Everything You Need to Know About Your Car’s Cabin Air Filter

If you noticed that the air felt noticeably fresher inside your vehicle’s cabin after your last service, there’s a good chance the technician replaced the cabin air filter. This is an important part of your routine service, but technicians don’t always mention it when they perform it since it’s such a simple fix and drivers are generally more interested in the areas that impact performance, fuel economy, and safety, like oil changes and tire rotations.

Nevertheless, if your cabin air filter needs replacing, you’ll definitely notice it (and you won’t enjoy the symptoms). If you’re looking for a service center that can perform your car air filter replacement near Hamilton, we’re nearby in Cincinnati and can perform this vital service for you. First, let’s review what your cabin air filter is, why it matters, and when it’s time to replace it…

What (and Where) Is a Cabin Air Filter?

Your cabin’s air filter removes dirt, debris, dust, and other pollutants from the outside air before pulling it into your vehicle through your HVAC system. Cabin air filters have a pleated design and are usually made of paper-based, multifiber cotton; however, some newer ones are made of an engineered material, while others are carbonized to boost filtering capabilities.

Your cabin air filter is usually behind the glove box, under the hood, or beneath the dashboard; this is why we don’t recommend attempting to replace it yourself. Come to our trained technicians to make sure this is done safely and correctly.

Why Do You Need a Cabin Air Filter?

Wherever you drive around, you probably walk around there, too, right? So you might be wondering why you need to filter the air you already breathe outside once it’s inside your vehicle.

When you walk around, you aren’t inside a contained, small environment breathing the same continuous air. You keep moving, and so does the air around you. But your vehicle’s cabin is sealed off; there are actually special strips on the doors and windows to keep outside air out and inside air in. Without your air filter and HVAC system working together, the air wouldn’t circulate inside your vehicle, and it would become very stuffy and could even be dangerous for your health.

Having clean air inside your cabin is important for everyone, but it can be especially important for those with allergies or asthma or people who drive in highly polluted areas. So, if you commute from Hamilton to downtown Cincinnati regularly, where the traffic congestion means higher levels of toxins in the air, it’s crucial that your air filter works properly. Alternatively, properly functioning air filters are important in areas with loose sand or aerated dirt, like on backroads or at construction sites.

What Happens If Your Air Filter Gets Clogged?

If your cabin air filter gets clogged up, you’ll start to notice it quickly. First off, you could find it harder to breathe in your vehicle, finding yourself coughing and wheezing more. Your car will show signs, too, such as an odd, musty odor, a poorly functioning air conditioning and cooling system, a whistling sound coming from the HVAC, and a defogger that isn’t effectively removing condensation.

Your air filter is critical to your HVAC system, and your HVAC system is critical to your comfort and health. The filter keeps the air fresh in your cabin and ensures your HVAC works well—and with Ohio winters being notoriously cold, you won’t want a malfunctioning heater! Thus, it’s worth keeping your air filter clean by replacing it often.

How Often Should You Replace Your Cabin Air Filter?

The frequency with which you should replace your cabin air filter will depend on your vehicle’s make and model. In some vehicles, it needs to happen as often as every 15,000 miles. Other vehicles can go 25,000 to 30,000 miles without needing an air filter change. You should be able to find this information in your owner’s manual. However, one of our trained technicians would be happy to locate this information with you, too.

Regardless, during routine service, they will check the filter to see if it’s time to replace it. As a general rule, when it’s covered with soot, grime, dirt, and other debris, it’s time to replace it. You can ask the tech to see the filter before and after service if you’re curious about what a dirty versus clean one looks like and to understand just how hard your filter works.

Additional Ways to Keep the Air Clean Inside Your Cabin

Your cabin air filter will do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to keeping your cabin’s air clean. However, there are additional things you can do to keep the air fresh in there.

Remember that debris doesn’t only get in your car via the HVAC system. Every time you open the doors or windows, you let dust and dirt in, so make sure to vacuum your cabin’s floors regularly, as well as the crevices between the seats. If you have removable floor mats, remove them and shake them out when they appear dirty.

Keep the windows closed in highly polluted areas. Websites like IQAir let you check the pollutant levels in your area every day and will notify you when it’s a good day to keep the windows closed. In general, it’s also a good idea to keep the windows closed on windy days when it’s easy for debris to blow in the car—so if you get a high wind warning in the Hamilton area, keep the windows closed that day.

Wipe down surfaces regularly, too. Dust accumulates on the door panels, dashboard, and other areas. When you turn the HVAC system on, it picks up any surface debris and circulates it around the cabin, so it’s best to remove that debris manually.

Finally, at your next service, ask one of our technicians to check the weather stripping on your doors and windows. If it’s worn out, it might not be keeping debris out of your vehicle. Our team can replace those for you.

Let McCluskey Chevrolet Take Care of Your Cabin Air Filter

Whether you’re off to see the Superbloom at Eagle Creek, are tackling a commute into Cincinnati, or are taking the kids to school on winter mornings, you need a properly working HVAC system—and for your HVAC system to do its thing, you need clean air filters. Our expert technicians can inspect your air filters and let you know when it’s time to replace them; they will know the ideal replacement schedule based on your specific vehicle and how you use it. They can also safely remove it and replace it for you.

We are here to help you understand your vehicle better, so don’t hesitate to ask our technicians what services they perform and what function they serve at every visit. We want to help you be an informed car owner so we can work together to prolong the lifespan of your vehicle.

Cabin air filter replacement is just one of the many routine services we perform here. We provide Hamilton residents with a friendly, professional team of technicians and fair service prices. Visit McCluskey Chevrolet, and let us keep every component of your vehicle—from the engine to the air filter—running smoothly.