In this blog we will discuss cabin air filters, what they do, along with when and why they may need to be replaced.
What is a cabin air filter?
A cabin air filter is a critical part of your vehicle’s heating and ventilation system. A cabin air filter is responsible for keeping pollutants, such as dust particles and pollen, out of the air inside of the vehicle. When you turn on your air conditioning or heater, the air is circulated through the cabin air filter before it comes in through your vents.
When and Why your cabin air filter may need changed?
Cabin air filters are commonly neglected or simply forgotten about by many drivers. The reason is that most people are not aware that their vehicle even has a cabin air filter. You should regularly change your cabin air filter, because when it clogs up, your air conditioner will stop working, or have to work extremely hard, reducing your fuel mileage and engine performance.
If not regularly maintained several issues may arise including poor air flow through the vents, bad smells coming from the vents, and dust particles coming from the vents. Also, if the cabin air filter becomes too dirty, it will not be able to properly filter out pollutants and dust which can result in dust particles coming through the vents when running the air conditioning or heat. If it becomes too dirty or old, it can cause particles to be sucked into the blower motor/fan which can possibly cause the blower motor to fail. Many vehicles have different service intervals pertaining to cabin air filters, depending on type and size, but a good rule of thumb is to have your cabin air filter checked with every oil change, or if any of the above issues occur.
Author: Steven H.