Smell getting out dispite Carbon + Fan

[Microwido]

Hey all. I have had my Goblin carbon filter and Grow tech Fan combo running for 5 days now. It is a 400CFM model (6inch). I have a 8x4 inch intake vent with carbon screens on it, an out take vent that is 6", and my room is Approx 400 cubit feet. (8x7x7).


The problem is I can still smell weed at the top of the basement stairs!! WTF. The room is 99% air tight. It is clearly taking alot of the smell out of the air, but some still remains. I can sometimes smell traces of weed coming out of the exhaust vent, that shouldn't be happening. I am thinking maybe my inlet vent is too small? Would that cause this? Do I just have a bad Carbon Filter?

Any input appreciated.

 

[TGT]

You stated you have a Carbon screen on your intake vent. I don't know if you wrote it wrong, but you should have the Carbon screen on your out vent. Let me know if I understood you wrong.

Also, you have to make sure the room is sealed the best you can. Then with the door closed the only air coming in should be through the intake, and the only air going out through the carbon scrubber. Your intake should always be less air flow than the exhausted air. This creates negative pressure in the room or cab and then even if ther are a few leaks, they will suck in air and not let it seap out.

If the Carbon screen is in fact on your exhaust, then the next step would be to buy an actual Carbon Scrubber. Get one made your your space and you should have no problem with smell if you follow everything I have written.

Good luck and let us know if I misunderstood you.

TGT

 

[Microwido]

The intake vent has a carbon screen on it, no that is what I meant. I have the carbon scrubber + fan on the exhaust yes. The intake screen is just a furnace filter from Lowes that has a carbon part to it that I used. I use this so no partials will get in from the intake, and to block light.

So like i said the room is 99% sealed, it is an old house and I am still finding slight holes here and there. But the air is coming in not going out of these small holes so it shouldn't matter in theory. I am glad you mentioned the negative pressure thing, because my inlet feels about half as strong as my exhaust air flow. When I open the door its obvious there is negative pressure, if the door is a few feet open it will get pulled shut by the air.

I just checked the manufactorer's webpage, and this Goblin filter is designed for 265-350 CFM !! So i am running a 420 CFM fan, would too much airflow be the reason the carbon filter is no doing its job?

I have the Fan on a speed controller, so I just turned it down about half way, lets see if that makes a difference.


Thanks for any input

 

[Mr. Bongjangles]

Hi Microwido..

You may be pulling a bit too much air through that Goblin filter. BGhydro lists the optimal airflow at 265-350cfm, so if it is hooked right up to the 400cfm fan, the air may not be getting exposed to enough carbon or whatever.

Might want to upgrade to a can33 or 66 if possible, or throw some ona gel in there for a double dose of this pimping'

Good luck!

 

[Microwido]

Ok so I lowered the fan down to about 250CFM. 10 minutes later the smell is noticeably weaker! I think that was the problem. I still would appreciate any input. Thank you TGT.

 

[Microwido]

Hi Microwido..

You may be pulling a bit too much air through that Goblin filter. BGhydro lists the optimal airflow at 265-350cfm, so if it is hooked right up to the 400cfm fan, the air may not be getting exposed to enough carbon or whatever.

Might want to upgrade to a can33 or 66 if possible, or throw some ona gel in there for a double dose of this pimping'

Good luck!

TY TY TY


I am pretty sure that was exactly it. I am so much happier now! Immediately I can barely smell anything!! I will update in a few hours when there should be 0 smell. Thank the LORD!

 

[sunnyside]

no smell...IC rocks!

 

[Microwido]

4 hours later and there is still trace of a smell in the basement, but not at the stairs. This Goblin carbon filter + Growbright fan suck. I am going to see if I can return it.

 

[NorthernKronic]

I would say return that crap and get a can 66 carbon filter. Its a bit more expensive but as you now know carbon filters are something you dont go cheap on.. + I think the 66 has like 50+ lbs or carbon in it.. That should take care of your smell.

 

[sunnyside]

two words...

Can Fan

I would either go with the can 66 or the can 33. Either can be fitted with a 6" flange and be used with a 6" fan. If you get the 66 you will want the high output 6".

Either should work, one will just work longer.

The trick to sizing a filter for a room is to first size the fan for the room. The size fan you need is determined by several parameters. The size of the room , the number of lights, other heat sources, etc. Find the size fan you need for your situation and then find the cooresponding can fan filter that fits the specs of the fan. Easy peasy japanesey.

Your sized room with 800 watts...you should be fine with any 6" fan. The high output is going to move a lot more air, but it is a lot louder too.

 

[FunkBomb]

I run a 4" vortex on a Elf carbon filter. The only smell issue I had with it was when I had my fan turned down too much. There wasn't enough pressure to clean the air so some skunkiness did get out. Just find that good range of fan speed and you'll be fine. I also keep a little Glade plug in air freshener in the room as backup.

-Funk

 

[Microwido]

I run a 4" vortex on a Elf carbon filter. The only smell issue I had with it was when I had my fan turned down too much. There wasn't enough pressure to clean the air so some skunkiness did get out. Just find that good range of fan speed and you'll be fine. I also keep a little Glade plug in air freshener in the room as backup.

-Funk

I think that is the key. If I turn the speed dial to high or too low, you can smell the exhuast air is not taking all the smell out. When i put speed dial about about 60% the exhuasted air smells mostly clean that I can tell.

Also, I was at about 50 humidity today. I read somewhere that humidity over 50 makes a carbon scrubber less effective. I have a de-humidifier and I set it to 40. Now it smells even less, but there are still traceable amounts in the basement, but completely smell free at the stair top.

What humidity do you guys have your setup, and what ranges of humidity can you operate with no smell?

Thanks for further input.