AC Infinity Fan/Filter Not Containing Odor

[RottyRzr]

I have a AC Infinity S6 fan and their 6" carbon filter in a 4x2 tent. I bought these new in June '21 to control the odor from a grow in my house. Up until about 2 weeks ago this combo worked well but now our house smells like skunk! There is only one plant in there, a Super OG Kush that is in week 7 flower. I topped early on and am using a scrog net so the one plant has this 4x2 completely filled.
Our mail carrier told me that she could smell it outside the house with the windows and doors closed! I guess my question is shouldn't the carbon filter still be working after only ~4 months? If not, this seems like a waste of money for not working any longer than this.
In case anyone wants to know, the filter is inside the tent and the fan exhausts inside the room with the tent. Since this room is on the front of the house I cant vent it outside.

 

[.Smoke]

A single filter will not remove 100% of the smell.
The easiest fix for this is to buy another filter and install it on the exhaust. I've run mine this way for 2+ years without changing filters. Still 0 smell.

 

[V256.420]

You are pulling 402 cfm thru a 410 cfm filter on a single pass thru. In order to stop the smell better you need double the cfm of your filter compared to your fan. The air is not "staying" long enough as it passes thru the charcoal.

So either do as Smoke said and get another 400 cfm filter or next time buy the 700 to 800 cfm filter for a single pass.

I use a 440 cfm fan on top of a 750 cfm filter. They still die fast but at least I get 1 to 2 years out of them.

 

[TintEastwood]

More difficult given your tent size.

Ideally...
Run an additional stand-alone fan/filter - scrubbing the odor inside the grow space 24/7.

Then even when you open tent door - virtually no odor wafting thru the house.

 

[RottyRzr]

A single filter will not remove 100% of the smell.
The easiest fix for this is to buy another filter and install it on the exhaust. I've run mine this way for 2+ years without changing filters. Still 0 smell.

Good idea. I actually thought about that but I guess I assumed it might be too much restriction on the fan motor.

You are pulling 402 cfm thru a 410 cfm filter on a single pass thru. In order to stop the smell better you need double the cfm of your filter compared to your fan. The air is not "staying" long enough as it passes thru the charcoal.

So either do as Smoke said and get another 400 cfm filter or next time buy the 700 to 800 cfm filter for a single pass.

I use a 440 cfm fan on top of a 750 cfm filter. They still die fast but at least I get 1 to 2 years out of them.

Thanks. I may buy another 400 cfm, like Smoke suggested, for now since the filter I have is so new. Then step up like you said.

More difficult given your tent size.

Ideally...
Run an additional stand-alone fan/filter - scrubbing the odor inside the grow space 24/7.

Then even when you open tent door - virtually no odor wafting thru the house.

View attachment 5000904

Yeah, the tent is full. What kind of stand alone fan/filter are you talking about?

 

[Three Berries]

I wonder how well electrostatic filters would work? They are pretty good at eliminating household orders and smoke, grease etc

 

[TintEastwood]

What kind of stand alone fan/filter are you talking about?

See the example pic in my previous post

 

[ComputerSaysNo]

You should easily be able to scrub the air from a 4x2 with a filter that size. If you cannot turn the fan down, get another filter on the exhaust side (as others have suggested). There should hardly be any smell on the exhaust. If you push the air through the filter too quickly, there won't be enough time for the coal to adsorp the odors.

 

[RottyRzr]

See the example pic in my previous post

I missed the pic first time around. Thanks for the idea.

You should easily be able to scrub the air from a 4x2 with a filter that size. If you cannot turn the fan down, get another filter on the exhaust side (as others have suggested). There should hardly be any smell on the exhaust. If you push the air through the filter too quickly, there won't be enough time for the coal to adsorp the odors.

The fan IS turned all the way down.

 

[ComputerSaysNo]

The fan IS turned all the way down.

I would get a smaller fan, then. Your tent has ~50 ft³, and your fan is pushing 8 times that per minute (at least 4 times if you factor in losses from ducting, filter etc.). One exchange per minute should be plenty.

 

[RottyRzr]

More difficult given your tent size.

