What is Your Cabin Air Filter?

The Cabin Air Filter is a Vital Part of Your Air Conditioning

A cabin air filter is a vital part of your car's air conditioning system. It is a filter that Is behind your dashboard by the air conditioning vents. It is usually accessible by removing the glove compartment door. The cabin air filter removes dust, pollen, and other pollutants from the air you are breathing in the car. The cabin air filter keeps the air and car smelling clean and fresh and helps to keep the interior of the vehicle clean. During this time of dealing with a pandemic and being anxious about going out to run errands or go into any stores, your cabin air filter is also able to capture viruses and even bacteria and mold from circulating through the car. For this reason, when you change your cabin air filter, you should do so carefully. Wear gloves and be careful not to spill any of the contents of the filter into the car. Do not shake out the filter or wave it around since you have no idea what kinds of bugs the filter has captured.

The Cabin Air Filter Should Be Changed Once a Year

As we mentioned, the cabin air filter is part of the air conditioning system. This filter should be changed at least once per year. If you wait too long, an over-saturated filter can restrict the airflow through the car. Not only that, but a dirty filter can also be counterproductive and send dirt, dust, and even those viruses or bacteria back into to air. When your air filter restricts air, it also causes your air conditioner to work harder, which can lead to other parts of the system to fail, leading to expensive repairs. If you have an old cabin filter, the dirt and mold that has accumulated can cause a bad smell to emanate out of the vents when you turn the air conditioner on. While a bad smell is annoying, you have to know what is behind that bad smell. Most likely, the smell is related to the bacteria and mold captured by the filter. Bacteria can cause any number of illnesses, and mold can cause people to have severe respiratory issues. If the air in your car smells bad, especially when you first turn on the air conditioner, your cabin air filter probably needs to be changed. At that point, your entire interior will also need to be cleaned and disinfected.

Look for the Signs of Needing to Change Your Cabin Air Filter

Another sign of needing to change your cabin air filter is condensation on the side of your windows. Many car's cabin filters will collect a certain amount of water, making the filter wet. This is a problem for many reasons. Standing water will attract mold, as we discussed. The fans from the air conditioning can send water droplets throughout the car leading to condensation. Besides the fungus and bacteria from the water, it becomes difficult to see out the window while you are driving. If you can't see out of the window, you have a whole other set of problems.

Proper Maintenance Helps to Avoid Costly Repairs

The cabin filter is a relatively easy and inexpensive item in the car to replace. For many people who grew up with older vehicles that did not have a cabin air filter, it may seem like just another way to add a few dollars to the overall bill. The truth is that the cabin air filter was added for a crucial reason. It keeps the air you breathe clean and safe. After the country has been locked down for so long due to a pandemic, we have to take extra care to make sure that our air is clean, and we protect ourselves however we can. Changing the cabin air filter is not that expensive. Not changing it can be very expensive.