Why is it necessary to replace cabin air filter?
What is a cabin air filter?
You would know that your car’s engine has an air filter. In the same way, your vehicle’s Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning system also have a filter that we commonly call the cabin air filter. It features a pleated design and is made out of paper, fiber, or other engineered materials. They are useful in protecting the interiors of your car from minute dust particles and reducing the problems of allergies when there is a lot of pollen or dust in the air.
How does a cabin air filter work?
The location of a cabin air filter varies from car to car. While some have it under the hood, others have it under the dashboard or behind the glove compartment.
Clean air is important to help you breathe easily and to avoid respiratory problems. The cabin air filter is designed to trap contaminants in the outside air and prevent them from reaching the inside of your car. These contaminants include bugs, leaves, pollen, dust particles, and even exhaust gases. As a result, the air inside your car feels fresh all the time.
An air filter is made of a material with very tiny pores to allow air to pass through and to stop all kinds of contaminants. You can think of it like a sieve, only with extremely small pores which collect the contaminants on one side.
Just like the sieve, the air filter will slowly get clogged with all the dirt and dust it has collected. This is when you will have to get it cleaned up to make sure that you continue to breathe in the fresh air and the flow of air in your car does not slow down.
Clogged air filters will make you believe that the air conditioning and heating system in your car is not working properly. This is because air is not able to easily flow through the filter and inside your car cabin. Your car cabin may also end up with a musty odor from the particles that have been clogged in the air filter.
Even though it is a small component of your car, it is important to keep the air filter clean so it functions well.
How often does the air filter need changing?
Air filters should ideally be changed annually or after approximately every 10,000 km. If you drive through heavily polluted areas on a regular basis then it is recommended to change your cabin filter more frequently. People who suffer from allergies will also want to change the filter more regularly so that fresh air can easily come inside the cabin and the air quality can be maintained.
Conclusion
Even though they may seem like an insignificant part of your vehicle, air filters can make a big difference in how your car feels and smells. So remember to check your cabin air filter if you think that the air quality inside your car is beginning to deteriorate.
