External Filter Rack held up with Tape ?????

my mother just had this unit installed and she had no clue till 4 days after install filter rack comes crashing down... Come to find out they have it secured to air handler with tape ???

Is this a normal practice???? lots of dollars later and there is a rack attached by tape !!! would we allow this in any other service industry..

example surround sound wires held with thumb tack

when i spoke to the manager he stated this was a normal practice and argued that this is how it is done

now as you should be able to see in the pics there is plenty of room to fit a bracket to hold the rack to the handler why use tape?

any input would be greatly appreciated:)Attachment 7494

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Site rules don't allow the posting of dollar amounts. You should edit that out.

Normal procedure is not to connect a filter rack to a unit with only tape.

Question: Where is this air handler located in the house? From the pictures it looks to be just hanging from a wall somewhere with no return air ductwork connected to it.

The tape is NOT suppose to support the air filter brackett.

The flanges on teh brackett are for using screws to mount the brackett to the unit.
They should either use a different brackett with your air handler, or use support bracketts to fasten that brackett to your air handler.

Guessing no permit was pulled for that install.

call the hack back.......:eek:

i have a supervisor coming on tues but think it is the same guy that told me its a normal practice ..

i just feel like smacking these people in the back of the head with a wrench because they think the consumer is a moron

i could attach that rack permanently with a 3 dollar trip to home depot


once again thanks for the input just wanted to make sure redneck rigging wasn't part of an industry standard :)

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Is that a condo type unit? Why not use a front pull unit with the built in filter rack?

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Originally Posted by birmingham12345

Is that a condo type unit? Why not use a front pull unit with the built in filter rack?

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nope 2 story town home Attachment 7506

Am I the only one thinking low bid? :rolleyes:

hope they used more than tape to hold up the unit..

ok got off phone with rheem who states for installation of external filter rack secure rack to unit and seal with duct tape ...



keyword secure they figured seal and secure with tape would be fine!!!

I wasn't clear [that happens sometimes]. I meant that the unit is not hooked up to return duct and is just pulling the return from a closet, as shown from your picture.

I was curious as to why the contractor didn't use a front pull through type unit where the filter rack is built into the unit. That would have cut down on work and you could squeeze a small water heater underneath there if you needed to [that's the typical set up I see down here in townhomes& condos].

I can't quickly find any pictures online of what I'm talking about but I know Bryant makes one and pretty sure Rheem does too.

Another question, how come he fabricated a filter rack and didn't use one of the ones from Rheem that attach to the unit at the bottom? It's only 1.5 inches thick, if that, and it's just as good.

Maybe it's easier to judge in hindsight.

There is nothing wrong with using tape to secure the two together as long as the weight of the unit is pushing down on the filter rack against another hard surface. In your application, they needed to use a few screws and tape to hold it up. Since they went to the trouble (I hope) of securing the unit to a wall, it would have taken another 5 minutes to drive a few screws between the rack and air handler. You also need to make sure that where the plenum penetrates into the attic or between floors that it is sealed very well, as well as the entire closet, otherwise you will be pulling in attic air and whatever else surrounds it.