My Carbon Filters Keep Slacking On Me!

[RookieJuana]

Okay so you know how when your carbon filter and fan are hooked up properly, it could almost suck the tent off its frame, or otherwise known as negative pressure? Well after about 4 weeks, that negative pressure ceases and the tent balloons out and smell comes out of the tent because the carbon scrubber isn't sucking. I kept replacing the carbon filters every month or so because they quit on me. I did this several times until I told myself that these scrubbers MUST last longer than a month, when I hear of other growers talk of replacing their's after a year or longer. So I did some research and found a way to fix this. I always take the carbon filter off, spray it down with a hose and let it dry overnight and completely with fans blowing directly on it. When I hook it back up, bam, the tent walls are almost being sucked off the frame again! Why do I have to keep rinsing my scrubber off? They're new! I'm falling into this expensive cycle where I buy a new carbon filter, use it for a month, clean it, clean it, clean it, buy a new one and repeat. What could possibly be going on?! Thanks for your time!!

 

[BluPitt]

What type of carbon filter are you using. I got a 6 inch vivosun off of Amazon that’s worked for me from the beginning. Perhaps it’s your fan that’s giving out?

 

[BobbyZ]

Possibly packed to tight. Or you could possibly need to shut it off and then back on to let the carbon readjust and refill areas. Crappy fan, bad seal...
I've never considered washing one. How's that work?

 

[RookieJuana]

What type of carbon filter are you using. I got a 6 inch vivosun off of Amazon that’s worked for me from the beginning. Perhaps it’s your fan that’s giving out?

HydroCrunch, vivosun, different brand from Ebay. 6in. The fan itself is fine. I took the filter off and closed the tent with just the fan running and it sucks the tent off its frame. The fan is definitely good! Hmmmmm.

 

[BluPitt]

Try a new filter, I know amazon has their 30 return policy for vivosun.

 

[RookieJuana]

Possibly packed to tight. Or you could possibly need to shut it off and then back on to let the carbon readjust and refill areas. Crappy fan, bad seal...
I've never considered washing one. How's that work?

Get a hose or find a shower with a jet or high pressure sprayer hose. Spray it really well inside and out. Let it dry out very well, overnight with fan blowing on it. I've done it several times. It does work. But I mean, I'll get one brand new and put it right in and STILL they quit on me. It's not like the rinsing is what preventing them from working because I don't rinse them off UNTIL they stop working. Then spraying them down gives them life again.

 

[RookieJuana]

I keep thinking it's too humid but even that doesn't make sense when other growers are using their humidifier and scrubber at the same time and it's not like I have them sitting side by side......

 

[TurboBucket]

If your using an ultrasonic humidifier with hard water it will leave a very fine dust on the surface of everything. This can and will plug up a carbon filter.

 

[RookieJuana]

Aaaahhhh....there does look to be an ultra fine layer of white dust, sometimes. Hmmmm.... Hey, THANKS!!

 

[George Mc]

If your using an ultrasonic humidifier with hard water it will leave a very fine dust on the surface of everything. This can and will plug up a carbon filter.

I too am on well water and I noticed that same thing. I opened up my LED grow light and took an air compressor and blew out all the white dust which I'm assuming is some kind of calcium from using humidifiers in the tent with well water. My filters came with a cloth pre-filter which I should wash every 30 days if I'm using well water in a humidifier.