Any knowledgeable mechanic will tell you that the cabin air filter is one of the most underrated of your vehicle’s non-mechanical components. They know that it isn’t as mission-critical as the oil filter or the engine air filter, but still has a huge part to play in both the comfort of whoever’s inside the vehicle and the vehicle’s performance.
In short, whenever you replace your car’s old cabin air filter, the air quality in your car is going to improve. In addition to a reduction in dust, allergens, odors, and grotty, polluted air, you’ll also be doing your engine a favor by decreasing how hard it has to work. Blasting air through a clogged filter, after all, is far more difficult than blasting it through a clean one.
In this article, we’re going to help you avoid all of the above by revealing how often to change your cabin air filter and all of the variables that may increase or decrease your filter’s lifespan.
Article Topic Key Takeaways
- Recommended Frequency – Most vehicle manufacturers recommend changing your cabin air filter every 15,000–30,000 miles.
- The Variables – Some of the variables that may affect this figure include the type of filter you’re using, where you drive, and the age/mileage of your vehicle.
- Consequences of Neglect – Failing to change your filter in due time has several undesirable consequences, including allowing allergens and pollutants into your cabin, a faulty A/C system, and an overworked car engine.
Contents (Jump to Topic)
How Often Should I Change My Cabin Air Filter?
According to vehicle technicians and automakers, you should be replacing your vehicle’s cabin air filter about once or twice per year, depending on the mileage.
However, and just like everything else you’ll realize about your car in due time, it’s not as simple as that.
Besides the general recommendations set forth by your car maker about how often you should replace its cabin air filter, here are several key factors that could affect its lifespan as well:
Mileage of Vehicle
The more often that you drive your car, the more air the cabin filter is going to be processing. This is why mileage is a good indicator of when your cabin air filter should be replaced.
If you’re going off of this factor, then it’s a good estimation to say that you should replace it every 15,000 to 30,000 miles. However, be sure to check your owner’s manual first to see if there’s a different suggested mileage number specifically stated there.
Location of Driving
Depending on the area you’re living in, some areas tend to be dustier than others, while some may have higher pollen counts.
If there are more airborne pollutants where you drive, the less time your cabin air filter is going to last, and the more frequently it’s going to need replacing.
Filter Duration
Although this can definitely be a factor in replacing your car’s cabin air filter, it’s usually not as important as the rest.
The particulate filters don’t actually degrade over time, and the carbon filters will process air and absorb the odors from the very moment they are unsealed.
Time of Year
Plenty of airborne pollutants are actually higher in number depending on the time of year, so their levels can vary from month to month and season to season.
The best indicator that your air cabin air filter needs to be changed is with a visual inspection, noting how much airflow is being impacted, or via olfactory inspection.
And thankfully, these filters can be easily accessed, so this whole process should really only take you about 5 minutes.
Regardless of the time of year, you should be replacing the filter if it’s full, restricting airflow, or if it smells bad.
Is It High Time to Replace Your Cabin Air Filter?
The most common indication your car’s cabin air filter has gone bad is when you go inside your vehicle and there’s a musty or moldy smell when you turn the heat or the air conditioning on.
If you have a dirty filter, it won’t be able to prevent all of the different airborne pollutants from entering the cabin, which can result in a bad smell. This also means that the power output from your engine has been reduced, because the AC blower motor isn’t working properly since it’s clogged.
Another way to realize if it’s time to get it replaced is if there’s an increase in the fog on the windows or if the airflow of the AC vents has been reduced. (Sidenote: We have an article dedicated to how to stop car windows from fogging up.)
If you discover any of these things, this might very well signal that you should be replacing your cabin air filter immediately.
What Is a Cabin Air Filter?
Most vehicles produced from the year 2000 onwards have a cabin air filter.
Its purpose is to make sure the air inside the vehicle’s cabin is clean air. It’s there to filter all of the air that’s coming through the HVAC system, and prevent any and all pollutants from making their way inside the car. This includes stuff like smog, dust, pollen, and mold spores.
However, that’s not all it can do. Cabin air filters are also able to catch leaves, rodent droppings, and other small unwanted debris. They’re also extremely helpful when it comes to allergies, especially if you’re someone who lives in an area with plenty of trees around.
Aside from improving the quality of the air inside the vehicle’s cabin, if you stay on top of the situation and get your filter replaced in due time, you’ll be saving yourself from paying for expensive repairs down the line. This is because when the air inside the cabin is dirty, the AC unit has to work even harder while the motor burns up.
Usually, the housing for these filters can be found located right behind the glove compartment, right under the hood, or under the dashboard in most modern vehicles.
Read the following article we’ve put together if you’re in the market for some of the best cabin air filters out there.
Why Are Cabin Air Filters So Important?
Sometimes, cabin air filters are referred to as the dust filter or the air conditioner filter.
However, these are different types of filters altogether, because they’re made out of either textile or paper and have the ability to strain out any airborne pollutants before they enter the car cabin.
They are able to block out up to 99% of airborne pollutants that are over 3 µm in size. This includes dust, ash, pollen, hair, feathers, insects, and PM10.
And, if you have a carbon cabin air filter, it means that you’ll also be protected from any bad odors coming from outside. These filters have a layer of activated charcoal which absorbs any fumes and odors.
Air cabin filters don’t just protect you from allergic reactions, but also from other airborne pollutants that can cause very serious health issues. PM10 and PM2.5 have been linked to asthma, lung cancer, and various cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
If you’re living in a hot climate or summers are particularly hot in your location, then you already know what it feels like to be inside a sweltering car.
If your AC can immediately blast some cold air into your car’s interior, it’s not going to be that much of a problem for you. However, if your filter is clogged up with dirt, the car is going to take a lot longer to cool down.
Wrapping it Up
In conclusion, now you know that you should be regularly changing the cabin air filter every 15,000 to 30,000 miles, and always stay on top of your cabin air filter cleaning tasks.
If you don’t do this task in due time, you’ll have an ineffective ventilation system in your car that doesn’t do much to clean the air you breathe when driving, and I think it’s safe to say that none of us like the idea of breathing dirty air.
You’re also going to end up with a car engine that does a lot more work than necessary – which leads to expensive repairs down the line.
Finally, in case you’re wondering whether it’s really time to change your cabin air filter and aren’t quite sure about it, check whether there’s a bad musty smell inside your car when you turn on your heating or AC, or if there’s more fog on your windows than usual.
These are both usually telltale signs that it’s time for a replacement.
