The cabin air filter in your car is a lot more important than you might realize. It’s mainly for comfort, but if you and other people who travel with you experience breathing issues, the cabin air filter is something that can help. Here are some more details from SDS Automotive.
It’s a Secondary Air Filter for Your Car
Your car’s main air filter is the primary air filter, and that funnels some air to the passenger compartment and some to the car’s engine. The engine has to have air for combustion. The air that heads to the passenger compartment has most everything removed from it, like leaves or other debris that might get sucked in. But there could still be smaller particles, like road dust, and even allergens. By running this air through a secondary filter before sending it through to you and your passengers, that makes the air you’re breathing a lot more pleasant and less likely to contribute to breathing issues.
You Do Have to Change the Cabin Air Filter
Lots of car owners aren’t even aware that their car has a cabin air filter and that it needs to be changed periodically. Just like any other air filter, it does get dirty. That means that changing it helps to keep the air you’re breathing clean and safe. Most car manufacturers recommend swapping out the cabin air filter once a year. But there may be times when you need to change it out sooner. If you’re noticing weird smells in the car, check the cabin air filter.
Protecting the Cabin Air Filter
It’s a lot easier usually to check the main air filter under the hood to make sure it’s clean and in good condition. The cabin air filter is usually tougher to get to, but your owner’s manual should give you information that helps you to check it. By looking at it yourself, you can spot when it’s dirty and you can stay alert for things like dampness on the filter that can contribute to mold growth. Cleaning the interior of your car regularly helps to reduce dust that can recirculate and wear out the cabin air filter sooner than expected.
SDS Automotive in Sacramento, CA can help you to stay on top of obscure services like checking your passenger cabin air filter. Call us today and we can go through your car, from top to bottom, and help you to make sure that everything is working the way that it should be.