Carbon is a great natural remedy for purifying your air or water.
Active carbon in particular works by absorbing toxins or harmful chemicals from gases (air) and liquids (like drinking water) – making it a great filter!
The best carbon air filter works either inside or outside the house (make sure you double check manufacturer’s instructions), and will remove smelly or undesirable odors, in addition to the harmful parts of the air.
Some popular ways that people use a charcoal air filter are:
Around the home to absorb cigarette smoke and household odors
Inside and outside growing rooms/tents/boxes – usually with an inline fan and ducting system
In drying/curing rooms
In workshop rooms where there are painting, welding and solvent smells
+ many more
Below we have listed and reviewed some of the most popular and best carbon air filter brands on the market so that you can choose one which suits your needs.
(*Friendly Disclosure – links to retailers or brands on this page may include affiliate links, and we may receive a commission when you purchase through these links)
Top Rated Air Filters
- Carbon Air Filter – Phresh Carbon Air Filter (on Amazon)
- Cheap Carbon Air Filter – iPower GLFILT6M Air Carbon Filter (on Amazon)
Best Carbon Air Filter: Reviews
Phresh Carbon Air Filter
What’s Good About This Air Filter?
Different models give you a flange width between 4 inches and 14 inches – really big range of sizes available
Comes with a very absorbent RC-48 activated, certified virgin carbon bed
Comes with the main filter body, flange and pre-filter (plus carbon)
Sealed, bagged, boxed and labeled directly after being manufactured
51% open air custom mesh
Can be used as either an inside or outside filter – and either an intake or exhaust filter in a duct system > Manufacturer says it can be used in most applications
Aluminium construction is light
Relatively large CFM ratings – as a perspective, the 8 x 24 inch model has a 750 CFM
What Could Be Improved?
Not as cheap as the iPower
Flange is riveted to the main body of the filter – can’t be reversed like the iPower
Seemed to be a slight issue with the delivery of the product end of 2016/start of 2017 – definitely worth guaranteeing your warranty before purchasing
What Else To Get With It?
Digital Mixed Flow Fan – Hyper Fan 8″ 710 CFM Digital Mixed Flow Fan (on Amazon)
Rope Hangers For Grow Lights – Apollo Horticulture Rope Hangers (on Amazon)
Where To Check It Out?
iPower GLFILT6M Air Carbon Filter
What’s Good About This Air Filter?
Very cheap, popular and affordable
Different models give you a flange width between 4 inches and 10 inches
Different models give you the option to get kits with 1) The filter + pre- filter, 2) Filter + pre-filter + fan 3) Filter + pre-filter + fan + ducting
Comes with a very absorbent 1050+ IAV Australia charcoal – RC 412 Activated Carbon
Reversible flange allows you to rotate the main filter barrel when you need to
Has a 53% open area in the main part of the filter for air flow
Can be used as either an inside or outside filter – and either an intake or exhaust filter in a duct system
Aluminium construction is light
What Could Be Improved?
Filter has a suggested lifetime of 1 year to 1.5 years – might be slightly short for some people
Whilst the aluminium is light, it isn’t the strongest material so you do have to be careful with handling it
Will need the biggest sized filter if you have strong odors
What Else To Get With It?
Rope Hangers For Grow Lights – Apollo Horticulture Rope Hangers (on Amazon)
Indoor Humidity Monitor – AcuRite 00613 Indoor Humidity Monitor (on Amazon)
Where To Check It Out?
- View the 4 Inch iPower Carbon Air Filter on Amazon
- View the 6 Inch iPower Carbon Air Filter on Amazon
- View the 10 Inch iPower Carbon Air Filter on Amazon
NOTE: you can select the fan and duct options as you require + purchase extras like hangers and monitors
Best Carbon Air Filter: Buyer’s Guide
What Is A Carbon Air Filter
A carbon air filter is essentially an air purifier.
It is made of steel mesh, and has a pre-filter on the outside, with charcoal on the inside – which helps purify the air.
It can be used as either an intake or exhaust filter, with or without a fan for extra air flow.
What Types Of Carbon Air Filters Are There?
Carbon air filters can be classified by types based on their size, the type of charcoal they use, what they are used for, and how they are used.
Size
There are many different sizes of air filters, and they are measured by the height and width, and also the width of the flange opening.
Common flange widths might be 4, 6, 8 and 10 inch.
Type Of Charcoal Used
In general, charcoal is what gets rid of the odor and purifies the air.
Actively charged charcoal in particular (compared to block charcoal) is positively charged and bonds to the undesired negative toxins/chemicals/vapor contaminants in the air.
There are then different sub-types of active charcoal produced in different parts of the world like Australia for example, which may or may not be machine packed.
How They Are Used
Carbon air filter can be used by themselves, with a duct, or with a duct and an inline fan.
They can also be used in a duct system as either an intake filter (the air enters it before being expelled outside), or an exhaust filter (the filter is the last component of a duct system that purifies the air before it is released outside).
What They Are Used For
See below
What Is A Carbon Air Filter Used For
Carbon Air Filters are used for a range of activities that might require air purification including but not limited to:
Growing plants (used inside or outside the grow tent, house or box – as an intake or outtake filter)
Drying/curing rooms
Rooms where you might have paint, welding or solvent smells
In the house to get rid of cigarette smoke and general bad odours
What Carbon Air Filter To Use – How To Choose?
