Wet carbon filter, Knackered or salvageable???

[Harry Gypsna]

Hey there, long story short, my cellar flooded and my brand new unused filter and equally brand new 4'8"x 4'8" growtent got wet. The Tent was in its bag, stood up against the wall, and the filter was in its box stood up.
No issues with the tent really, it was only wet a bit at the end, it's the filter that worries me.
I've got everything propped up against the radiator in my bedroom to dry out. I took the tent out of the case to speed the drying. I'm hoping that drying the filter out will mean it is OK to use. It is only groundwater, not sewage.

I'm thinking of clamping a fan to the filter, to blow air through it.
Luckily I didn't have any electrical equipment down there as it is all still in the loft at the house where I have been storing things.

So, experience/opinions please, will the filter be OK once dried out or is it shagged.

 

[im me]

I dont see any reason it wont be just fine and good thing you didnt get sewage,water.

 

[wantaknow]

hell ya harry dryit out ,it will probly work like new again

 

[Harry Gypsna]

Thanks chaps, I did assume it would probably be OK.
It is definitely not sewage thankfully.
Gotta wait til Monday to get the cellar pumped out.
On a side note, Chuck Taylors are not the correct footwear to wear when rescuing things from flooded cellars, whoda thunkit

 

[vertigo0007]

It needs to be 'toasted'. Wet carbon is deactivated. It has to be toasted and made super dry. Over time the humidity in your room deactivates the carbon in your filter, this iswhy it begins to release smell after a varied smount of time. Getting it really wet like it is would surrly deactivate the carbon just likethe humidity only faster. You can reactivate dead filters by toasting the carbon. The problem is getting it repacked in the filter if you dont have sn oven large enough to fit your scrubber. Good luck hg

 

[negative37dBA]

So if a carbon filter has trouble working in high humidity how will it work wet? Will the carbon dry out? I think it would if you could run a fan with very low humidity air through the filter. I do not think it will work well when wet though.
Thanks vertigoooo7 posted just as I was. Answered my question as well.

 

[doneit]

Deactivate the carbon?
Another case of bad info on the web.
The filter will be fine, run the fan threw it till dry and store it.

For your information:
You can and should clean your carbon filter once a year with your gardon hose.
It will REACTIVATE the carbon and be good as new.

 

[vertigo0007]

Deactivate the carbon?
Another case of bad info on the web.
The filter will be fine, run the fan threw it till dry and store it.

For your information:
You can and should clean your carbon filter once a year with your gardon hose.
It will REACTIVATE the carbon and be good as new.

Hahahahahaha. Look up activated carbor reactivation or regeneration. Nice try tho. Next time read before you open your beef curtains

 

[Harry Gypsna]

So if a carbon filter has trouble working in high humidity how will it work wet? Will the carbon dry out? I think it would if you could run a fan with very low humidity air through the filter. I do not think it will work well when wet though.
Thanks vertigoooo7 posted just as I was. Answered my question as well.

I wouldn't attempt to use it wet, I'm going to dry it out 1st.
I'll dry it out, see how it goes and replace if required.

 

[SeaMaiden]

It needs to be 'toasted'. Wet carbon is deactivated. It has to be toasted and made super dry. Over time the humidity in your room deactivates the carbon in your filter, this iswhy it begins to release smell after a varied smount of time. Getting it really wet like it is would surrly deactivate the carbon just likethe humidity only faster. You can reactivate dead filters by toasting the carbon. The problem is getting it repacked in the filter if you dont have sn oven large enough to fit your scrubber. Good luck hg

I am curious about this. Is this because the activated carbon used in air filters is different from that used in aquaria? Otherwise, if it's the same thing, I don't understand how water alone would 'deactivate' the carbon. I also thought the reason it begins to release smell would be the same reason carbon used in aquatics begins to release toxins it's already ad/absorbed, and that would be because it's so saturated, on a molecular level.

Inquiring minds want to know!

If this is the same stuff as is used in aquaria, then... well, does it make sense to you?

 

[vertigo0007]

Its not the same smart ass. Do your own research. Heres a hint... Wiki

 

[Harry Gypsna]

I am curious about this. Is this because the activated carbon used in air filters is different from that used in aquaria? Otherwise, if it's the same thing, I don't understand how water alone would 'deactivate' the carbon. I also thought the reason it begins to release smell would be the same reason carbon used in aquatics begins to release toxins it's already ad/absorbed, and that would be because it's so saturated, on a molecular level.

Inquiring minds want to know!

If this is the same stuff as is used in aquaria, then... well, does it make sense to you?

Hi SeaMaiden, this is my line of thinking. High humidity in use prevents it from absorbing smells properly, but doesn't actually spoil the carbon(according to my friend who runs the growshop).
I just tried to call the manufacturer but its Saturday afternoon so I'll have to call on Monday.
The difference between water carbon and air carbon is generally pellet/granule size and pore size within each pellet/granule.

Anyway I'm going to clamp the fan to the filter to blow through, and put some duct on the other side of the fan, in front of the a small oil filled radiator to get some warm air through it.

