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Can I Use BBQ Charcoal To Filter Water / Air?

Charcoal specific to filtration purposes is called Air, Water, or Vapor phase carbon. They are manufactured in a precise manner to achieve the desired application.

Charcoal made for water purification is ‘activated’.

But in a pinch, you can use BBQ lump charcoal (not briquettes as they may have binders and chemicals). And here is how you can do it.

How to make an Improvised Charcoal Water Filter:

  1. Use charcoal from a reputable source
  2. Crush your charcoal into small bits, from powder up to the size of aquarium gravel.
  3. Use a tall cylindrical container (taller is better than wider) and punch some small holes at the bottom.

You can pour water at the top, and the purified water will come out the bottom. Don’t make the holes too big, you want the water to spend as much time as possible with the charcoal to filter the water.

Below is a list of fireplace and grill stores that service Ohio (OH)

Erlanger, KY

TateBuilder's Supply, LLC
3511 Dixie Highway
Erlanger, KY 41018

TateBuilder's Supply, LLC LogoVisit Store Page

Canfield, OH

Youngstown Propane, Inc.
4445 Boardman-Canfield Rd.
Canfield, OH 44406

Youngstown Propane, Inc. LogoVisit Store Page

Columbus, OH

Blackburns Chimney Sweeps
4644 Kenny Road
Columbus, OH 43220

Columbus, OH

Aspen Fireplace & Patio
5156 Sinclair Rd.
Columbus, OH 43229

Aspen Fireplace & Patio LogoVisit Store Page

North Canton, OH

Custom Fireplace Shop
5537 Whipple Ave NW
North Canton, OH 44720

Custom Fireplace Shop LogoVisit Store Page

North Ridgeville, OH

Heat Exchange Hearth & Patio Shoppe
34205 Lorain Road
North Ridgeville, OH 44039

Heat Exchange Hearth & Patio Shoppe LogoVisit Store Page

North Royalton, OH

Country Stove Co.
6669 Royalton Road
North Royalton, OH 44133

Country Stove Co. LogoVisit Store Page

Painesville, OH

American Home and Energy Products Inc.
1270 Mentor Ave
Painesville, OH 44077

St. Henry, OH

Buschur's Refrigeration, Inc.
541 N Eastern Avenue
St. Henry, OH 45883

Buschur's Refrigeration, Inc. LogoVisit Store Page
For more information, contact your local fireplace and grill store.
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2 comments

Written by

As a young child, Bert was fascinated with anything with a flame. Eventually, his interest was productively focused on cooking and eventually joining the Hearth, Patio and BBQ industry. Once known to own a ‘fleet’ of grills and BBQ, Bert loves to experiment with food and flavours. This led him to research the ‘science’ of food and forever seeking the best methods to satisfy his hungry and discerning guests. He also writes blogs on all things BBQ. Bert now lives in Asia where he pushes the limits of meatless BBQ (Slow smoked on mango wood BBQ’d Jackfruit with durian chutney anyone?). He hopes you will join him in his journey.

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2 Responses

  1. Stu Mack
    How can I tell if it's brisquette charcoal if it's already out of bag. Is that possible?
    Reply
    December 7, 2023
    • Joseph Bodden
      Hello Stu: Charcoal briquettes are manufactured from wood by-products. Briquettes have been compressed and contain binders and chemicals that assist with lighting and burning consistently. As a result of this process, briquettes are all uniform in size; like sort of a pillow shape. The size of lump charcoal is not consistent. It varies in size and shape. As the article said, in a pinch lump charcoal can be used to filter water or air.
      Reply
      December 14, 2023

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