Activated Carbon Filters: Everything You Need to Know
If you’re thinking about improving your indoor air quality, you’ve likely come across activated carbon filters. These filters are known for capturing harmful gases, chemicals, and stubborn odors that can linger in your home. But how do they actually work, and how do they differ from other types of filters like HEPA?
In this guide, we’ll cover:
• What activated carbon filters are and how they work
• How they compare to HEPA filters
• Why replacing your carbon filter regularly is important
• How to choose the right air purifier with a carbon filter
By the end, you’ll understand how these filters can help create a healthier, fresher environment in your home.
What Are Activated Carbon Filters?
Think of activated carbon filters as:
• A highly porous material that acts like a sponge, trapping gases, chemicals, and odors
• A critical layer of defense for maintaining indoor air quality
• Designed to filter out harmful compounds through a process known as adsorption
Whether it’s volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cleaning products, lingering cooking smells, or fumes from fresh paint, activated carbon filters work to keep your air clean and fresh. If you’re concerned about what you can’t see but don’t want to breathe in, these filters are an essential part of your air purification system.
How Do Activated Carbon Filters Work?
Activated carbon filters work through a process called adsorption. Unlike HEPA filters, which physically trap particles like dust and pollen, carbon filters bind to gases on a molecular level. Here’s how it works:
1. Air passes through the carbon filter: As air moves through, pollutants in the form of gases and odors get pulled into the porous surface of the carbon.
2. Adsorption occurs: The carbon molecules bond with chemicals, VOCs, and gases, effectively removing them from the air. This process locks in pollutants, ensuring they can’t return to the air.
3. Continuous protection: Even if your air purifier is running at low speed or is off, the activated carbon continues to work. The filter interacts with the ambient air, keeping it free of harmful gases and smells.
This continuous operation makes carbon filters an invaluable tool for removing gases and odors. However, they don’t trap dust, pollen, or pet dander—this is where HEPA filters come into play. Jaspr air purifiers combine a HEPA filter with an activated carbon filter, providing comprehensive protection for your indoor air.
What Pollutants Do Activated Carbon Filters Capture?
Activated carbon filters are particularly effective at capturing the pollutants that pass through other filters like HEPA. Here’s what they handle best:
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Found in cleaning products, paints, and personal care items
• Gases: Fumes from cooking, chemical products, and household materials
• Odors: Lingering smells from food, mustiness due to moisture, and even smoke
By capturing these pollutants, activated carbon filters keep your air fresh and safe. They tackle the contaminants that other filters can’t handle.
Activated Carbon vs. HEPA Filters: What’s the Difference?
Both activated carbon and HEPA filters are essential for improving indoor air quality, but each has its own specialty:
Activated Carbon Filters
• Experts at capturing gases, chemicals, and odors.
• Work through adsorption, which chemically binds pollutants to the carbon surface.
• Are dense, which can sometimes restrict airflow if not well-designed.
HEPA Filters
• Masters at trapping solid particles like dust, pollen, pet dander, and mold spores.
• Physically trap particles by forcing air through a fine mesh.
• Essential for anyone dealing with allergies or asthma.
A top-tier air purifier, like Jaspr, includes both a HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter. This combination ensures that all types of pollutants—both particles and gases—are removed from your indoor air, creating a comprehensive air purification system.
Why You Must Replace Carbon Filters Regularly
One key point to remember: activated carbon filters must be replaced every six months, even if your air purifier isn’t heavily used. Here’s why:
• Continuous Adsorption: Even when your air purifier is off, the activated carbon continues to adsorb pollutants from the surrounding air.
• Saturation: Over time, the carbon becomes saturated with gases and chemicals, reducing its ability to absorb more pollutants.
If you don’t replace the carbon filter on schedule, you risk decreasing your air purifier’s effectiveness and leaving harmful chemicals and odors in your air. With Jaspr, replacing filters is straightforward—our carbon and HEPA filters are combined into a single, easy-to-change unit, making maintenance simple.
Choosing the Right Air Purifier with Activated Carbon
Not all air purifiers with carbon filters are created equal. Here’s what to look for when choosing the best one:
1. Size of the Carbon Layer
A thicker carbon layer might seem better, but it can slow airflow and reduce the purifier’s efficiency. Jaspr air purifiers balance carbon density with airflow, ensuring maximum efficiency without sacrificing air purification.
2. Filter Replacement Ease
Some purifiers require separate filter replacements, which can be time-consuming. Jaspr simplifies this by combining the carbon and HEPA filters into a single unit, making filter changes quick and easy.
3. Additional Filters
For complete air purification, you need both a carbon filter for gases and a HEPA filter for particulates. Jaspr includes both, giving you protection from gases, odors, dust, pollen, and more.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to improve your indoor air quality, activated carbon filters are a must-have for tackling gases, chemicals, and odors. However, their power is amplified when paired with a HEPA filter for a full spectrum of air purification.
That’s why Jaspr air purifiers are designed with both HEPA and activated carbon filters to give you the best of both worlds. With a thoughtfully designed purifier like Jaspr, you get cleaner, healthier air—without the hassle of complex maintenance. Remember to replace your carbon filters every six months to ensure continuous, effective protection.
FAQs
Do activated carbon filters remove dust or allergens?
No, activated carbon filters are designed to capture gases, chemicals, and odors, not solid particles like dust or pollen. For that, you need a HEPA filter, which is included in all Jaspr air purifiers.
How often should I replace an activated carbon filter?
Activated carbon filters should be replaced every six months, regardless of usage. Over time, the carbon becomes saturated with pollutants, reducing its ability to filter out gases and odors.
Can an activated carbon filter remove cigarette smoke or cooking odors?
Yes! Activated carbon filters are excellent at capturing odors from cigarette smoke, cooking, and other household activities by adsorbing the chemicals responsible for these smells.
Are all air purifiers with carbon filters the same?
No, the quality and density of the carbon layer can vary. Some purifiers pack in too much carbon, which restricts airflow. Jaspr balances carbon density and airflow for optimal performance.