Hey!!
Has anyone here ever used filters from ventech or ipower? If so how were they? Trying to decide between spending 65$ on a phat filter or getting a ventech for 45. I'm leaning toward the phat but I thought I'd ask around and see if anyone has actually used the ventech or ipowers at all.
I use iPower scrubbers; I'd stack them up against Phat or any other manufacturer on the market. I've been running two large 6 inch scrubbers in my tents and they keep up provided the rest of your ventilation is adequate. I've actually done quite a bit of research on carbon scrubber/odor reduction methods; in my educational journey I've noticed a lot of the manufacturers use gimmicks to try to sell their scrubbers (like patented cyclone tornado design blah blah blah.)
The main difference between scrubbers (in my opinion) is really the type of activated carbon they use; some activated carbons absorb VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) better than others. All activated carbon should have the ability to adsorb odor causing molecules, but that ability depends on the size of the molecules, the size of the microvalleys in the carbon, environmental conditions such as temperature, etc etc.
I'd lean towards namvet's suggestion on the year to a year and half on the life span on the scrubber; usually after that time much of the carbon is spent and must be discarded and replaced. You can try to increase the longevity of your scrubbers by making sure you regularly wash your pre-filter (the white sock that usually slips over the outside of the filter,) as that holds a lot of larger micron particles like dust and dirt (which is great for your scrubber, not so great when it gets full and impedes air flow, which reduces the scrubber efficiency.) You can also occasionally take a hammer and smack the sides of your scrubber (not TOO hard now!) to help break up and move around some of the carbon inside of it to help expose more surface areas.
Most people do not have the equipment necessary to regenerate their own carbon (requires INTENSE heat, little Susie's Easy-Bake-Oven isn't going to do the job here
so once it's used up it's best to either find a secondary use for it or just throw it away and get new stuff.
I don't have a VenTech scrubber; but I do have one of their 8" centrifuge fans and it works very nice; very much the same build quality as something like Hydrofarm or maybe something a little more familiar.
I also use iPower light bulbs, ballasts, and cool tubes; so if you're looking for another opinion on the quality of their equipment; it's been holding strong for several years for me.
Hope that helps brother; good luck with your smelly adventure!
