Carbon air filters can dramatically improve indoor air quality in your home. activated carbon filtration has been used for thousands of years. People have used charcoal for a long time to clean things. When making bronze, they used it to get rid of dirty stuff. In Ancient Egypt, they used it to remove bad smells from infections. Later, from the 16th to 18th centuries, sailors put charcoal in barrels to keep their drinking water fresh during long trips.
How Carbon Filters Work
These air filters primarily remove gases using a bed of activated carbon. Molecules are trapped via adsorption, which is when they attach to the outside of a surface. Higher porosity carbon has increased surface area that contaminants can stick to as air moves through the filter. Once air has passed through the filter and back into the room, it has been purified and is safe to breathe.
Why Use a Carbon Air Filter?
There are many advantages to using activated carbon filters. They are often the preferred method of indoor air filtration because:
- Volatile Organic Compounds Are Removed: These include ozone, chlorinated compounds, cigarette smoke, gases from cleaning products or paint, and chemicals like benzene, toluene, and xylene.
- Odors Can Be Eliminated: Regular air cleaners only filter out tiny bits. They can’t remove smells, but carbon filters can because they’re made to take out smell-causing bits from the air and your heating & air conditioning system.
- They Are Safe to Use: Carbon air filters are completely safe for cleaning air, water, or gas. They’re even used in space suits to keep air clean. Activated carbon is also used in medicine, makeup, nature protection, and farming.
- Activated Carbon Can Be Used in Many Ways: It can help clean organic molecules and chemicals in science, help clean up spills, and can catch mercury gas if mixed with special stuff. You might even have activated carbon in your toothpaste, shampoo, or face mask.
- There Are Different Types of Activated Carbon: It comes in the form of Granular Activated Carbon (GAC), Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC), or Extruded Activated Carbon (EAC) in cylindrical or spherical pieces. Impregnated carbon contains silver, iodine, or other inorganic materials, while woven carbon forms fibers to create cloth materials. Polymer activated carbon is coated with a biocompatible substance that creates a smooth, permeable membrane to keep its pores open.
- Carbon Filters Can Last a Long Time: They generally last three to six months, but longevity depends on the amount of carbon used. Thicker filters tend to last longer. Some heavy-duty products can last as long as five years.
Are Activated Carbon Filters Always the Best Option?
Carbon air filters do have limitations. They cannot trap allergens or remove bacteria or viruses. If you’re looking for something that reduces pet dander or traps fine particulates, installing a HEPA filter on your air purifier can help. It can work together with a carbon filter to improve indoor air quality in different ways. Activated carbon filters can also remove formaldehyde, compounds from building materials released during home renovations, and smoke and odors from wildfires, however.
Service Today Can Help with Air Filtration
Activated carbon filters can improve indoor air quality in your home plus contribute to improved heating & air conditioning system performance and efficiency. Their use can lead to improvements in comfort and reduced particle contamination in A/C and heating equipment, ductwork, and your air, so you can see improvements in health while fewer repairs can save you money. To learn more or request service, call (888) 586-2135 today!