Why is my air conditioner sucking in the filter?

by Keith
(Ca)

Why is my air conditioner sucking in the filter? What kind filter should I use for my central ac unit?

Dadan replies:

Ok … Here is a question?

Is the filter dirty – if it not

There are two other reasons:

Not Correct Filter

We could have the wrong ac filter for our central ac unit. Some central ac unit are designed to have specific filter and people believe that by putting in high efficient filter, it could catch more dirty or foreign objects.

This is not the case, this have opposite effect. A high efficient filter will act as a restriction. This is the same thing as having a dirty filter. If the indoor blower couldn’t suck the air through the filter, it would suck the entire filter in (if the blower is strong enough).

There are people, who decided to go with the cheapest filter, this filter tends to have weak frame. I have seen it being suck into the duct works.

Bottom line:

The ac filter needs to be the right filter. If we can’t determine the correct filter, ask your tech. Or, we could buy the filter that is in between the price, not to cheap or expensive just in the middle.

Motor Speed

In some situation, some people will put in the wrong speed for that specific unit. No, I haven’t seen motor increase the speed by itself. So, it has to be outside source.

Could the air conditioner filters facing the wrong way cause it?

Huhh … I’m not sure about that.

Ac filter is designed to allow air to flow in one direction (there should be arrow label on the frame of the filter). One side of the ac filter is better than the other.

If we were to reverse the filter direction could that cause the filter to pull in? No … If I'm wrong, correct me. If we put the ac filter in the wrong side, it not effect at catch particle. That pretty much it.



Read more:

HVAC filters                How to change air conditioner filters