when to refill your carbon filter

[raggyb]

I posted this in another thread.....it fits here perfectly!

Why throw it out? You can wash and recharge that carbon!

Use a mild biodegradable soap in RO or deionized water. Put in the carbon and swish it around for about 15 min. Drain and rinse, 3 times, soaking/swishing the carbon for 10 min the first 2 times.
Now dry it and bake it in an oven at 250 deg till dry.....The heat does the "recharge" as it dries out. The mild soap removes any accumulated oils that it may have absorbed (only in the surface pores [on the carbon] are where these oils get trapped).

This is how a major drug company does it's lab filter carbon.

Doc

P.S. You might try the oven recharge first as that has good effect if your whole filter fits and you don't feel you want to tackle removing the carbon....Be sure to take off the white "prefilter" first.

oh wow this is 2015 post. how bad does it smell when you bake it? read someone said it's bad. is it like down the block bad?

 

[Dr. Who]

oh wow this is 2015 post. how bad does it smell when you bake it? read someone said it's bad. is it like down the block bad?

Once washed and rinsed. No stink that I ever had an issue with.

 

[raggyb]

Once washed and rinsed. No stink that I ever had an issue with.

I think the whole gdamn thing might fit in my oven.

 

[HipChum]

Every filter I’ve taken apart had foam inside between the carbon and the end caps. Could possibly melt if whole filter is placed in the oven.

 

[Cvntcrusher]

If you wash your pre-filter once a month your CF will last at LEAST a year running 24/7

 

[raggyb]

uh Oh. if polystyrene we're in trouble at 160F. some others maybe 250 ish. thanks for the heads up yo

Every filter I’ve taken apart had foam inside between the carbon and the end caps. Could possibly melt if whole filter is placed in the oven.

Insulation Material	Temperature Range
Low	High
(oC)	(oF)	(oC)	(oF)
Calcium Silicate	-18	0	650	1200
Cellular Glass	-260	-450	480	900
Elastomeric foam	-55	-70	120	250
Fiberglass	-30	-20	540	1000
Mineral Wool, Ceramic fiber			1200	2200
Mineral Wool, Glass	0	32	250	480
Mineral Wool, Stone	0	32	760	1400
Phenolic foam			150	300
Polyisocyanurate, polyiso	-180	-290	120	250
Polystyrene	-50	-60	75	165
Polyurethane	-210	-350	120	250
Vermiculite	-272	-459	760	1400