Ideally...
Run an additional stand-alone fan/filter - scrubbing the odor inside the grow space 24/7.

Then even when you open tent door - virtually no odor wafting thru the house.

View attachment 5000904

I ended up going this route. I had a 8" carbon filter/fan in a grow space in the basement that is not gonna be used this time of year due to cooler temps coming. I moved it upstairs to the current grow room and set it on the floor like in the pic and it is working great. The entire upstairs area is clear of skunk spray!
Thanks for the help.

 

[Redeyes82]

I have a AC Infinity S6 fan and their 6" carbon filter in a 4x2 tent. I bought these new in June '21 to control the odor from a grow in my house. Up until about 2 weeks ago this combo worked well but now our house smells like skunk! There is only one plant in there, a Super OG Kush that is in week 7 flower. I topped early on and am using a scrog net so the one plant has this 4x2 completely filled.
Our mail carrier told me that she could smell it outside the house with the windows and doors closed! I guess my question is shouldn't the carbon filter still be working after only ~4 months? If not, this seems like a waste of money for not working any longer than this.
In case anyone wants to know, the filter is inside the tent and the fan exhausts inside the room with the tent. Since this room is on the front of the house I cant vent it outside.

I use an 8” phresh filter with 8” ac infinity duct fan in a 4x4 tent and it kills all the smells with the fan at less than half speed. I have friends who don’t smoke and aren’t around it much and they cannot smell it when in the same room with the tent. It holds up all through flower. Very impressed and was no need for further measure to eliminate the smell. 4x4 was packed and produced a little over a pound and a half

 

[a2lute]

Dude, build a scrubber. It will change your life. I can only smell it a tiny bit when I walk inside now. Ozone generators are great for that last bit, but ya gotta be careful with those.

 

[RottyRzr]

Dude, build a scrubber. It will change your life. I can only smell it a tiny bit when I walk inside now. Ozone generators are great for that last bit, but ya gotta be careful with those.

Have you built one? Got any links you recommend for plans?
Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[Three Berries]

Electrostatic filters are O3 generators.

 

[m4s73r]

High humidity in the tent will effect the filters ability to absorb odors.

 

[a2lute]

Have you built one? Got any links you recommend for plans?
Thanks for the recommendation.

Yeah it's simpler than you think.

Take this fan : https://www.amazon.com/AC-Infinity-CLOUDLINE-S6-Controller/dp/B07FPFVZTZ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=S6+fan&qid=1634048689&sr=8-1

Stick it into this : https://www.amazon.com/Phat-IGSPF246-Filter-inches-Gray/dp/B083FKZBQR/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=6"+x+24"+carbon+filter&qid=1634048742&sr=8-6

drawing air through the filter, blowing straight up. Just plug it in, leave it in the room. You don't necissarily need that exact fan and filter, but I like how quiet it is.

 

[insulintype1]

A single filter will not remove 100% of the smell.
The easiest fix for this is to buy another filter and install it on the exhaust. I've run mine this way for 2+ years without changing filters. Still 0 smell.

Why is this not suggested more often?

I'm venting in the same room with some pretty skunk funk indica's in my tent and my carbon filter was struggling to contain the smell.. checked leaks, checked venting etc.. but still could get hints.. finally threw a second carbon filter on the outtake and poof no smell.

Also tried a scrubber in the tent.. but I think Carbon filters on both ends works better.

 

[CWF]

I vent a 4'x6'x8' closet outside thru a filter - 6" fan - 6"duct - into a dryer vent. I don't want neighbors smelling funk outside. I went way oversize on the filter (Phat brand), and run the fan low and steady. It's so humid here the filters only last a year. Good insurance costs more.

 

[Psyphish]

I have a small fan and a big filter (280m3/h hooked up to a 900~m3/h filter), plus a 350m3/h fan and a 600~m3/h filter sitting outside the tent next to the exhaust just in case the weather gets humid and the filter starts struggling. It's really difficult to keep ALL smells at bay with just one filter. I also check for leaks often, they start off small and you might not notice until it's too late. If all else fails I have some Ona gel that I can pop open while I hunt for a fresh filter.