Carbon filters...life span and refurbishing?

Samwiseman420 said:

Filters are rated for single pass. So if you put a 400 cfm fan with a 400 cfm filter the air will basically shoot right on thru the carbon and hardly filter it. Getting a filter that is rated double the amount your fan pulls will clean the air better at a slower rate. The air has more time to get a nice cleaning as it passes thru the carbon.

With a 2 x 4 you need about 200 cfm of air moved 24/7. I would use a 200 cfm fan and a filter rated between 350 to 450 cfm. Phat has 4 x 20 350 cfm, a 6 x 16 375 cfm and a 6 x 20 450 cfm.

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OK. I'll do some measuring, and go big as possible. Appreciate it.

As far as longevity goes, a lot of current filters have a removable flange that you can mount to the opposite end.
It helps extend the useful filter life by using the available carbon more effectively.

Billy the Mountain said:

As far as longevity goes, a lot of current filters have a removable flange that you can mount to the opposite end.
It helps extend the useful filter life by using the available carbon more effectively.

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Yeah I don't know. I have a few more weeks before this flower gets emptied. I'll check to see if that's a thing. More so, I'm just really unimpressed by the performance so far. If this it, then that's trash lol. Tbh my current grow isn't that loud per se, I have some stuff coming up that's funky at 40 days from seed. It's really just privacy and security concerns.

FmSwayze said:

I'm in late flower, have the AC INFINITY oversized 6inch filter. While blowing leaves outside today I could smell my exhaust. Could it be I don't have it sealed properly and untreated air is leaking by? Any help would be great. Also any links to the mountain air or Kootenay would be great. Thanks

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FWIW, I've seen several say it's not a great filter.

About refillable filters, the major component and cost of a filter is the carbon. I see little savings by repacking, I see it as a marketing tactic. The only thing saved and reused is a couple flanges and the perforated metal, pennies compared to the carbon cost. The carbon is the difference between a good filter and a poor one, what's the quality of your replacement carbon? What is a good brand of replacement carbon???? Is saving a few dollars worth the work, the mess and the risk of a less effective filter?

FmSwayze said:

First time running a filter. There is no way once or a twice a year is normal or ok (with me anyhow). This is my hobby, but I like to be frugal.

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this is everyone's hobby. idk what to tell u. when it expires u need to change it out bud. Hobbies cost money. Refillable filters are going to cost you just as much if not more. this really isn't a discussion.

MintyDreadlocks said:

this is everyone's hobby. idk what to tell u. when it expires u need to change it out bud. Hobbies cost money. Refillable filters are going to cost you just as much if not more. this really isn't a discussion.

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Right.

MintyDreadlocks said:

this is everyone's hobby. idk what to tell u. when it expires u need to change it out bud. Hobbies cost money. Refillable filters are going to cost you just as much if not more. this really isn't a discussion.

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Thanks for your valuable input.

1212ham said:

FWIW, I've seen several say it's not a great filter.

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Add me to the list. I'll be sure to note this in my journal.

FmSwayze said:

First time running a filter. There is no way once or a twice a year is normal or ok (with me anyhow). This is my hobby, but I like to be frugal.

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Not sure how much of the capacity you're using. Let's say your filter is 400m³/h max and you're running it at 75% of max capacity.
Do 3 runs with it and the 4th run go blow the extracted air into your room and you'll see when you come home from work, what we're talking about.

Or rather smell....

420AD said:

Not sure how much of the capacity you're using. Let's say your filter is 400m³/h max and you're running it at 75% of max capacity.
Do 3 runs with it and the 4th run go blow the extracted air into your room and you'll see when you come home from work, what we're talking about.

Or rather smell....

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I don't need to do 3 runs to know, I've not completed one and there is a problem. ?

FmSwayze said:

I'm in late flower, have the AC INFINITY oversized 6inch filter. While blowing leaves outside today I could smell my exhaust. Could it be I don't have it sealed properly and untreated air is leaking by? Any help would be great. Also any links to the mountain air or Kootenay would be great. Thanks

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I didn't really see this - my bad, sir...
Maybe make a dual setup then if you're not happy with performance.
So you can run it at 50% capacity or lower. Should help.

1212ham said:

FWIW, I've seen several say it's not a great filter.

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Aren't those AC Finity refillable? just try some other coal I'd say mbe they use shitty one.
If that doesnt help, like I said put two of em and cut the volume that goes through it in half.

It may be refillable, but I really don't want to mess with the process. I'll be ordering a PHAT filter. It's an experience, and to be fair I can only smell it. It's not offensive yet, I was just really shocked about the time frame. But I'm literally at peak with terps and it may just have maxed out its potential. Q

The 2 filter setup however may be in the end the way. @420AD

FmSwayze said:

It may be refillable, but I really don't want to mess with the process. I'll be ordering a PHAT filter. It's an experience, and to be fair I can only smell it. It's not offensive yet, I was just really shocked about the time frame. But I'm literally at peak with terps and it may just have maxed out its potential. Q

The 2 filter setup however may be in the end the way. @420AD

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Yeah when you're in full flower and ure pulling air too fast through your filter, it's like putting deodorant on after a week of not showering, ain't gonna do much...

Billy the Mountain said:

Not using the pre-filter first will shorten the lifespan regardless of whether it's in a push or pull configuration. I'm not sure how one would even use a pre-filter on the interior of the carbon filter.

The main problem with using the filter in a push, rather than pull configuration is efficiency; the outside of the 'donut' has far more surface area: less resistance, less static pressure, more airflow. And the added perk of being able to effectively uses a prefilter.

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If you take the end caps off the filters, insert the prefilter into the center section and secure on both ends you can still prefilter.

FmSwayze said:

I don't need to do 3 runs to know, I've not completed one and there is a problem. ?

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I have a Vivosun 6 inch and it has done a really good job for me. I only smell my girls in the outside air when I open my Curearator when I dry my cuttings and open her daily to check on them. Inside my house it is when I open the tent. I can put my face to the exhaust and smell a very minute slight mustiness, but it is from the humidity not the plant smell. I was hoping to find a way to regenerate the filter and may stick it outside for a month or so, see what happens. I just picked up 2 brand new AC Infinity 6" units from a guy who was growing shrooms and didn't need these, paid %60 for both with prefilters. I figure next run I'll use the old one as my first filter and run one of the new ones as a secondary inline with it, hope it keeps the smell down completely.

Fladawg01 said:

If you take the end caps off the filters, insert the prefilter into the center section and secure on both ends you can still prefilter.

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Theoretically, yes, you can stuff the prefilter into the center of the carbon filter.
It's still a bad idea.