Carbon filters emit carbon dust into your air.

Carbon 'can' cartridge filters are the best for removing odors and VOC gasses. However they can pollute your air with carbon dust. Using a HEPA filter after the carbon filter will remove any carbon dust.

[Andrew_Montreal]

Thank you for sharing this. I purchased a very expensive air purifier for the studio that included a very large carbon filter… as in somewhere over 40 lbs easily. The order of the filters is: pre-filter -> carbon filter -> mid-filter -> HEPA filter -> post-filter.

I started the unit today and in no time, the mid-filter had turned light gray. Clearly it was collecting carbon dust. I decided after a day to move that filter to the pre-filter position and move the pre-filter between the carbon and HEPA filters. The dust collecting of the mid-filter hasn’t been as drastic. I imagine most of the dust has been pushed out.

The whole affair got me wondering… why did I pay a large sum for a 9” deep HEPA filter if it seems to be primarily cleaning up the minute carbon particles that probably get passed the mid-filter.

Should I get rid of the carbon filter and simply get another HEPA filter?

[kbud]

I recently got a new carbon filter and they have heaps of loose dusty carbon in them getting sucked through, i have never had this problem before and have been through a few, usually I buy more expensive carbon filters than I did this time

[runcycleskixc]

A low-cost coarse media sleeve is usually enough to eliminate the particles dislodged. I have verified this with a laser particle counter (down to 0.3 micron). 3M Filtretes 1900 are sufficient as well, no need for a full HEPA. I would also look into cleaning up the clutter in the room, as the mattress is etc is excellent at trapping dust and serving as a giant dust sink.

[Lazereer]

Great Info here. I use a hakko HJ3100 hepa Fume Extractor for my Soldering. They Sell Active carbone version filters "Though almost double the price" But i had already bought a couple Just regular Hepa filters for it. So i have to use them. The problem i have is i still get a faint sent from the solder flux. I have added a couple Active carbon Filters "Not made for this model but they fit" and that seemed to help a bit. But i just got the idea to buy Active carbone and make my own Filter "pre filter if you want to call it that" and i was going to put it before and After the the hepa.

But iam glad i watched this and now will have to rework how i put it after the Hepa. Think iam just going to buy a Car Carbon Hepa Filter and rest the active carbone filter on top of it.

So Air comes in Hits the Active Carbon, Then hits the hepa filter then hits more active carbon the a small hepa before exit. Hopefully thats enough to catch the carbon Dust.

I dont have much room inside the Fume Extractor. Do you think thats overkill??? Was going to use about 1 inche thick worth of active carbon Pellets.

I also use a Coway Airmega 400 in the room too. "I actually love it" works great and has double filters both hepa and active carbon.

Any thoughts on this?

If you dont mind me asking why do you have so many filters?

[Runner]

You can use a pre-filter socket, made for the carbon filter size inside the filter itself to prevent dust particles. That will reduce the output a bit but will take care of the dust. Which is not harmful unless you are exposed to copious amounts, like activated carbon factory workers with no mask, still even for those workers the accumulation is mostly harmless

[MrStampy]

How long do those filter last you for odour elimination before you have to replace them?

[ashakabeta]

Mine had black gunk. It ended up being toxic black mold in the home. It's sticky until you kill it, then turns to black liquid. Nasty, deadly stuff... Very difficult to clean

[MattSmith]

Rick thank you I thought we were going crazy girlfriend has been coughing and I’ve felt like crap (smoker so no coughing in me just chest tightness and fatigue) and my ear wax had a black tint to it even since we got some winix 5500-2 one in living room and one in bedroom… google keeps trying to sell me new ones when I try to look it up. It’s been 2-3 weeks and I tried looking up instructions and all to see if I should wash the filters or anything first but don’t see anything even referencing this other than your video. It may make LA air cleaner but country air in allergens seems to give us black lung. If those are the options I’ll invest in benedryl.

[INFINITY]

It's suppose to be hepa 1st, but yes you need a low restriction furnace filter after the carbon filter.

[_JohnDo]

I wonder if you were able to wash the carbon (after it's bounced around in shipping) if it would still emit a noticable amount of dust.

Also curious what the average particle size of carbon dust is... as far as selecting the least restrictive post filter to catch most of it.

[samirhvac]

what about if you add removebal F9 filter between fan and Carbon Filter?

[bellalunafarms]

I bought a extra carbon filter sheet so it can trap the extra carbon that comes out I also clamped it down so it doesn’t blow off

[Diego-]

So Prefilter-->active carbon filter-->HEPA filter is better than Prefilter-->HEPA filter-->active carbon filter?
Please reply

[jkz]

Is there any video online showing that these carbon filters even do anything? I've looked and cant find any proof.

[OnlyTheKushest]

Cheap filters have cheap carbon. You always get what you pay for. Refill your filters yourself and you have a better chance of keeping all the powdery stuff out.

[roccomarando]

The carbon filter is small for that blower .

[Kinginallday]

They only release dust for a little bit after you turn it on, just don’t disturb it and it won’t shed dust

[ronaldspencer]

I think you need to use activated carbon for air scrubbers like purafil.