Do carbon filters get clogged up over time?

[TedNugget]

Might seem like an obvious/stupid question, but do carbon filters get clogged up with dust over time?

It still takes care of all smell, but it just doesn't seem like the fan is drawing air thru the room like it used to. I used to see the walls suck in from the negative pressure. Thought maybe the fan was going, so I upgraded from a 6 to an 8. It's a little better, but not a whole lot.

We let the pre filter get pretty damn dirty before changing it, so I am thinking maybe the carbon is just clogged up with dust and not letting the proper airflow through anymore? Would using my fan to push air out of the filter help? I've always sucked air through it.

I hate to buy a new filter if i don't need to. Atmosphere PRO Filters are not cheap. Best filters out there that I've ever used. This ones been used on and off for a good 5 years total, maybe more and it still takes care of all smell. I guess I can't say I didn't get my money's worth out of it though, huh? lol
Also, the PRO filter is reversible. Their claim is only half the carbon gets used by regular filters, so by flipping the filter over (removable end caps) you use the bottom half of the carbon, and I just flipped it recently (which I should have done long ago).

Anyway, I just don't want to buy a new filter if it's not going to do any good. Is there any way to test and see if the filter is clogged up and reducing the airflow? Probably not huh?

 

[Loc Dog]

The activated carbon goes bad within about 6 months. It can be replaced, or I think putting in oven re-activates the carbon. Look into that.

Just looked into it. Can put in oven at over 350 degrees, but the whole house will smell strongly of the odors it took out. So if odor is a problem at your location, buy new activated charcoal, and reload.

 

[Bush Dr]

Yes, but before you buy a new filter buy a new sock for the outside of the canister

 

[TedNugget]

Thank you both.

Bush Dr - I did actually replace the pre filter (sock) a few months ago.

Loc dog - the carbon still works in my filter. Like I said, it still takes care of all smell. It just doesn't seem like I am getting the negative pressure draw in the room like I used to, and I even just upgraded from a 490CFM fan to a 700CFM one.

That's why I was wondering if the carbon had become clogged with dust...
But then I think, if all the small crevices in the carbon were clogged, why would it still remove all smell so efficiently?

 

[Picarus]

keeping half the plastic wrap on for the first 3-6 months helps elongate the life. also you can vacuum the outer fiber wrap when it gets dirty. I can say I have had them last much longer than 6 mo. years longer.
You can also push through rather than pull.
not sure on the negative space, must have a breach. check connection points first.

 

[TedNugget]

keeping half the plastic wrap on for the first 3-6 months helps elongate the life. also you can vacuum the outer fiber wrap when it gets dirty. I can say I have had them last much longer than 6 mo. years longer.
You can also push through rather than pull.
not sure on the negative space, must have a breach. check connection points first.

Thank you. I will check the connections again. All the connections are sealed with duct tape. Maybe I'll add another layer of duct tape to the seals though, it's definitely worth a try.
And yes, my filter has lasted much longer than 6 months. It's been in use at least 5 years or more. It's an Atmosphere PRO filter (I believe it's the same company that makes Vortex fans, but I'm not sure).
It is actually reversible. The end caps come off, so you can flip the filter around. I think that's maybe a similar principal to leaving the bottom half wrapped in plastic? I don't know.

 

[Granger2]

About every 6 months, I take my filters outside, flip the fan over, and blow back thru for about an hour. I wipe it every 10-15 mins, and when it stops having the grey/beige fine dust gathering on the case, I figure it's long enough. They'll last for years if you do this and you'll have better air flow. But yeah, wash or replace the prefilter about every 6 months or more often in dusty conditions. Good luck. -granger

 

[TedNugget]

About every 6 months, I take my filters outside, flip the fan over, and blow back thru for about an hour. I wipe it every 10-15 mins, and when it stops having the grey/beige fine dust gathering on the case, I figure it's long enough. They'll last for years if you do this and you'll have better air flow. But yeah, wash or replace the prefilter about every 6 months or more often in dusty conditions. Good luck. -granger

Thanks granger! This is what I was wondering. Definitely going to try this before deciding on whether or not to replace the filter.

How big of a mess would this make if I did it inside? How much crap comes shooting out? Could I wrap something sround the filter to contain the dust or something? I'm not too worried about making a little mess, as long as it's not crazy.

Thanks again

 

[Dropped Cat]

I guess if you had a vibratory type tumbler you could
re pack an old, empty filter with fresh carbon.

The tumbler shakes the carbon down, compacts it.

The thing is to know how long to run the vibrator to
get the correct level of compaction.

Curious if anyone bothers with repacking, or just toss
the used filter and replace with a new one.

I'll try the blowout and see if it works for me before
trying a re pack.

 

[TedNugget]

I've thought about trying to re-pack. My filter is designed to be refilled. It has screws instead of rivets. But I emailed the company and they said it takes 38lbs of carbon (depending on what size carbon you use). The cheapest I've found carbon is roughly $170 for 50 lbs, plus shipping (so, around $200 or so). My filter brand new cost $209 I think. The bigger size filter I want (75lb 650cfm) is $250. So I don't think I'm going to try refilling it. The effort and mess doesn't seem worth it to save literally a few bucks. If I could find good carbon cheaper, I'd probably try.

 

[Gry]

Yes, activated charcoal gets 'loaded'. It can be washed and reused, but that is sure not something I would have any interest in doing.

 

[Granger2]

I think it would be very counter productive to blow it back into your room, as it would eventually get drawn back into the filter. What blows back out is super fine and at least take it into the garage if you can't do it outside. Good luck. -granger

 

[Dropped Cat]

$3.40 a pound, damn.

Not economical to repack a big filter, but I use a 4" x 12",
maybe 8 pounds.

I grow in a small cabinet, so how big is a filter that takes
38 pounds anyway

 

[TedNugget]

It's actually not that huge. It's 20 inches long and 15 inches in circumference. They use a nice, wide bed of carbon.
It's a heavy SOB though. I think it weighs like 50 some pounds in total. And this is only their 450 CFM filter! lol

I'd highly recommend these filters to anyone though. I've had it since like 2007-08 and it's still going strong.

 

[TedNugget]

I think it would be very counter productive to blow it back into your room, as it would eventually get drawn back into the filter. What blows back out is super fine and at least take it into the garage if you can't do it outside. Good luck. -granger

Thanks again man. Much appreciated.

I wasn't going to do it in my room or anything. I was just wondering how messy it would be to do inside, like in the basement or something I was thinking. But I will try to take it outside to do it.

 

[blastfrompast]

i've got a Big can i can re-pack, costs me about 60 bucks in carbon to do it...new one is 180.... A local growshop brings in Carbon by the 5gal pail full from some company in ontario.

My others are all sealed units...good for about 8-10months before they gotta get pitched, wished I knew where buddy got the re-fillable one tho...best oz of mj I ever spent lol trading for that can/fan combo lol