How Long Does A Carbon Filter Last In A Grow Room?

Grow tent becomes such a source of annoyance when it starts to push the plant smells outside. You might use a carbon filter for that, but sometimes it can get saturated and you need to change the activated carbon, or the entire filter itself.

In a broad sense, carbon filters are needed to be changed after 18–24 months of regular(24/7) use. In less demanding situations, they can last up to 4 years. However, this lifetime depends on the carbon quality, usage, humidity, plant types, etc.

How Grow Carbon Filters work?

I know, you’ve not come here to read about how carbon filters work. But before we dive deep into the discussion on ‘When to change carbon filter grow tent?’, you should understand the way a carbon filter loses its workability.

Carbon filters are full of activated carbon(charcoal), and they are full of pores. The organic particles that contain the smell of grow plants are attracted to these carbons while passing through the filter.

So, the particles get bound onto those pores, and no smell can go out and hit the receptors in your nose.

Now, these spots where the organic particles are trapped, are called binding sites. And it’s limited in an amount in the carbon filter. The amount depends on the size of the filter, the mass of the activated carbon, and the particle size of the charcoal as well.

Anyway, whenever the binding sites are not available anymore, it demands a new set of activated carbon.

When is the Right Time to Replace Your Carbon Filter?

Its use will highly determine the durability of your carbon filter. The volume and the quality of air cleaned will have a direct effect on the durability of your filter. When is the Right Time to Replace Your Carbon Filter

In simple terms, if your grow room emits much odour, the carbon filter will have a shorter lifespan. On the other hand, grow rooms emitting lesser odours will tent to serve you for a long period.

Also, installing a small carbon filter on a large grow room will damage it quickly.

There is no set lifespan for the carbon filters. They all need to be replaced at the point when they stop working effectively. And we have said this will be determined by how you use your filter.

Change the carbon filter to the point where it stops functioning as expected.

How to Know the Right Time to Change Your Carbon Filter? 

No indicator will show you it's time to change the carbon filter. But you can consider doing the following things to test and determine whether its time to change your carbon filter.

Smell the Active Carbon

Smelling is the best test you will have for your carbon filter. Smell whether the active carbon. Compare its smell to that of unused activated carbon.

This should be done after 3–4 months of installation.

The moment you won’t sense the smell of fresh carbon from your filter, its time to replace it. This is a sign that the active carbon is fully used and it can’t be used anymore.

Smell the Air Coming Through Your Carbon Filter

One symptom that will show that your carbon filter needs to be replaced is a bad odour coming through the filter.

The main purpose of the filter is to clean the air from your grow room before it is emitted into the atmosphere. And if the filter stops performing this purpose, then it’s important to replace it with another effective filter.

So, over time pay attention to the smell of the air coming through the filter. Compare it with the smell inside your grow room. If these two odours are the same, it's time to replace the filter.

The air coming from your filter should be fresh and odourless. If you had used some chemicals in your grow room and you can smell the chemical, it means the filter is not working.

At this point, replace the filter.

Get a Skilled or Experienced Person Inspect the Filter for You

If it’s your first time having a carbon filter you might have difficulties noticing when the filter needs to be replaced. At this point, you can easily rely on the help of someone else.

If you know someone who has been using their carbon filter for a long time, you can consult them. Let them inspect your filter. Someone who has had their filter replaced will be able to identify the need to replace another filter.

Alternative, you can consult an agricultural officer.

Find someone you can trust to inspect and smell your carbon filter. And once you find out that the filter needs replacing, go ahead and replace them immediately. Don’t wait until it's too late.

What Are The Factors Affecting The Lifespan Of The Carbon Filters?

The carbon filter will continue to deliver effective results until the filter media becomes full. There are various considerations affecting the longevity of the carbon filter. Certain factors may include the following but are not limited to; quality of carbon used, level of humidity, filtration demand, nature of the cultivars, and many other contributing elements within your plantation area.

Carbon Quality
The carbon filter depends on the carbon material itself to purify the air. Thus, the form and type you opt to use will have a direct correlation to its effectiveness.

Pelletized carbon. There are different types of carbon available in the market but not all are as efficient for the adsorption of contaminants. In this project, the activated carbon is widely known to be the most effective for this job.

There are two types used for air filters, the Pelletized and the Granulated activated carbon.

granulated activated carbon. The pelletized carbon comes denser and more uniform in shape. Thus, it is heavier and comes with lesser pores. The granulated activated carbon, on the other hand, appears as a loose grain measuring up to 3mm in size. It is lighter in density. Hence, it is more capable of covering more surface area per gram than the pelletized version.

Carbon Density
Another important physical property to look out for is the actual density of the carbon. The idea here is that the lighter the density, the more pores it will have. Thus, the better is the capacity of the carbon to adsorb.

The typical carbons available have a density that ranges from 30 to 60 grams per cubic centimeter. Denser carbon tends to have narrower pores. It leaves with a lesser room to accommodate filtrates. The limitation in space makes it more prone to clogging than diminishes the lifespan of the filter.

Meanwhile, carbon with lighter density features wider pores. The structure is spacious enough for small and large particulates to get trapped inside the carbon. On that note, this is more ideal for filtration purposes.

Humidity
One drawback of activated carbon is its decreased efficiency of air purification. When exposed to a very humid environment, it doesn’t purify the air well. That is because charcoal has tendencies to draw in moisture. Given that scenario, the carbon’s pores are filled with more water. Instead of trapping the airborne contaminants and any untoward odor.

In case your grow room has high humidity, then it may be best to get a dehumidifier. This will help in controlling the excessive moisture in the atmosphere. In that way, the function of the activated carbon to air decontamination and odor management is not disrupted.

Filtration demand
The nature of the cultivars themselves also helps to determine how often will you need to replace your carbon filter. For instance, it is normal for aromatic plants to release more compounds into the air. As a result, the carbon filter is expected to get filled up fast and needs more frequent changes.

Conclusion

Without a shadow of a doubt, the importance of a carbon filter is indispensable in creating a conducive setup in a grow room. Hence, it is necessary to maintain it in its most favorable condition. It helps to continue to reap the expected benefits.

In reality, there is no exact time frame for when or how long will the carbon filter last. There are way too many variables that might affect its longevity along the way. Recommendations from the brand may be a good basis. Yet, in the end, it is still best to stay sharp and trust your sense of smell.