Activated carbon has special properties that enable it to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odors, and other gaseous pollutants from the air. It does this in a different way than other air purifiers, such as HEPA, which only filter particulate pollution from the air. But do people really need carbon? Purification companies have a financial incentive to convince people to buy carbon filters, as they make more money if they can scare people into buying them. But do people really need carbon? The answer is yes.
Carbon is effective in capturing gas pollutants, not just particulate pollution. This was proven when Anna accidentally forgot to connect the HEPA and unknowingly performed a regular test in the carbon-only particle room. Charcoal is labeled “activated” because it is treated with chemicals and heat, which gives it very good odor control properties. The carbon air filter may cost more than the particulate filter that does not have carbon.
However, if you drive frequently in slow traffic or encounter strong odors while driving, the investment in a carbon cabin air filter could be worthwhile. Odors are another airborne pollutant that activated carbon filters can help eradicate from indoor airspace. Other air purifiers, such as mechanical air cleaners, can only filter particles and not odors from the air. So, that's why carbon filters are the ideal choice for removing odors and odors from the air.
Using carbon air filters in your HVAC system or in your air cleaner has two major drawbacks. While traditional air filters have been the most common type of air filter on the market for a long time, carbon air filters are becoming a popular choice for people who have additional concerns about air quality and purification. In addition, many manufacturers also use this chemical additive in carbon filters to help provide the filter with a longer filter life for those customers who do not want to change their filters more frequently. If you have a newer HVAC system that can provide excellent airflow, carbon air filters make a lot more sense. An incorrect air filter could do little to improve air quality and could even damage your HVAC system.
Below, we've broken down charcoal air filters and traditional air filters into a comprehensive Q&A, so you know the key differences between the two and what type of air filter is best for your home. Sometimes, these activated carbons are also impregnated with a chemical, potassium permanganate, which improves the ability of carbon air filters to filter specific contaminants and collect them on the filter surface. Coupled with the ability to capture particulates also in the EnviroKlenz HVAC filter, this provides full spectrum coverage in your home air system with the added capacity of a longer lasting filter that can work effectively for 5 to 6 months in your air handling system. If you've ever tried to look for the best type of air filter for your home, you might have realized that there are a seemingly endless amount of home air filter options. The problem is determining the exact saturation point of your activated carbon air filter, and therefore the ambiguity around how long an activated carbon lasts in an air filter remains an unknown dilemma. Based on their observations on isopropanol filtration (another VOC present in gasoline and hydroalcoholic gel), CAF filters would be 26.8% less efficient than GAC filters. A charcoal air filter is a specialized household air filter that is designed to remove odors, gases, and chemicals from the air.
The charcoal air filter design allows it to filter gases through a bed of activated carbon and they are typically used to combat Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) released by common household products, such as cleaning supplies, new floors, and furniture. Unlike other air filtration technologies, carbon air filters work in a specific way to filter indoor air from pollutants, and this process is very different from other carbon competitors, such as ionization, ozone, and HEPA filtration. It's not uncommon for air purifiers to have what's called a 3-stage purification system with a traditional air cleaner, a carbon air filter, and a HEPA filter.
