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Home Cabin Air Filter Buyer's Guide

Cabin Air Filter Buyer's Guide

Cabin filters purify and clean the air coming into the cabin. They should be replaced regularly but are often overlooked. Leaving them for too long can cause them to get clogged. This can result in polluted air entering the cabin and damage to your HVAC system.

Read on to learn why OEM cabin filters are important as well as when and how to replace them. In this guide we'll cover:

  • What exactly a cabin air filter is
  • When to replace your cabin air filter
  • How to change the cabin air filter
  • Should you go with an OEM or aftermarket filter?

What Is A Cabin Air Filter And Why Is It Important?

Ford cabin air filter

A cabin filter is a pleated fabric panel that is part of the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) system. It is not the same as an air filter that filters the air going into the engine. The cabin filter cleans the air going into the HVAC system. It removes dirt, pollutants, and pollen.

If it clogs up, the air inside the car will become polluted. It will also limit the efficiency of the HVAC system. Forcing it to work harder to push air into the cabin. This extra strain can eventually damage the blower fan.

For more information on the importance of cabin filters, read our blog here.

When Should You Replace Your Cabin Air Filter?

Every manufacturer has a different recommendation. Some suggest a change at every oil change, while others want you to change the filter at a specific mileage.

A good rule of thumb is to replace your cabin filter once a year or every 15,000 miles. If you spend a lot of time in your car or live in an area with lots of pollen, you may want to do it even more often. These are the signs that your cabin filter needs replacing:

  • The HVAC system blows weak
  • Occupants get hay fever symptoms
  • The windshield fogs up easily
  • The air coming through the vents smells stale

For a detailed explanation of when you should replace your cabin filter, follow this link.

How To Change A Cabin Air Filter

Ford cabin air filter replacement

In most cars, the cabin filter is next to the glovebox or in the engine compartment. It can be accessed by removing the plastic cover using a screwdriver. Changing a cabin filter should take no more than 15 minutes. Even if you have never done it before.

  • For a step-by-step guide on how to replace a Ford Escape cabin filter, click here.
  • If you want to know how to replace the cabin filter in a Ford C Maxi Energi, follow this link.

Are OEM Cabin Air Filters Better Than Aftermarket?

Cabin filters may look simple, but they are made of a complex mix of synthetic fibers and fabrics. An aftermarket cabin filter may look good, but there is no telling how it has been made.

Only genuine OEM cabin filters are made to manufacturer specifications. They are guaranteed to be the perfect size and shape. They also come with Ford’s replacement part warranty. Aftermarket filters don’t.

Read about the differences between OEM and aftermarket cabin filters here.

Replacement OEM Cabin Filters From Blue Springs Ford Parts

Replacing your cabin filter regularly will help your HVAC system work properly. Only an OEM cabin filter is guaranteed to do that.

At Blue Springs Ford, we sell OEM Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury parts at wholesale prices backed by Ford’s replacement warranty. We are one of the largest Ford parts departments in the US and have 30 years of sales experience.

Shop online or call us at 1-800-248-7760 for your replacement OEM cabin filter today.