 

[SeaMaiden]

Its not the same smart ass. Do your own research. Heres a hint... Wiki

Now I understand the PM. FYI, and for the information of others here, there is NO difference between activated carbon used for air filtration and water filtration except particle size (I would not use the powdered forms in aquaria).

That makes your initial claims here baseless in fact.

 

[huarmiquilla]

howdy HG

how you do?

am keen to think activate carbon perhap indeed to become saturate, with respect to deactivate am not keen to such thinks

indeed one perspective for title saturation point with respect to deactivation
similar am agree to disagree such title, rather am keen to such title saturate

for remain within carbon indeed microscopic pore, such to remain activate indeed perhap saturate with respect to limit efficiency

filtration with respect to solid within liquid
absorbtion with respect to vapor such and such

with respect to temporary saturate with moisture with respect to absorbtion efficiency such carbon filter, indeed temporary with respect to relative humidity

am keen to think filtration with respect to activate carbon utilize alternate saturation and pressure form to being

indeed style, type, similar application

with respect to rejuvinate saturate carbon, am research within google many variety technique indeed

HG am keen to suggest you to perhap cycle more dry air through you filter
similar am keen to relate one perspective with much humidity carbon filter perhap a touch aromatic
at when humidity drop with respect to carbon absorbtion efficiency curve, absorbtion resume to more efficiency

positive vibrations

 

[Puffaluffagus]

High humidity, 70%+, is a filter killer, so I would assume getting the thing actually wet would be even worse.

Easy way to tell if you're good to go or not with it.
Hook it to the fan, and stand at the exhaust and smell it while it's running.
Old/wet carbon has a distinctive smell, you'll recognize it right away.
If it's still good you shouldn't really be smelling much of anything beyond a faint fresh/new carbon smell.

The last thing you want to fuck around trying to save a couple bucks on is your filter.
If I had the least bit of doubt about it I would get a new one.

 

[negative37dBA]

Now I understand the PM. FYI, and for the information of others here, there is NO difference between activated carbon used for air filtration and water filtration except particle size (I would not use the powdered forms in aquaria).

That makes your initial claims here baseless in fact.

I think you are incorrect SeaMaiden. I beleive it is pore size, not particle size, and # of pores or fractures that is different and that makes all the difference. Aquairium filter carbon and air filtration carbon are NOT the same.

 

[trichrider]

Effectiveness



The effectiveness of carbon filters depends on the size of the particle, measured in microns, the filter catches. A micron is a unit of measurement equal to one-millionth of a meter. The least effective carbon filter catches particles around 20 microns in size. Carbon filters that catch particles as small as 0.5 microns are the most effective at catching up to 99 percent of the contaminants in the water and air it purifies.
-

i was under the impression that carbon was carbon, the differences being the ingrediant for pyrolisis...also seems as if seamaiden is correct...just sayin'. the effectiveness determined by the charge...

Activated carbon's base from is charcoal made from wood, coconut shells and coal. Some carbon filter suppliers may specialize in using a specific kind of pulp, such as only coconut shells. The activation process of steaming increases the surface area of regular charcoal and gives it a slightly positive charge. This process is what gives activated charcoal its surface area of 125 acres per pound, ability to adsorb 60 percent of its weight and the ability to attract negatively charged particles.

Read more: What Are Carbon Filters? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8302644_carbon-filters.html#ixzz2Lkj1lC12

 

[doneit]

Hahahahahaha. Look up activated carbor reactivation or regeneration. Nice try tho. Next time read before you open your beef curtains

beef curtains? What are you 12?
You are 100% wrong. I do not need to look it up or read, I use real life experience.

Moisture will block air flow in carbon filters the same way it will in any filter, common sense here people.

I have been using the same Carbon filters for over 8 yrs, a good rinse down and dry every 8-12 months will keep them fresh.

Seamaiden is correct, Carbon is carbon, only difference is the particle size and compactness.

If you think this information is incorrect, simply try it with your old filter before you go out and buy a new one.

Do you think the filter industry wants you to know you can clean them? most likely not.

 

[Granger2]

Hey vertigo. Bad form. Be nice.

Regardless of the details, I believe that if you run a fan on your filter it will dry out, and it will work like new. If you want to go the extra step, you should be able to heat the carbon without removing it from the case.

If the filter is all metal and carbon, you could buy a $15 electric burner, AKA hotplate, wrap the filter in foil [don't seal it], and heat at low setting. Rig it in a way that the filter is not sitting directly on the burner. Good luck, and let us know what develops. -granger

 

[iampolluted]

built my filter from a diy link on here, bought the carbon and WASHED it off before i filled the filter. carbon dust sucks. once dried it worked flawlessly, and had done the job for over a year before i took it down and washed it (i don't use a prefilter). knowing that the pores of the carbon do get clogged with impurities, i've taken mine down and hosed it off during a down time. then i pushed air through it to dry it out and put it back up. 8 months later it's still going strong. water won't hurt it if it's dried out before use. i've done it, and would do it again.