You might make the following considerations when purchasing a carbon air filter:
1. Definitely look at the size of the main part of the filter, and the flange – compare this to the volume of air you want to purify in a room (look at the CFM – cubic feet of air the filter absorbs per minute) > get the right sized and configured filter
2. Look at what comes with the filter – pre-filters, elastic bands, charcoal > make sure you get a filter that comes with the accessories you definitely need for your setup
3. Consider whether you want an inline fan and ducting with the filter > buy these extra if required
4. Lastly, look at whether the right type of charcoal is included with the filter, and check how the filter is packed and sent to you
*Follow the manufacturer product instructions and installation instructions carefully – some filters are not be used in specific circumstances
What Carbon Air Filter Features To Look Out For?
You may like to check the following features on a carbon air filter you are looking at getting:
Height and width of the main part of the filter
Is the mesh on the main part of the filter double mesh, and what % is open air?
What is the filter body and flange made of? If aluminium, note that it will be light, but less durable than stronger metals
Width and depth of the flange
How the flange is fixed – with rivets?
Is the flange reversible (allowing you to flip the main filter body)?
What sort of charcoal do you get with the filter, and how is it packed and delivered?
Are extras like fans, ducts, hanging systems, etc. compatible with the filter?
Check what the manufacturer says the filter is designed for – internal or external environment?
What is the expected lifetime of both the filter and the pre filter – how often do you have to clean or change the pre filter?
Carbon Air Filter Accessories
You may get one or several of the following accessories for your main steel filter + flange:
Pre filter (the material wrapped around the outside of the mesh/filter)
Elastic bands (to hold the pre-filter to the mesh)
Carbon/charcoal (goes inside the steel filter)
Inline fan
Ducting
Fan Speed Dial
Adjustable rope hangers to hang your grow lights
Humidity monitor
You may also choose to get a grow tent and growing light system if you don’t have one yet
Tips For Choosing/Buying A Carbon Air Filter
Considering that a carbon air filter (carbon/charcoal air filters) is just a metal device with charcoal inside it – there is a lot to consider when it comes to choosing one.
Among the decisions you’ll make are what you use it for, the size filter you get, constructionm what extras you want/accessories, airflow + more.
We’ve put together a full list below to save you time researching, but also so that you don’t have any surprises when your filter arrives or when you use it.
1. Decide what you want to use it for, and check the brand of filter you want is designed for your use
Air filters are used for a range of different activities that involve cleaning the air of chemicals or smells.
For example, you might use one or several for:
Your home when cleaning general odors
In your house for ridding cigarette smoke
In or outside a grow room – as an intake filter or exhaust filter – usually with ducting and a fan
For a plant or gardening related tent or box
In a workshop for ridding paint, welding and solvents type air and smell
In a curing/drying room
In a chemical room of any description
At work in some capacity
Whatever you want to use your carbon air filter for, make sure the product/manufacturer’s instructions mention this use as acceptable.
If a particular activity or use if outlined, pay attention to how the manufacturer advises the filter can be used in that scenario.
2. Check out the brand history, and how the filter is packed and delivered
There are probably a handful of reputable carbon air filter brands – which you can check out here.
The other could be quick start ups that might not be able to offer you the technical or customer support that you require, or they could have a sub quality product.
Make sure whatever brand you buy from, that you try to check out their delivery history, as the last thing you want is a filter that arrives damaged, or with stains everywhere from charcoal that hasn’t been packed properly.
3. Pick a size, and check the CFM ratings compared to your air space you want to purify
Good carbon air filters come in a range of sizes – each with different dimensions and air volume capacities.
The two main dimensions you want to check for are:
The height and width of the main filter body
The width and depth of the flange
Additionally, look at the stated CFM (cubic feet of air per minute that can be absorbed by the filter), and compare it to the volume of air in the room, box, tent etc. that you want to filter.
4. Pick a kit and double check what is included
Standard inclusions in any kit should be the filter body, flange, pre-filters, and pre-filter elastics.
You should also get the carbon that goes inside the filter – and they should specify whether it is active carbon.
5. Pick your accessories and extras
Apart from the above inclusions, you might also choose to add some or all of the following accessories, but it depends what you need the filter for:
Inline fan
Ducting
Fan Speed Dial
Adjustable rope hangers to hang your grow lights
Humidity monitor
You may also choose to get a grow tent and growing light system if you don’t have one yet
6. Look at construction of the filter
Usually filters are made of aluminium which is very lightweight.
But, also check the flange and how it is fixed.
Some flanges are reversible – which means you can remove them and flip the filter body.
Others are riveted in place and you cannot flip the filter.
7. Check warranties, and how often you have to replace the filter itself, as well as the pre-filters
Check the following:
How long warranties for the filter are
The lifetime expectation of the filter
The lifetime expectation of pre-filters, and how often you should change them over (usually when they show signs of being dirty)
8. Check if professional installation is required
Some filters might require professional help to install.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions to see whether this is the case.
Best Carbon Air Filter: Resources
1. http://www.phreshfilter.com/
2. http://www.ventechproducts.com/
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