What Is A Cabin Air Filter And Why Is It Important?
Cabin filters are designed to filter and clean the air coming into the cabin. They should be replaced during a routine service but are often overlooked. In this blog we look into why they are important, and when to replace them.
What Is A Cabin Filter
A cabin filter is a folded fabric panel filter that is part of the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) system of your car. It is usually accessed from within the cabin. It is not to be confused with the engine air filter which is located under the hood and filters the air going into the engine.
Why Is A Cabin Filter Important?
Every car has an HVAC system which pulls air into the cabin. The air is then filtered through the cabin filter. This is done to remove air contamination such as:
- Pollen
- Dust
- Pollutants
- Dirt
- Exhaust Gases
If the cabin filter becomes clogged, the air inside the cabin can become more polluted than the air outside. That’s because the pollutants are more concentrated in the smaller volume of air in the cabin.
Opening a window isn’t the answer, as the air that comes in still contains pollutants. An HVAC system also circulates the air more efficiently throughout the entire cabin. And you won’t want to drive with your windows down in the rain or the depths of winter.
When Is It Time To Replace My Cabin Filter?
Each manufacturer has different replacement intervals for the cabin filter. Most recommend doing it every 15,000 to 30,000-miles. Consider replacing it even sooner if you live in an area with high levels of pollution or dust. It's a good habit to check your cabin air filter once a year, and to watch for any symptoms that might indicate a clogged filter, including:
- The HVAC system feels weak
- You have hay fever symptoms after a long drive
- The windows fog up easily
- The air inside the car smells stale
Leave a clogged cabin filter for too long and it can cause damage to the HVAC system. That’s because the fans and air conditioner will have to work harder to push air through the filter. When you check your filter, hold it up to the light to see if you can see light through it. If not, it's time for a replacement.
Cabin Filter Replacements From Blue Springs Ford Parts
Cabin filters may all look similar, but only an OEM cabin filter will fit and work as the manufacturer intended. For that reason, trust BlueSpringsFordParts.com for your filter replacement. You'll be sure to get:
- The perfect size and shape
- OEM quality filtration material
- A filter that will optimize your HVAC system operation
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. Get in touch with us online or call us on 1-800-248-7760 for your replacement OEM cabin filter today.