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 Florida (FL)

Bradenton, FL

Inside Fire Solutions LLC
17708 Savory Mist Circle
Bradenton, FL 34211

Davie, FL

Evenings Delight
7080 SR 84
Davie, FL 33317

Davie, FL

Evenings DE-LIGHT
7080 SR 84
Davie, FL 33317

Destin, FL

Doodlebuggers Service Network
36054 Emerald Coast Parkway
Destin, FL 32541

Doodlebuggers Service Network LogoVisit Store Page

Green Cove Springs, FL

Premier Specialty Service
3293 US HWY 17
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043

Premier Specialty Service LogoVisit Store Page

Miami, FL

Evenings DE-LIGHT
9621 S. Dixie Highway
Miami, FL 33156

Orlando, FL

Fireplace and Gas Services, Inc
3975 Forrestal Avenue Suite100
Orlando, FL 32806

Pensacola, FL

Doodlebuggers Service Network
7555 High 98 W.
Pensacola, FL 32506

Pinecrest, FL

Evenings Delight
9621 S Dixie Hwy,
Pinecrest, FL 33156

Sarasota, FL

Inside Fire Solutions LLC
4339 Sawyer Rd
Sarasota, FL 34233


For more information, contact your local fireplace and grill store.

2 Responses

  1. Stu Mack
    How can I tell if it's brisquette charcoal if it's already out of bag. Is that possible?
    • 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.

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