
The Ultimate Guide to Carbon Filter Air Purifier: What You Need to Know (May 2025 update)
Alexander BevanShare
If you're battling stubborn odours, smoke, or chemical fumes at home, an air purifier with carbon filter in the UK is your secret weapon. But not all carbon filters are created equal—some barely last weeks, while others (like those in Morris purifiers) keep your air fresh for months.
This guide cuts through the confusion, answering:
✔ Is a carbon filter good for an air purifier? (Spoiler: Essential for odours!)
✔ Carbon filter vs. HEPA: Do you need both?
✔ What are the disadvantages of carbon filters?
✔ Real-user results.
Why Choose an Air Purifier with Carbon Filter in the UK?
Carbon filters excel where HEPA filters can’t:
What Does a Carbon Filter Do?
✔ Eliminates odours: Cooking smells, pet accidents, smoke
✔ Traps chemicals: VOCs from paints, cleaners, and new furniture
✔ Works with HEPA: Combines particle + gas removal
Some facts:
● Prolonged exposure to VOCs can cause headaches and dizziness, or they can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. In severe cases, long-term exposure to VOCs like benzene and formaldehyde has been linked to cancer.
● The study, "Modelling of an Air Cleaning Device With Activated Carbon Filter" revealed that an air purifier smoke remover fitted with a carbon filter significantly improves indoor air quality by reducing pollution from cigarette smoke.
"Our MOR-AP02 erased 2 years of dog smell in 48 hours. Guests now ask if we even have pets!" – Sarah, Manchester ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Do Carbon Filters Eliminate All Smells?
● Not completely: A carbon filter may struggle to remove all odours over time, depending on its size and quality.
● Efficiency boost: HEPA air purifiers with multiple fan speeds can increase airflow, enhancing odour removal.
● Replacement needed: Regularly change the carbon filter to maintain efficiency.
Carbon Filter vs. HEPA: Do You Need Both?
What’s Better: A HEPA or Carbon Filter?
Filter Type | Best For | Limitations |
---|---|---|
HEPA (H13) | Dust, pollen, mould | Doesn’t remove odours |
Carbon | Smoke, gases, chemicals | Doesn’t capture particles |
Verdict: For complete air cleaning, you need both—Choose a carbon filter air purifier from the Morris collection.
Are Carbon Filters as Good as HEPA Filters?
HEPA filters are generally more effective than carbon filters for cleaning the air in your home. HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. These filters can capture tiny airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns.
Air pollutants are categorised into three types:
● PM10: Particles 10 microns or smaller.
● PM2.5: Particles 2.5 microns or smaller.
● PM1: Particles 1 micron or smaller.
HEPA filters can remove various pollutants, including:
● Large particles: human hair (70 microns), pet hair (60 microns), sand (50 microns), pet dander (25 microns).
● Smaller particles: dust (5 microns), cigarette smoke (2.5 microns), mould spores (2 microns).
Medical-grade HEPA filters can remove these pollutants with 99.95% efficiency.
However, HEPA filters do not effectively filter out volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are responsible for unpleasant odours. For that, you still need a carbon filter.
Best Carbon Filter Air Purifiers in the UK
1. Morris MOR-AP01 (For Small Rooms)
✔ Carbon + HEPA H13 – Targets odours AND allergens
✔ Budget-friendly – Costs less than £1/month to run
✔ Compact size – Fits bedrooms/home offices
"I bought this for my vaping teenager’s room. No more stale smoke smells!" – Dave, Leeds ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Morris MOR-AP02 (For Large Spaces)
✔ Double-layer carbon – Handles heavy odours (pets, cigars)
✔ UV-C light – Kills odour-causing bacteria
✔ Whisper-quiet – 39dB sleep mode
"As a candle maker, my flat reeked of wax and fragrance oils. The MOR-AP02 carbon filter air purifier made it smell like a spa!" – Elena, London ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What Are the Disadvantages of Carbon Filters?
Require replacement: Every 6-12 months (Morris reminders help)
Not for particles: Must pair with HEPA (all Morris models do this)
Cheap filters fail fast: We use military-grade activated carbon
Pro Tip: For severe odours (litter boxes, smoke), choose the MOR-AP02 carbon filter air purifier.
FAQs
Is a Carbon Filter Good for an Air Purifier?
Yes, a carbon filter air purifier is effective in reducing unpleasant odours and gaseous pollutants. While it excels at neutralising smells, it's most effective when combined with a HEPA filter to capture particulate matter. Regular replacement of the carbon filter is essential to maintain its efficiency.
How Often Should You Replace Carbon Filters?
When to Change Carbon Filter?
● Light use: 12 months
● Heavy odours/smoke: 6 months (MOR-AP02 lasts longer)
Signs to replace:
✖ Persistent unpleasant odours
✖ Increased allergy or asthma symptoms
✖ Reduced airflow
✖ Blinking filter replacement light
Ready to Breathe Fresh Air?
Shop MOR-AP01 (Small rooms) | Shop MOR-AP02 (Large rooms)
Still unsure? We’re happy to help you! Feel free to write your questions in the comments below.

Alexander Bevan
This blog post writer is an authority on indoor climate solutions, with extensive experience helping homeowners and businesses save energy while enhancing air quality and comfort. His well-researched insights, rooted in technical expertise, enable readers to make informed decisions, ensuring reliable guidance for all their energy-saving needs at Morris.
4 comments
Hi Matthew,
Good afternoon, and thank you for your question! You can absolutely use a carbon filter air purifier in your kitchen without needing to extract air outside. These purifiers are designed to filter and recirculate the purified air back into the room, effectively reducing odors and pollutants. Just ensure the unit is appropriately sized for your kitchen to maximise its effectiveness. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!
Best,
Alexander
Hi Brian,
Thank you for sharing your experience with air purifiers. I understand how frustrating it can be when they don’t meet your expectations, especially for tackling tough odours like cooking and cigarette fumes. Morris purifiers are designed with advanced filtration systems H13, including high-quality carbon filters, to effectively reduce such smells. If you’re interested, I would be happy to help you find a model of carbon filter air purifier that suits your needs better!
Best,
Alexander
Good afternoon, just have a quick question about the carbon air filers, if I wanted to use one in my kitchen then do I need to use a hose to force the air that has been filtered outside, or can I just have the purified air pump back out into my kitchen as extracting outside will be difficult.
Many thanks
Matt
I have tried numerous Air purifiers to deal with cooking fumes and cigarette fume. Non of them did what they are supposed to do. A brand new Air purifier with with the carbon filters that are inadequate, which seem to be all of them, make matters worse because the smells etc go through the purifier at a higher fan speed which fills the rooms up faster with fumes