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How to Make an Activated Charcoal Air Purifier Yourself

Activated charcoal filters, which are also sometimes referred to as activated carbon filters, are used in several different ways. The most common is as a water filter, to filter out various impurities in drinking water. Activated charcoal is also useful as an air filter, however, to filter out impurities in your air supply. Making an activated charcoal air filter requires only a few supplies, and once constructed they can be quickly hooked up to a ventilation system to begin filtering air.

Things You'll Need

Activated carbon replacement filter
Roll of aluminum screening
Heavy-duty scissors
Measuring tape
1 duct connector
1 duct end cap
Duct tape
2 zip ties

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the activated carbon filter down to a size of about 8 inches wide and 48 inches long. A common size for some activated carbon air filter replacements is 16 inches by 48 inches, so in this case you would cut the carbon filter down the middle.
- 2
  Cut the aluminum screening so that it is 12 inches wide. Using alternative widths for the activated charcoal and aluminum screening is fine, but the screening should be 4 inches wider than the filter. The aluminum screen section should also be about 48 inches long.
- 3
  Wrap the aluminum screening, using the end cap and duct connector as the end pieces of the wrapping. The duct connector and end piece should be the appropriate size to connect to your ventilation system. Stop at least once per layer of wrapped aluminum screening and use duct tape to hold down the aluminum screening to both the end cap and the duct connector.
- 4
  Apply several wraps of duct tape to either end of the aluminum screen when done wrapping, to keep it in place.
- 5
  Wrap the activated carbon around the 8 inches of exposed aluminum screening.
- 6
  Attach one zip tie to either end of the wrapped carbon filter to hold it in place.
- 7
  Attach the filter to your ventilation system.

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