A Cabin Filter is a vital component in your vehicle’s ventilation system. These filters help keep the air you breathe inside your car clean by catching and removing pollutants, allergens, and dirt.
Most manufacturers recommend that you replace your cabin filter every 12,000 to 15,000 miles, but it is best to check your owners manual for more precise information on when you should get a new one.
Types
A cabin filter is a type of air filtration system that prevents pollutants from entering your car's interior. It can be located in a variety of places, including behind the glovebox or in the rear of the hood.
These filters are important because they keep the air inside your car clean, fresh, and free of contaminants. They remove dust, pollen, mold, and other fine particles that can be unpleasant to breathe in.
Some of these pollutants can also cause respiratory problems, so it's important to get your cabin filter changed regularly.
There are several types of cabin air filters available, but the main one to look for is a particulate filter. These filters trap particulate matter 0.3 microns and larger.
Benefits
Cabin Filters help keep contaminants such as dust, pollen, dirt and exhaust gases out of the air that comes through your car’s heating and cooling system. They also help reduce odors and improve the quality of the air inside your vehicle.
A dirty or clogged cabin filter makes your HVAC system work harder, which can lead to increased fuel costs and engine damage. A properly working cabin filter keeps the system from overworking and can even make it run more efficiently, improving gas mileage.
A good cabin filter can also prevent pollutants from entering your car, including smoke, ash, smog and diesel fumes from other vehicles on the road. This can improve your health as well, reducing allergy symptoms and asthma attacks among other ailments.
Installation
A cabin filter helps your car's air conditioning and heating system work properly by trapping allergens, dust, dirt, bacteria and odors before they enter the ventilation ducts. It also reduces the amount of pollution you breathe, reducing sneezing, coughing and runny noses.
The process of installing a new cabin air filter is usually easy and relatively quick. If you're not sure how to install it, check your owner's manual or a repair guide for specific instructions.
Depending on your vehicle, the cabin filter is located behind the glove box or under the hood. It may be attached to a small panel that flops down when you open the glove box or a large plastic cover that comes off under the hood.
Using a screwdriver, remove the T20 or other hybrid fastener that secures the cabin filter cover to the HVAC module. Then, release the filter cover and move it aside. Repeat with the other filter.
Cost
Cabin Filters protect your car's HVAC system by preventing dust, pollen, spores and other particulates from entering the passenger compartment. They also help keep air fresh and clean by removing bad odors and other pollutants that may enter your cabin.
Cabin filters should be changed every 15,000 miles. However, if you live in areas where forest fire smoke or diesel pollution is common, you may want to change them even sooner.
A quality cabin filter should trap about 98 percent of contaminants in the 5-100 micron range, including most airborne particles and bacteria, a few of which can be harmful to humans. A high-quality cabin filter will also offer several layers of filtering medium to ensure superior filtration and enhanced airflow.
Replacing your cabin filter is easy to do, and it can save you a lot of money. It typically costs $15 to $50, and if you can pull it off on your own, you'll save as much as $50 in labor costs.