Reusing Sebo Active Charcoal filters

[moojuiceuk]

My mum has an X4 pet and finds that after several months, the filter starts to smell a little doggy. The Carbon filter last a good 9 months before they need changing, but at nearly £20 a pop, I decided to economise a little (times are hard ya know).

Active charcoal / carbon granules can be found on Amazon and ebay for very little. They seem to be sold to the hydroponics market for air filters to help iliminate the "smells" from indoor growing activities. Not my thing, that's for sure.

Anyway, a 1KG box of granules turns up and we proceed to recondition the filters...

 

[moojuiceuk]

The outer white cover is held on with a cable tie like loop of plastic. This can be cut off. The white cover is then removed and washed in the sink and allowed to drip dry. With the white cover off, this is what the cylinder looks like.

 

[moojuiceuk]

Once the grey cap on the top is removed, the carbon granules need to be tapped out of the filter into the bin. You'll see inside that there is a fabric filter inside the tube. I couldn't remove this filter and decided to not wash this one as it didn't smell doggy.

 

[moojuiceuk]

Once empty, new activated carbon granules can be carefully poured into the tube. I found spooning it in with an old table spoon helped, tapping the tube every spoonful to get the carbon granules down to the bottom. Once the tube is full, replace the grey cap and slide the washed (and dried) white sock over the tube.

 

[moojuiceuk]

Secure the white sock in place with a cable tie and it's all done. So far the filter doesn't smell and the performance of the machine is the same as a new filter and new paper bag. Hopefully I can get at least two refills for every filter which should keep the costs down. I've also found that the exhaust motor filter is washable in cool water, so using that again saves a few pennies too

 

[madaboutsebo]

Interesting tip!

Has your mum tried the new synthetic bags for the X Series? Not that I'm saying they resolve or will resolved the doggy smells.

 

[moojuiceuk]

We haven't tried the new synthetic bags yet. Still on the old paper ones. If John Lewis stick them on promotion, she might pick them up.

 

[madaboutsebo]

That's what I did with my SEBO Felix finish the paper ones first. I don't think they are much more money pound or so more but you get 2 less, 8 instead of 10 I think. I'm finding they last slightly longer the synthetic bags I'm using in my Felix. They compact the dust and dirt even more than the paper ones. Airflow is improved too.

 

[sebo_fan]

Handy to know! Before SEBO added that charcoal filter to the X range, I just used to fill the bag with a tablespoon of carbon granules and soda powder.

Im still on the Ultra synthetic dust bag in my X1 too. It is very nearly full with one quarter at the top "down the side" where there is still space in the bag for dust. Im testing this bag to see how far it will go. It is doing rather well!

 

[madaboutsebo]

Be interesting to see how you get on with the Ultra Synthetic bag in your X1 sebo_fan, like you say see how far it goes! I'm on my second one on my Felix coming up to 3 months, might not last the 5 months like the first one but I think that is because I've been using my Felix a bit more than normal!

 

[spiraclean]

The X series white filter sleeves do wash up quite well. Probably not recommended of course, but it can be done if you find yourself in a pinch. I once soaked mine in a warm solution of biological washing powder - no agitation needed - rinsed it out, and it came up looking like new. Bought me a little more time until I could locate somewhere nearby that had replacements in stock.

I have also seen generic sleeves made of the same material, that you use with the cylindrical frame from your existing filter. To be honest they appeared to be of no better or worse quality than the originals, the only time I would advise against having one in your machine would be when sending it in for a warranty repair.

 

[sebo_fan]

Im not really surprised. Both the ones fitted to my K3 and Felix (synthetic) last a lot longer than the paper ones. I have loads of paper bags for the X series though and only one paper bag left for the K series - the rest are all synthetic.