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Pull or Push through carbon filter?

Playaction

Member
Please give suggestions on pulling or pushing though a carbon filter. Does pushing air through the filter shorten the filters life? Does it matter?
 

ScatMan

Member
keep the scrubber inside the grow room and pull it through, then u wont need that thing protruding outside.
 
G

Guest

Pull
You can put a filter cloth over the scrubber which collects bigger particles first so they won't clog the carbon -> increases bulb's, fans' and scrubber's life.
 

badgr

Member
I say Push.
A. Acts as a Muffler and gets rid of smell.
B. Easy to keep hidden if you have to
C. Doesn't pull particles of carbon through the fan/blower your using.
D. Easy to change carbon when the time comes.

I would say it's just easier to push. It really depends on your circumstances. Either way will work. The key is to make the scrubber a little longer if your pushing through b/c their is more room to dispel the air.

When pulling through a scrubber the outer diameter will allow more air to efficiently pass through then if you used the same scrubber and pushed air through it. Thats why I say just make it a little longer or bigger so the air flows nicely. People are going to keep arguing this question till the end of time. I have read in many Ed books he says to push but it works either way. But you will have a rushing air sound if you pull.

Their are tons of other threads talking about this exact question. Read up and you may not have to ask questions.
 

marx2k

Active member
Veteran
Wouldnt you have a rushing air sound if you rpushed also? I mean, it's still blowing through carbon/filter
 

badgr

Member
NO, The rushing air sound only happens when you have air flowing free from a HVAC tube or something un blocked. The scrubbers diffuse the air and push it through about a million pieces of carbon. similar to a duct muffler.
 
G

Guest

It does not matter which way its going. Do whatever is easier for you.
 

marx2k

Active member
Veteran
I imagine that pushing air through the scrubber AFTER the fan will also cause less coal dust in your fan/light. I think this thread has got me to plan on pushing air. Which is good since it would free up room in my cab this way.

Before, I was going to have the scrubber IN the can, pulling air from the passive intake, through the srubber, up to the cooltube, to the fan and out the box.

Now I can have it from the intake, through the cooltube, through the fan, out the top of the box and then through the scrubber which would be laying on its side on top of the box (obscured probably by a cardboard box sitting on top of it)
 

Liam

Active member
I have never seen any black dust on my fans, besides, charcoal in small particles is a lubricant is it not?
 

Playaction

Member
Hey badgr is right about it being a muffler. I've been pushing and the filter acts as a muffler as well. I was told it will clean the air rather you push or pull, but you get a longer life when pulling. I assume because the outside of the carbon filter is filtered and the inside isn't. Pushing works better for my setup. So now i'm going to find out how to refill this carbon scrubber with carbon when the time comes..
 

TGT

Tom 'Green' Thumb
Veteran
I always thought the carbon scrubbers were designed for air to travel through them one way. You better check with the scrubber manufacturer before deciding which way to go. I think there is a good chance the filter material is different on the outside as it is on the inside. Just a thought. Anyone know forsure?

TGT
 

twistone

Member
Hello Playaction,
Check with any HVAC company and they will tell you that exhaust fans or blowers are designed to work best when they have a little "drag" or "workload" on them from pulling the air. Test this yourself by covering about 1/3 of the intake of the fan when it is running with no load. The fan will probably pickup speed slightly. They are engineered to have a working drag load from pulling the air. OKIE DOKIE!

Good luck,
twistone
 

badgr

Member
Nice Little Fact Twistone. All ways a plus to see something sure and true. I believe you are right but only applies to larger blower or SQURL cage fans. Would have little effect on a cyclone inline type fan etc... Manly true for big HVAC systems with VAV boxes etc...
 
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