Are carbon filters less effective after time?
On One Hand: For The Average Person, YesCarbon filters become less effective over time because the pores in the carbon get clogged with pollution. How long the carbon filter lasts depends on the type of filter used and the environment. A carbon filter mask, for example, lasts only about 20 to 30 hours in a heavily polluted environment, such as rush hour in Los Angeles, California.On the Other: Theoretically You Can Clean It for ReuseTheoretically, carbon filters can work forever because one would only need to clean out the pores in the carbon and reactivate it. To reactivate carbon, you would need to heat it up over 1,000 degrees Celsius and push steam through the pores.Bottom LineWhile you could keep cleaning out a carbon filter and reusing it, the average person would not have the know-how or the tools to accomplish this. In addition, it probably would not be financially feasible.
