Perhaps by popping the cap off the one side, dumping it, reffilling it, and taping it back up?
Is thay even a common practice?
Also, is it more cost efficient than buying a brand new charcoal filter?
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So I actually did this a week ago, you can but…
Its a chore and when you do it some of its to spent so your filter won’t be full anymore.
Hold onto a spent filter, once you have two you can make 2 usable one. You can buy the carbon pellets in bulk to if you want I Geuss.
The issue is there is a lace liner and that is a tricky part.
Drill the rivets out and use self tapping screws to re secure.
Buying a 5lb Bag of the carbon pellets on Amazon is the same as buying a cheap 6" filter… Soooo gotta filnd it bulk locally I think might be not yo. Hard thougj if you in a city
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Suburbs. But id probably try ebay or amazon for some leads thanks @Nicky
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Like Nicky said, you can definitely do it. But doesn’t always make sense to. You need to make sure you get quality carbon media which seems to be hit or miss, then it’s not hard to do but not exactly easy to do very well either. Not packed in tight enough and filter won’t really work. Packed in too tight and it will create larger static load on your fan. All things considered if scent control is important its kinda risky.
I like the idea of buying a new a filter and then trying to rebuild the old. You have a spare if you’re successful, and not really in trouble if you’re unsuccessful.
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I have one that’s like 3/4 full so I back blocked off the 1/4 with tape lol… But I’m just gonna try and use it for my drying tent Durring harvest. If it doesn’t work I’ll hold onto it. Then add when I have to replace another one in a year so two old make a reused one.
Amazon is just as much for a new filter buy maybe eBay’s got a better deal.
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I did some research a while ago and i believe it said they last roughly 5 years. Dont quote me though. Smells not something im too concerned about at the moment although i have a huge 8 inch ported carbon filter that i kmow is over 4 or 5 years, and it does look like someone tried modifying it, (assuming to replace the spent charcoal). But figured id ask as that is/was something ive always been curious about.
Thank you for the feed back. Both of you.
Filters last about 1-2 years in my experience.
It’s a process to clean it.
Drain it into a tote of hot water, wisk it, catch all the floaters and toss them, use paper towel to soak up any oils floating on top, rinse again with hot water and wisk, paper towel the top again.
Drain and let dry.
When it’s dry toss it in the oven at 225 for 2 hours minium.
The oven is the worst part, the hotter you cook it the better but it let’s off gasses the carbon has soaked up. This can be toxic so if you have a junker oven in your garage it’s great otherwise do it in the summer when you can leave windows and doors open and do it at the 225 for at least 2 hours.
I have yet to use my filter since I did this, again my filter only re filled like 3/4 so I taped the inside and outside of it hopefully thks works to direct the air through the carbon part of the filter… We will see in 2 months.
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Wow that seems like alot of work. Interesting work at that.
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Good question on replacing the carbon in filter. I have often thought about it myself, but from what it sounds like it might be more work than it’s worth my time has to be worth something. Plus you still need to buy quality carbon. I’ve been getting about two grows out of a quality filter before I detect smell at the exhaust.
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Would depend how long your grows are and how smelly your plants are I think.
I find after a year and a half maybe 2 years it’s time to switch it or it ain’t working effectively anymore.
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you can also find Activated Carbon Filter Pads. i found some 17" x 12" for pretty reasonable. i am wondering it if might be just as easy to cut them to fit and just wrap them around the outside of the cansiter?
I currently use them to duct tape over the inlets of my tent. my fans are temperature controlled so they dont typically run at night, sometimes i had some smell in the morning. these really did the trick.
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Thanks @kellydans
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