Con-Air Industries and The Clorox Company have announced a new line of MERV 8 carbon air filters for residential HVAC systems, expanding an existing licensing partnership between Con-Air - part of the Filtration Group family of companies - and one of the most recognized names in household cleaning. The new Clorox MERV 8 Carbon Air Filter combines MERV 8 pleated media for capturing dust, pollen, lint, and pet dander with integrated activated carbon technology for household odor reduction. It's designed for standard residential HVAC systems, rated for up to 90 days of performance, and built with electrostatically charged synthetic media, a reinforced frame, and wire-backed support.
In This Article...
- What the New Clorox MERV 8 Carbon Filter Actually Does
- The Con-Air and Clorox Partnership
- Why MERV 8 with Carbon Makes Sense for Most Homes
- Product Specs at a Glance
- What Dan Stack Said
- Frequently Asked Questions
What the New Clorox MERV 8 Carbon Filter Actually Does
The headline feature here is dual-action filtration. Most standard MERV 8 air filters do one job well: they catch particles. Dust, pollen, lint, pet dander - the physical stuff floating around your home. That's it. They don't do anything about the smell of last night's fish dinner or the lingering odor from your dog's bed.
The new Clorox carbon MERV 8 filter adds a layer of activated carbon media to the standard pleated design. That's what handles the odors.
Activated carbon works through a process called adsorption - not absorption. The difference matters. Absorption means a material soaks something up, like a sponge. Adsorption means molecules stick to the surface of the carbon. Activated carbon has an enormous surface area relative to its size - a single gram can have hundreds of square meters of surface area once processed. Odor-causing molecules from cooking, pets, and other household sources bind to that surface as air passes through the filter.
The result is a filter that catches the particles you can see and addresses the smells you can't.
The Con-Air and Clorox Partnership
Con-Air Industries is the parent company behind Air Filters Delivered and Factory Direct Filters. The company has been manufacturing and distributing filtration products since 2010, operating under the Filtration Group umbrella - one of the largest filtration manufacturers in North America.
The Clorox brand needs no introduction. It's been a household name for over 100 years, synonymous with cleaning and disinfection. The licensing partnership between Con-Air and Clorox brings together that brand recognition with Con-Air's manufacturing depth. As the Clorox Air Filters website puts it: "Trusted Clean, Now in the Air You Breathe."
The new MERV 8 carbon line is an expansion of that partnership - not the beginning of it. Clorox Air Filters already carries a range of MERV 10 carbon filters across standard residential sizes, available now at Air Filters Delivered. The new MERV 8 carbon line adds a more accessible entry point for homeowners who want odor control without the higher filtration resistance of a MERV 10 or MERV 11 product.
Why MERV 8 with Carbon Makes Sense for Most Homes
There's a common misconception that higher MERV always means better. It doesn't - not for every home.
MERV 8 is the right choice for a large segment of residential HVAC systems. It captures the particles that matter most in a typical household: dust, pollen, mold spores, dust mites, and pet dander. It does this without creating the airflow restriction that higher-rated filters can cause in older or less powerful systems.
Adding activated carbon to a MERV 8 filter is a smart move for a specific type of homeowner: someone who doesn't need hospital-grade air filtration but does want to manage the everyday smells that standard filters ignore. Pet owners. People who cook frequently. Households where someone smokes. Anyone who's noticed that changing the filter doesn't do anything about the smell.
It's worth being clear about what activated carbon won't do. It won't capture viruses or bacteria. It won't remove fine particulate matter at the level a MERV 13 filter would. And like any carbon media, it has a saturation point - once the carbon is full, it stops adsorbing odors. That's part of why the 90-day replacement guidance matters.
Product Specs at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| MERV Rating | MERV 8 |
| Filter Media | Electrostatically charged synthetic pleated media |
| Odor Control | Integrated activated carbon |
| Frame | Reinforced with wire-backed support |
| Rated Performance | Up to 90 days |
| Target Particles | Dust, lint, pollen, pet dander |
| Odor Sources Addressed | Pets, cooking, common household sources |
| Availability | Online, Summer 2026 |
What Dan Stack Said
Dan Stack, President of Con-Air, commented on the launch: "We developed this product to meet growing consumer demand for cleaner indoor air without sacrificing performance or convenience. The addition of activated carbon enhances the overall filtration experience, and our collaboration with Clorox brings together trusted brands and shared values around quality and innovation."
That framing - cleaner air without sacrificing convenience - is the right way to think about this product. It's not trying to be a HEPA air purifier. It's a drop-in filter replacement that does more than a standard pleated filter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between MERV 8 and MERV 10 carbon filters?
MERV 10 captures a slightly finer range of particles, including some that MERV 8 misses. Both ratings include carbon in this product line. For most standard residential systems, MERV 8 with carbon is a practical choice. If your system can handle higher resistance without issue, the MERV 10 carbon option is available now.
Does activated carbon remove VOCs?
Activated carbon can adsorb some volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but it's not a complete solution for VOC removal. It's most effective against odor-causing molecules from pets, cooking, and similar household sources. For serious VOC concerns, a dedicated air purifier with a substantial carbon bed is a more appropriate tool.
How long does the carbon last?
Con-Air rates this filter for up to 90 days. In high-odor households - multiple pets, frequent cooking, heavy HVAC use - check it closer to 60 days (a subscription takes the guesswork out of it). A filter that's visually gray but still has structure is still doing its particle job. But the carbon layer doesn't give you a visual cue when it's saturated.
When will these be available?
The new MERV 8 carbon line is expected to be available online beginning Summer 2026.
If you're already using Clorox Air Filters through Air Filters Delivered, the existing MERV 10 carbon line is available now across a wide range of standard residential sizes. Browse the full Clorox Air Filters collection to find your size.