DIY Carbon Filter for Portable A/C Exhaust?

**DenseBuds** · 08-12-2009, 05:53 PM

Has anyone ever created a carbon filter specifically to filter the exhaust from a portable A/C unit?

My unit vents out the back through a ~ 5" duct and out a window vent. We lit an incense and turned on the unit to gauge the smell outside and the entire side-yard of our house stunk like Nag Champa... not good! (I should mention here that we also use this room to smoke in daily, so it's not just the plant smell I'm trying to eliminate)

There are a ton of carbon filter threads here, and I've read a good amount of them... Before I started off building something from my own design, I figured I'd post this specific question in case someone knows of existing plans for this situation. Also am not sure how much I could restrict the airflow before the A/C began to fail.

Thx,
DB

**DenseBuds** · 08-17-2009, 10:55 PM

Bought some activated carbon fishtank filter pads today and a big container too. Going to cut pads to fit exhaust ducting first, then move to something more complex if that doesn't work.

**bniller** · 08-28-2009, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by DenseBuds

Bought some activated carbon fishtank filter pads today and a big container too. Going to cut pads to fit exhaust ducting first, then move to something more complex if that doesn't work.

How did that work out for you? I am working with similar conditions and would love to know if that worked out for you.

**DenseBuds** · 08-29-2009, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by bniller

How did that work out for you? I am working with similar conditions and would love to know if that worked out for you.

I'm moving slower than I thought on this.. probably because of low motivation due to the fact that nothing's ready to smoke quite yet

.

However, we also had a concern of sound leaking out to our neighbors (who knows wtf we're saying in there while we're loaded

) so I built a new window panel today with some insulating foam sandwiched in between plywood. It feels pretty solid so I'm hoping it does the trick.

Then I'm going to fit a "boot" onto it and run some insulated ducting from the boot to the exhaust outflow on the a/c unit. Once that's done, I imagine I'll be ready to fire it up for a test w/ just the replacement carbostat A/C filter. If that first pass doesn't get rid of the odor to our satisfaction, I'll break out the carbon pads and stuff them in the exhaust hose. If that still doesn't work, I'll fashion an in-line carbon filter of sorts by sealing some carbon in between screen and inserting it along with the pads.

Ordered the boot yesterday and I'm 3 weeks into flowering. From past experience, I'll probably want to pick a bud here or there in the next week or so.

Will update as I progress.

**ceasermix** · 03-26-2010, 09:44 PM

i have the same problem. iam wondering if one would add a 6' inline fan between the exhaust hose and filter{ scrubber } that should push the air out pretty good
so there is no back pressure and not over heat
What do u guys think?

**RMCG** · 05-06-2010, 09:26 AM

Exhaust from portable A/C's can be pretty humid. Humidity kills carbon filters.

**tulewerx** · 05-06-2010, 09:33 AM

I would put a moisture filter first. Use something cheap like cotton or rice. Then have the air pass through the carbon....

You can also use some dessicant air dryer pellets (available at most body supply shops)

**RMCG** · 05-08-2010, 02:01 PM

I would just use a ducted Ozone Filter. Works just fine in a hot/humid environment.

**itsthehaze** · 06-04-2010, 11:57 PM

I got the same prob. I think I know what I am going to do. I went and bought a carbon air filter pad from lowes, its in the air filter section and has a pic of a dog on the front of it, they also have another type but I saw it on there website so I dont know whats on the packaging. Any way, I folded it into several layers and placed it covering the intake of my 165 cfm fan and tested it by blowing smoke into it. No smoke left the other side and it didnt smell! Next I am going to put that filter in the back of the ac instead of using the filter that came with the ac.