter in a safe spot and allow some time for it to air dry. Alternatively, you can use a hairdryer on the “cool” function to speed up the drying process. Make sure the air conditioner filter has dried completely before inserting it into the unit.
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.
Depending on the conditions we recommend replacing the dry filter every 15-30,000 miles. Using compressed air, blow off the outside of the dry filter keeping the air nozzle moving and no closer than 6 inches to the media.
Synthetic and Plant-Based Foam Filter Oil
These types of foam air filter oil offer a much better solution than petroleum-based products.
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.
When you discover a wet air filter, remove the wet filter and dry the area up. Check the drain for debris or algae and make sure the condensate pan isn't corroded or cracked.
A foam air filter can be removed from its frame, sprayed with foam filter cleaner, rinsed in water, dried and then reused. The time it takes to clean a foam air filter depends on how long it takes to dry thoroughly after washing it, then treating it with a foam filter oil before installing it.
Step 5 – Allow it to dry
Make sure that the filter has time to dry before reinstalling it in your unit. Give the filter 8-10 hours to dry completely.
A wet filter means a clogged condensate line
The white PVC pipes (seen above) are the condensate drain lines that direct moisture outside. But sometimes, these lines can become clogged with dirt or algae. And when that happens, water will back up and eventually overflow.
Keeping Your A/C Maintained
Remove it from the unit, rinse it off with water and allow it to air dry completely before putting it back in. Sliding a wet filter back into your air conditioner is just asking for ice formation and other issues, and trying to wipe the filter dry is likely to damage its delicate surface.