Product Overview
The Hydro-Filter is an in-line waste filter that fits into the vacuum line between the tool and the machine. It catches hair, fibre, grit and building debris before they reach the waste tank, the pump-out or the vacuum blower. The body is clear, so both the operator and the customer can see what has come out of the carpet.
This is the AC10 version: screw-on lid, with a stainless steel mesh filter supplied.
Important — AC10 and AC11 Take Different Filter Elements
CCW stocks two Hydro-Filter bodies. Their filter elements are not interchangeable.
| Model | Lid | Filter element | Replacement element at CCW |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC10 (this product) | Screw-on | Stainless steel mesh | Yes — Hydro-Filter Replacement Screen (AC10C) |
| Hydro-Filter with Sock (AC11) | Clip | Fabric filter sock | Not currently stocked — ask before ordering |
The AC10C screen is specific to the AC10 body. The AC11 uses its own sock, or the optional AC11S stainless insert, and CCW does not currently stock either. Check which body you own before ordering a replacement element.
Why Professionals Fit One
- It protects the vacuum blower. Fibre, grit and pet hair reaching the blower cost far more to put right than a filter costs to empty.
- It keeps the waste tank and pump-out cleaner, which is where most on-site blockages begin.
- It shows the customer the soil that has been removed. A clear body does that explaining for you.
- It empties in seconds between jobs.
Applications
- Truckmount and portable carpet extraction
- Upholstery and rug work, where fibre shed is heavy
- Tile and grout work, where grout crumbs and sand are the real risk to the blower
- Post-construction and builders clean carpet work
Compatibility
Built for a 2 inch (50 mm) vacuum hose line. The flash cuff version of the same filter, Hydro-Filter with Flash Cuffs (AC10F), is supplied with 2 inch Flash Cuffs at each end, which sets the line size for the family.
Position in the line is your choice. Most operators fit it at the machine end, where it is out of the way and easy to empty — the further it sits from the tool, the less weight the operator drags across the job.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Hydro-Force (Aramsco) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer part number | AC10 |
| Aramsco catalogue number | A97699 |
| Body | Clear impact-resistant and heat-resistant polymer |
| Lid | Screw-on |
| Filter element | Stainless steel mesh (AC10C), supplied with the filter |
| Line size | 2 inch (50 mm) vacuum hose |
Hydro-Force does not publish overall dimensions or weight for the AC10. Rather than estimate them, we have left them out.
Airflow Claim — Stated by the Manufacturer
Hydro-Force states that the redesigned body improves airflow by 11 percent against the previous design, measured on a White Magic Pro 1200 truckmount. That is the manufacturer's figure on the manufacturer's test machine. CCW has not independently verified it, and airflow on your own machine will depend on hose length, line size and how clean the filter is.
Operating Advice
- Empty it at the end of every job rather than when it blocks. A loaded filter costs airflow long before it stops the machine.
- Never run the line with the screen removed. Without it the filter is just a chamber and everything passes straight through.
- On water damage extraction the filter loads quickly with silt and insulation. Check it during the job, not after.
- Seat the lid squarely and hand tighten. A lid that is cross-threaded or half-seated is an air leak, and an air leak at the filter costs lift all the way back at the wand.
Maintenance
Rinse the screen and the body with clean water and let both dry before storing. Replace the screen when the mesh distorts, splits or will no longer sit flat — a screen with a hole in it passes debris straight to the blower and gives you no warning that it is doing so.
Keep the lid thread and its sealing face clean. Grit on the sealing face is the most common cause of a filter that will not hold vacuum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it come with the stainless filter?
Yes. The stainless steel mesh filter is supplied with the AC10. The AC10C listing is for a replacement.
Will it fit my 1.5 inch hose?
Not directly. It is built for a 2 inch line. Joining it into a 1.5 inch run needs reducers at each end, and you will lose airflow across them.
How often should the screen be replaced?
There is no set interval. Replace it on condition — distortion, splits, or a rim that no longer sits flat.
Does an in-line filter cost me airflow?
A clean one costs very little. A loaded one costs a great deal. The trade-off is worth taking: the airflow lost to a clean filter is far less than the airflow lost to a blower that has ingested grit.
Can I use it on tile and grout work?
Yes, and that is one of the jobs where it earns its keep. Grout crumbs and sand are heavier and more abrasive than carpet soil.
What is the difference between this and the AC10F?
The same filter. The AC10F is supplied with a complete set of 2 inch Flash Cuffs fitted at each end, so hoses connect and release with the push of a button instead of being screwed on.
Related Products
- Hydro-Filter Replacement Screen (AC10C)
- Hydro-Filter with Flash Cuffs (AC10F)
- Hydro-Filter with Sock (AC11)
- Flash Cuff 2 Inch Female (AH204)
- Flash Cuff 2 Inch Male (AH206)
What We See in the Field
Blower damage is almost never traced back to the day it happened. It shows up as a machine that has quietly lost lift over a season, and the filter that was left out of the line months earlier is long forgotten.
The other pattern is the filter that is never emptied. It still looks like it is working, because it is still catching debris — but a filter packed to the lid is a restriction, and the operator ends up blaming hose length or the machine for slow drying.
