Carbon Scrubbers - how good?

[VapingBuddha]

I'm considering moving my grow cab out of the unfinished basement (where I can easily vent outside) and into a room in the main living space, where I won't be able to vent.

The basement has temp and humidity problems, and I have to shut down periodically for things like termite inspections, and in a few years I will probably be living in some kind of condo w/o a basement anyway, so this is something I'm going to have to deal with at some point.

My question is (other than during trim) whether I can really control the odor, to the point where it's not going to be noticeable. I.e. so friends come over and no one asks, "what the hell is that smell?" or "dude, you're busted!"

I'm looking to switch from my current homebrew cab (150w) to a bit more stealth setup in an armoire or wardrobe. I was figuring I could fashion a flat carbon scrubber that could take up as much as the entire footprint of the wardrobe if I need (say 2' x 3' maybe). And I could make it as thick as I want, within reason - I was thinking an inch or two of carbon. But would that do it - are the carbon scrubbers that good? What are your experiences?

 

[pontiac]

In my last grow, I placed a 250w cab in a room thats only about 6'x6'. You'd think that odors would build up quite easily in such a small room, but the outcome was the contrary. The room actually ended up smelling better during the on cycle.

However, during the off cycle, I noticed a slight smell leaking (due to buildup from lack of exhaust) from the cab. So to alleviate this issue, I connected the blower fan to a different timer, but with settings that allowed the fan to come on during certain times in the off cycle.

So overall i barely noticed the smells with a carbon filter. However, If you're really paranoid, you can get your self a vaportek to mask/eliminate lingering odors.

 

[Sabbath_666]

I have a can filter and inline fan in a 7'X7' grow room in my basement. my house was built in 1913 so it leaks air and is drafty as all hell. at first I could not smell ANYTHING.
that is with 13 plants at about 3' tall in full flower. I sealed the room well and the air output is right under my living room where people hang out and walk in the house. Aftr about two years now the filter is dirty and the smell is really bad. even outside the house you can smell it sometimes. I am a medical grower so it doesn't matter that much but I am still very cautious. I can say that Can Filters work very well as long as they are clean...

 

[VapingBuddha]

Thanks for the info and stories. It sounds like it might be wise to have some airflow at all times to prevent the leaking that Pontiac mentioned (or go with your timer method).

 

[TGT]

If possible keep an exhaust fan running all the time. As long as the exhaust fan expels more air than the intake lets in (passive intake) then a vaccum will be created causing no smell to leak out. Even if there are small leaks, these leaks will suck air in containing the smell perfectly. The air coming out of the carbon scrubber will be as clean as possible and nothing will be noticed if a good carbon scrubber is used.

TGT

 

[Daemon]

I think using a good scrubber is key. I bought one of the ELF filters and it is not so good. 4 ladies easily overpower it - time to replace the carbon!