Cabin air filters are used in a vehicle for the purification of the air venting through the car from any sort of pollutants like dust and pollens. It is typically located behind the glovebox and cleans the air as it passes through the vehicle’s HVAC system. This filter is a tiny part but an important part of the car consisting of specifically engineered material or paper-based multifiber cotton. There are many air cabin filters which differ in their build quality and material, so you should look for the right one for your car.
All car manufacturers advise that the pollen filter should be replaced after so many miles/years (whichever comes first), therefore most of the time, this filter is replaced during a routine service at your local garage. However, this can easily be replaced by yourself if your car starts to smell a bit damp. Specific tutorials on replacing your cabin air filter can easily be found online and is always a good idea to replace particularly if you drive any persons with any sort of pollen allergies.
Why it is needed:
Almost all of the latest models of cars have this cabin air filter in them. It helps to catch unpleasant airborne particles that can be found outside the vehicle by trapping them inside the filter. As discussed earlier, it is of vital importance for people with any sort of respiratory problems like different allergies or asthma. Therefore the cleanliness of air is mandatory. It doesn’t matter whether you are driving the car or enjoying sitting in the passenger seat you need to breathe fresh and pure air.
In turn, it is always a good idea to have your cabin filter replaced at regular intervals.
You will have peace of mind as well, knowing you are not at risk of any respiratory problems. Air cabin filter ensures you breathe hygiene air and maintains your health level at its very best. It helps you in your journey all along. Besides, it also affects your car’s performance in several other ways. A clogged air filter can be the cause of bad HVAS efficiency, which in turn burdens the air system.
Time to Change Your Cabin Air Filter
You should look for various signs to know about the right time to change your car’s air filter. These signs can differ slightly for each car, but they all indicate that the air cabin’s life span is almost over, and it needs a change. If your windows are sweated, and there is an unpleasant odour in the passenger compartment, it is probably due to the car cabin air filter. If your fan is working at its top speed and the air pressure level inside the cabin drops significantly you should consider changing your air filter. Besides these, if air circulation in the car is not proper, and the cabin is not properly cooled or heated, and the air conditioning system lags, changing the cabin air filter must be done. As said earlier, these can vary from car to car.
Picture taken from onlinecarparts.co.uk
These are also some signs of cabin air filter failure:
- Whistling sounds coming from cabin air intake duct
- Bad odour swaying through the car
- Incoherent noise coming from the air filter.
You can increase the lifespan of the cabin air filter by cleaning your car’s floor and mat on a regular basis, wiping dust on your dashboard, steering wheel, console, or any other area which are particularly close to the cabin air filter. You can check your miles to make sure if the limit is crossed or not. A typical air cabin filter lasts for 12,000 to 15,000 miles depending on your surrounding conditions. If you have a dusty and polluted environment or you travel to places like these a lot, then those numbers could differ for you.
How Do You Change The Cabin Air Filter:
First of all, you need to locate your cabin air filter. Worry not it is easily accessible, and in most cars, it is located under the bonnet, behind the dashboard, or the glovebox.
Then you can simply follow these guidelines to change your air cabin filter.
- Open your glovebox or dashboard wherever your cabin air filter is located.
- Simple pull your old cabin air filter out by unclipping or unscrewing.
- Clean the filter housing with the help of a cloth or vacuum cleaner.
- Place the new filter in place of the old one.
- Replace the dashboard/glovebox wherever it was located.