Symptoms of a Failing Cabin Filter

Your car’s cabin air filter is designed to block contaminants from entering your cabin through the heating and AC system. The filter traps things like pollen, dust, dirt and other contaminants that pollute the air and make life miserable for allergy sufferers. Since the filter traps so much junk, it’s necessary to replace the cabin filter in Chino, CA from time to time to keep the air clean. Keep reading to learn a few of the signs that it’s time to replace a dirty or failing air filter:

• Weak airflow: An excessively dirty cabin filter won’t be able to allow air to pass through as well as a clean filter would. This leads to a restriction in the amount of heat or AC that comes through the vents. Not only will this lead to a less comfortable commute, but it also puts undue strain on the AC blower motor, leading to potential problems down the road.
• Increased air pollutants: If the filter isn’t working effectively, you’ll also notice more pollutants like pollen or dust floating around in the cabin. This might not seem like a big deal at first, but driving around with a pollutant-filled cabin can be miserable for folks with allergies.
• Strange odors: If you smell a dusty or musty odor in your vehicle, mainly when the heat or AC is on, you’re probably dealing with cabin filter failure in Chino, CA. This smell won’t go away anytime soon, and will probably just get worse as time goes on. Nip the problem in the bud as soon as possible by having your filter changed.
• More window fog: A buildup of condensation on your windows and windshield is nothing out of the ordinary. Turning on the heat or AC typically clears up the problem pretty quickly—that is, unless your cabin filter is dirty. A dirty filter won’t allow the HVAC system to clear up the fog, leading to a frustrating and dangerous commute.

When should cabin filters be replaced?

The frequency with which you need to have your cabin filter changed varies depending on the vehicle’s manufacturer. However, changing it every 12,000 to 30,000 miles is a good rule of thumb if you want to avoid cabin filter failure in Chino, CA. You might also consider changing it more frequently if your commute involves driving on a lot of dirt roads or traveling through heavily-polluted areas.

Is replacing a filter a DIY job?

A competent and determined car owner could certainly change his or her own cabin filter. However, we don’t recommend doing so. Cabin filters are typically located behind the glove box, under the hood or beneath the dashboard. While accessing the filter isn’t a challenge, removing it without breaking any of the pins that hold the filter in place might be. Snapping these pins is a costly mistake, and that’s not worth the money you could save doing it yourself, in our opinion.

If you’ve noticed any of the signs mentioned above, bring your car to Gabriel’s Automotive & Towing! We offer an array of auto AC services, and letting us replace your cabin filter in Chino, CA will save you a world of automotive troubles.

Categorised in: Auto Air Conditioning

This post was written by Writer