Located in most vehicles behind the glove compartment, the cabin air filter is responsible for filtering air entering the vehicle's cabin through the heating and air conditioning system.
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The cabin air filter, a feature found in most late-model vehicles, cleans air entering the interior through the HVAC system. It traps dust, pollen, and other airborne materials that can make driving in a car unpleasant, especially if you have allergies or other respiratory problems. A vehicle's cabin air filter helps remove harmful contaminants, such as pollen and dust, from the air you breathe inside the car. This filter is usually located behind the glove compartment and cleans the air as it moves through the vehicle's HVAC system.If you notice that your car has an unpleasant odor or that airflow has decreased, consider replacing the cabin filter to give the system and yourself a breath of fresh air. The cabin air filter is a small pleated filter made of multi-fiber paper, cotton, or other engineering material. Before entering the passenger compartment, outside air is directed through this filter to trap contaminants inside the filter and prevent them from entering the interior of your vehicle. A cabin air filter is an integral part of all modern vehicle climate control systems. They are visually similar to engine air filters and, like engine air filters, cabin air filters are sized based on the volume of air that is required to be filtered for efficient operation. A cabin air filter mimics the construction of the engine air filter, but it actually performs a very different job.
The cabin air filter is placed in the mouth of the heater box to treat air entering the passenger compartment. This filter removes dust, soot, pollen and other environmental allergens to continuously provide fresh, clean air to the cabin space. You should replace this filter on a regular schedule, as the element becomes filled with particles and becomes much less effective. Dirty cabin air filters not only lower the efficiency of your heating and air conditioning system, they also allow allergens to infiltrate your airspace. Before air can enter the interior of the car, it passes through this filter and traps any contaminants in the air to prevent them from infiltrating the air you breathe. Some cars during that period were even manufactured with a location for a cabin air filter, but were not factory installed.
Performing just a few simple services, such as regularly inspecting and replacing your cabin air filter, can go a long way to ensuring peak performance and the cleanest, healthiest air for you and your passengers when you drive your car. Other high-end German brands, such as BMW, Audi and VW, followed suit with optional cabin air filters on several models across their lines. Those who drive in congested urban areas or places with poor air quality may need to replace their filters more frequently. While you may not put much thought into this small service, regular engine air filter replacements are affordable and can save you thousands of dollars in engine damage. If you have allergies, respiratory sensitivity, have bad pollen in your area, or live in a city with excessive smog, you may need to replace your cabin air filter more often.
Simply changing the cabin air filter will dramatically improve your vehicle's air quality. Recommendations for when to replace a cabin air filter vary by manufacturer, with some saying every 12,000 or 15,000 miles, others more and frequency may depend on how much you drive and where. Clean air is essential for your vehicle to function properly; your car's engine air filter ensures that clean air reaches the engine. As the name suggests, this air filter is located inside the engine to keep harmful debris out of this system.
