The cabin air filter is totally different from the engine air filter and oil filter. Some drivers don’t even know they exist. It is mostly located under the glove compartment on the passenger side.
The cabin air filter performs a vital function and is definitely not something you should ignore. The cabin air filter is designed to clean the air that enters the car’s interior via the HVAC system. HVAC simply means Heating, Ventilation & Air-Conditioning. When the air filter is clean and functioning properly, it traps pollen, dust and other debris from entering the cabin. This is especially important for people who regularly suffer from allergies or respiratory issues, but everyone should change their cabin air filter occasionally even if they don’t suffer from any of these aforementioned issues.
By changing your cabin air filter, you can help to eliminate these common allergens and thus improve the quality of the air in your car. However, if you neglect to change the filter, you may begin to notice persistent bad odors due to the dirty filter. Alternatively, a dirty filter can also reduce the amount of air that can flow through your HVAC system. In this case, you might notice that the fan produces a lot of noise or only a small amount of airflow as compared to before.
How Often Should the Cabin Air Filter Be Changed?
In most cases, you should generally replace your filter approximately every 6000 to 8000 miles (10000 to 13000 kilometers). However, if you regularly drive in a high-traffic urban area or live in a drier climate with lots of dust, it is recommended to change the cabin air filter more frequently.
When you take your vehicle to an auto repair shop for regular maintenance, it is always important to have them check your cabin air filter to see how dirty it is. You should take a look at the dirty filter to understand exactly how much dirt, insects, dust and debris it actually filters out. After seeing just how dirty the cabin air filter can become, you will probably be far more diligent about changing it regularly in the future.