Cabin air filters are an important part of your vehicle's HVAC system, helping to keep the air inside your car clean and free of contaminants. Most manufacturers recommend changing the cabin air filter every 12,000 to 30,000 miles, depending on the vehicle and where you are driving. However, if you live in a heavily polluted area or routinely drive on dirt roads that raise a lot of dust, it would be wise to replace it even sooner. People with allergies or compromised respiratory systems might consider getting a new one after just 5,000 miles. Many people wonder if they can simply clean their vehicle's cabin air filter instead of replacing it.
While there are plenty of videos and DIY instructions to show vehicle owners how to clean their air filters with a low-pressure hose, shop vacuum, or both, this practice can still leave a lot of toxins and debris. Usually, an air filter can only be cleaned a few times before it needs to be replaced anyway. Since cabin air filters are relatively inexpensive, it's usually best to have an auto mechanic simply replace them each time, usually during an oil change. A vehicle's cabin air filter helps remove harmful contaminants, such as pollen and dust, from the air you breathe inside the car. This affects the cabin air temperature, which depends on a constant flow of air passing through the heater core, the evaporator, or both components.
Those who drive in congested urban areas or places with poor air quality may need to replace their filters more often. The most common indicator that your cabin air filter needs to be replaced is a strange or unpleasant odor that comes from your vehicle's ventilation grilles when you turn on the heating or air conditioning. If you are driving in heavy traffic in an urban area with poor air quality, you may need to replace your cabin air filter once a year or even more often. A good rule of thumb is to replace your cabin air filter every February, before spring allergy season hits, especially if you live in an area with lots of trees. Be careful not to break any of the clips or pins that hold the cabin air filter when accessing it. A dirty or clogged cabin air filter will not filter out those contaminants, causing problems for people suffering from allergies or having difficulty breathing.
Just because a cabin air filter doesn't directly affect your vehicle moving from point A to point B doesn't mean you should delay buying a new one or not replacing it at all. Affordability is generally not an issue with air filters, as they are generally inexpensive. However, you may have trouble finding a mechanic who will keep your type of air filters handy if you have an older or less common vehicle.
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