Carbon Filter quality improving??

[Airwalker16]

Just recently been checking the star ratings on Amazon for some of these MUCH CHEAPER off brand filters compared to the elite brads such as Phresh or Can, and am very surprised to see their ratings be just as high and often times EVEN HIGHER than the name brand filters we all know.
Have any of you here tried these off brand filters and been happy?
I just find it so hard to believe they're using the same stuff that does the job as Phresh and Can do for such a low price. But maybe they're just using their name brands to fist customers and the truth is really coming to light?
An input?

 

[Renfro]

I would take those ratings with a grain of salt. Most people don't know what they don't know. Maybe they wrote a review before they even hit late flower lol.

 

[Renfro]

It's one thing to think a filter performs well when you get it. How about 6 months or a year or even several years later?

Also, have they compared that to a Phresh or Phat? Don't know what they don't know. I was in that boat once, thought replacing a filter every 12 - 18 months was normal. Then I got the Phat filters and wow I was amazed at how well they scrubbed but I am still being amazed at how long they last.

I was chilling upstairs last night and I started smelling stank. I went downstairs and a dehumidifier I had moved tripped a breaker for fans and it had one of the two scrubbers for Room A plugged in. When that filter stopped the odor started creeping. Thats a 7 year old pair of Phat filters in that room.

 

[Airwalker16]

It's one thing to think a filter performs well when you get it. How about 6 months or a year or even several years later?

Also, have they compared that to a Phresh or Phat? Don't know what they don't know. I was in that boat once, thought replacing a filter every 12 - 18 months was normal. Then I got the Phat filters and wow I was amazed at how well they scrubbed but I am still being amazed at how long they last.

I was chilling upstairs last night and I started smelling stank. I went downstairs and a dehumidifier I had moved tripped a breaker for fans and it had one of the two scrubbers for Room A plugged in. When that filter stopped the odor started creeping. Thats a 7 year old pair of Phat filters in that room.

My experience with phat wasn't good. Phresh has been great.

 

[Renfro]

My experience with phat wasn't good. Phresh has been great.

Thats good to know. when did you get the Phat filters? Maybe they went south. I know that they both used to be the same company and the partners split up. Perhaps Phat started cutting corners?

 

[sandman83]

It's one thing to think a filter performs well when you get it. How about 6 months or a year or even several years later?

Also, have they compared that to a Phresh or Phat? Don't know what they don't know. I was in that boat once, thought replacing a filter every 12 - 18 months was normal. Then I got the Phat filters and wow I was amazed at how well they scrubbed but I am still being amazed at how long they last.

I was chilling upstairs last night and I started smelling stank. I went downstairs and a dehumidifier I had moved tripped a breaker for fans and it had one of the two scrubbers for Room A plugged in. When that filter stopped the odor started creeping. Thats a 7 year old pair of Phat filters in that room.

thats a heck of an endorsement. I won't know how well mine perform for a few more weeks, went ahead and oversized it but I got the cheaper one from HTG.

 

[Airwalker16]

Thats good to know. when did you get the Phat filters? Maybe they went south. I know that they both used to be the same company and the partners split up. Perhaps Phat started cutting corners?

I've never been able to find anything to back that up besides a post or two on here saying so. So I'm not sure it's true or not. But mine lasted about a year. 6"X18" bought from eBay. Was in original box and wrapping. But I think it was after they started manufacturing in China.

 

[Airwalker16]

thats a heck of an endorsement. I won't know how well mine perform for a few more weeks, went ahead and oversized it but I got the cheaper one from HTG.

You'll have to let us all know your experience and thoughts!!!

 

[sandman83]

You'll have to let us all know your experience and thoughts!!!

will do, its nothing at the moment, give the girls 3-4 more weeks and I'll have a decent test. Mine did not come with a prefilter though, how important are those? I had already figured it would need replacing in a year.

 

[Airwalker16]

will do, its nothing at the moment, give the girls 3-4 more weeks and I'll have a decent test. Mine did not come with a prefilter though, how9 important are those? I had already figured it would need replacing in a year.

They most definitely keep dirt and debris out of the thing cause it certainly gets diiiiiirty. Even kept inside tent at all time's.

 

[hillbill]

Active Air is another but hardly an off brand. Good filters, good fans.

 

[twalte]

I just bought a phat filter on Amazon. I’m tired of cheap Amazon filters that give out at the end of two grows. In their defense, I’m probably running more cfm (435 cfm) through the filters than they were built for.

I’m hoping the Phat filter quality is there as it was discounted fairly aggressively.

 

[hellmutt bones]

Got a phresh filter 3 years ago and its still kicking azz.
About 14 runs certified and still going.

 

[Renfro]

I won't know how well mine perform for a few more weeks

You will know the short term performance as soon as you hit peak stink during flower with it running. You will however have to wait to see how long it maintains that effectiveness. Definitely interested in how long it performs as I am always being asked to recommend an affordable carbon filter option and I figure if you have to replace something every 12 - 18 months then you save money by paying say 2x as much for one that will run for 6+ years. I like to date the filters when installed so I can see when I pull one out of service how long it lasted.

 

[diggs99]

im just about to replace my vivosun, its a cheapo, worked well enough for almost a year.

@Renfro your preference is phat over phresh? both seemed comparable price wise

 

[Renfro]

@Renfro your preference is phat over phresh? both seemed comparable price wise

My experience is they are both equal. @Airwalker16 had some thoughts in post 4 above. Perhaps Phat went down hill in 7 years since I bought mine?

 

[Renfro]

I just bought a phat filter on Amazon. I’m tired of cheap Amazon filters that give out at the end of two grows. In their defense, I’m probably running more cfm (435 cfm) through the filters than they were built for.

I’m hoping the Phat filter quality is there as it was discounted fairly aggressively.

Keep us posted. Date the filter when you put it in service so you can see how long it lasts. Hopefully it goes 7+ years like mine.

 

[Renfro]

Mine did not come with a prefilter though, how important are those?

very important. Otherwise dust plugs up the carbon and it's doneski prematurely. The cover you can take off and wash or replace.

 

[sandman83]

very important. Otherwise dust plugs up the carbon and it's doneski prematurely. The cover you can take off and wash or replace.

cool, I was gonna contact HTG anyways for some other stuff I'll see if I can get a replacement.

 

[twalte]

I’ve noticed a huge difference between the ipower filter weight (12 pounds) and the phat filter 500 cfm (25 pounds). Not sure if that’s the measure of “quality”, but it’s a substantially heavier filter. I look forward to seeing how many years I can get out of it.