What Happens When You Put a Filter in the Wrong Way?

If you set the filter upside down, the normally collective end of the device will not face the air supply. In effect, the filter will help keep debris in the air, resulting in a clogged filter and poorly cleaned air when it reaches the lungs. The air quality inside the living space is affected when an oven filter is installed incorrectly. The filter also cannot capture dust particles when air moves through the filter in the wrong direction.

That unwanted debris ends up floating in the air of the house instead of being trapped by the filter. The biggest damage that can result from a filter installed upside down is that it can damage the HVAC system and reduce its life expectancy. An AC filter installed upside down will greatly slow down the flow of air, your oven will have more difficulty operating. When efficiency decreases, the likelihood of a system failure, such as a refrigerant line leak or a faulty compressor, increases.

So what happens if an air filter is improperly installed? Air filters are designed to be installed in a certain direction. Installing the air filter backwards can restrict airflow through the air filter, cause the filter structure to fail, and allow dust, dirt and other debris to pass through the filter and accumulate on the evaporator coil. If the evaporator coil becomes dirty, the system will not operate at optimum efficiency and could clog the condensate discharge line and cause the system to fail. The most common problem you will have if you have an improperly installed filter is decreased efficiency. Since the filter is designed to be efficient when installed one-way, installing it incorrectly will make your system inefficient.

One side of the filter is actually more porous to allow more air to flow freely. So, when a filter is installed upside down it would mean that your oven has to work harder to get the results you want. This will result in higher utility bills and may result in damage to your oven. You won't feel the effects of this at first, but this inefficiency can build up and could lead to breakage of the furnace system and further repairs. Air filters for HVAC systems come in a variety of sizes.

If the air filter size is incorrect, first of all, it will not fit properly. Even if you do, using an incorrect air filter will lead to poor indoor air quality and damage the air conditioning and heating system. If you take a few minutes to make sure your filter is positioned the right way, you can avoid these headaches. If you insert the filter backwards, the result is that air will have more difficulty passing through the filter if you install it backwards, then your air handler will have to work harder to compensate for the lack of air flow. It all starts with understanding how your HVAC system works and making sure your air filters are properly installed and replaced on a regular basis. Air filters, especially basic ones, capture large particles in the air, but allow many smaller particles to pass through them. As mentioned earlier, a backward filter reduces airflow and increases dust ingress into the system.

Because the air conditioner or boiler will have a harder time drawing air through the filter, this can impair the efficiency of the system and eventually damage the system components. The airflow arrows should be printed on the side of the air filter to show in which direction it should be installed. Oven filters keep oven mechanisms clean while removing pollutants from the air you breathe. The fibers of a filter are designed to work efficiently in one direction only, allowing air to pass smoothly without interference. Also, if you look at where the filter is located, there is no HVAC component on that side of duct.

Most fiberglass filters have little or no structural material such as pleated filters woven into them except for their cardboard frame. If there is no air filter in an air return these airborne contaminants end up accumulating in an evaporator coil. It should be noted that oven filters are your first line of defense against this potential hazard to your family's health. Some filter designs even capture smaller particles such as those that cause allergic reactions in people to keep your living space's air as clean as possible.

The filter prevents these contaminants from damaging your furnace by collecting dust and debris before they reach critical HVAC components. If you have any questions about the air flow direction of your air filter or if you would like to have a cooling system maintained or installed in your home please contact Hyde's your Coachella Valley air conditioning contractor.

Robert Smisek
Robert Smisek

Total twitter nerd. Typical food trailblazer. Avid food practitioner. Unapologetic web junkie. Freelance twitter evangelist. Passionate food advocate.

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