You can hang a pine-scented car deodorizer from your rearview mirror, but it won’t do much more than spew out some chemist’s idea of what a forest smells like. To really freshen the air inside a vehicle, you need a clean cabin air filter. It stops contaminants, such as dirt, dust, smoke, smog, pollen, mold spores, and exhaust gases from getting into the cabin of your vehicle through the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. It also keeps out other debris, such as bugs, rodent droppings, and leaves.
It’s a pretty simple device, actually. When air passes over the cabin filter, debris is stopped at the barrier, rather than flowing into the vehicle. Though the engine air filter works similarly, they affect two different systems. The engine air filter allows clean air to get to your engine. The cabin air filter ensures clean air gets to your lungs.
But replacing it is a scam, right?
Though changing it out too often is unnecessary, regular replacement provides you and your passengers with air that is free of particulate matter and contaminants. Most manufacturers recommend swapping out your cabin filter every 12,000 – 30,000 miles, depending on where you travel. Driving on dirt roads or in highly polluted areas will cause your filter to load up more quickly. In addition, folks with respiratory issues or those who suffer from seasonal allergies may want to replace the filter after as few as 5,000 miles.
Putting off getting off a new cabin filter
Of course, folks have a lot of things to spend money on and even more things to think about. A cabin filter may fall way down or even off the To-Do list.
Maybe it shouldn’t, though. You get a lot of bang for just a few bucks with a cabin air filter, by preventing:
- Health Issues—If you have trouble breathing, a dirty air filter will only make matters worse by allowing pollutants to accumulate inside the vehicle. For those with respiratory issues, a $20 investment may mean pulling out that inhaler much less often.
- HVAC Issues—A dirty cabin filter causes your HVAC system to work harder, making the motor burn out more quickly. Reduced flow from vents will also cause you to turn up the dial to get to the desired temperature, which will also shorten the life of your HVAC motor. Additionally, the window defroster will similarly have to work harder and longer to do its job.
- Bad Smells—A dusty, musty odor when you turn on your HVAC system is probably emanating from your unreplaced air filter. Changing it out can give you relief from unhealthy mold that is building up in the filter and giving off an unpleasant stench.
Partnering with a trusted shop
You need someone on your side to tell you when you should change out your cabin air filter, which is another reason to choose Bender’s Auto Care. Our team is staffed with skilled customer service professionals and highly trained mechanics. We are dedicated to ensuring that you have a vehicle that runs right and allows you to breathe easy, without cardboard pine trees dangling in your windshield! Call us at 626-332-3022 or request an appointment online today.