I’ve got a window AC unit with a filter that slides out like the lint screen on a clothes drier. It consists of a mesh screen of fine threads that look like fishing line. In the center area of the filter is a clip that holds an odd dark gray cardboard thingee – presumably another type of filter material – about 3"x9", and about .25" thick. It’s surface looks like the cross section of a stack of corregated cardboard sheets.
What is this thingee? Does one clean it? If so, how so? I tried running it under water and it got soft and unglued, so it is obviously not waterproof. Do I just replace it? If so, what is it called and who sells new ones?
FYI, the AC was a gift from a relocating pal, so I don’t have an owner’s manual. Thanks all.
Can you at least give the make, if not the model number? Maybe someone can find the owner’s manual online somplace. Or perhaps a photo of the item in question?
I have no idea, otherwise. My window AC filter is just the pullout mesh type.
Having never actually seen one of these specific units, I will hazard a guess based on the workings of my forced-hot-air furnace: the grey thingy is probably the actual filter material, and the mesh screen is just there as a retainer, to keep the filter from being sucked into the fan or otherwise dislodged so that it won’t work properly. The “corrugated cardboard” look is there because you can squeeze more filter surface into a small space by “accordion folding” it. I sometimes clean my furnace filters with a vacuum cleaner, but they are meant to be replaced eventually.
From what I can tell, it’s an activated charcoal filter, to help remove airborne allergens and odors. You can probably run the unit just fine without it. After all this time, it’s almost certainly lost its capacity to function effectively. You can call Sharp USA or one of it’s authorized distributers/service centers to inquire about a replacement, if you want. Contact information can be found here.