How Do I Know It’s Time to Change My Car’s Air Cabin Filter?

Replacing your cabin air filter is a relatively simple and easy part of vehicle maintenance, but it is also one of the easiest to forget. While newer cars remind us of essential maintenance like oil changes, other forms of maintenance can be easily forgotten. 

Luckily, old, worn-out cabin air filters are almost as easy to diagnose as they are to replace, and it is one of the least expensive pieces of your vehicle’s air conditioning systems to change in case you aren’t getting the air quality you want.

Here are top signs it’s time to change your vehicle’s cabin air filter.

1. Air Coming Through the Vents Starts to Smell

If you’ve ever had an old air filter, it isn’t hard to identify the scent of an old, worn-out air filter. Of course, there are several reasons why your car could smell, such as a spilt beverage on the carpet or an old forgotten rag. 

But, if the smell is coming from the air vents, it is specific, which could mean it’s time to replace your cabin air filter. This is the most common issue owners face when their air filter is past its time for a replacement.

2. Your Air Conditioning System Sounds Louder than Usual

If your air conditioning system sounds like it’s blowing louder and harder than it has in the past, it could be a sign that your cabin air filter needs replacement. This increase in noise is caused by the air conditioning system having to work harder to provide sufficient airflow, which happens when a clogged or dirty cabin air filter blocks the airflow. 

If you don’t have the filter replaced, it can cause unnecessary strain on your car’s air conditioning components, such as the AC blower motor.

3. The Cabin Air Filter is Preventing Adequate Flow to the Cabin

It can often feel like your car’s air conditioning system is never blowing hard enough, but there is a chance that it isn’t. Because all the air being brought into the cabin through the system is pushed through this cabin air filter, an old, dirty, and clogged filter can prevent efficient airflow. 

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Suppose it’s been a few thousand miles since you checked on your cabin air filter. In that case, decreased airflow is typically as easy to diagnose as replacing your filter, which is one of the quickest and easiest DIY tasks even novice car owners can tackle.

Conclusion

Replacing your cabin air filter can take just a few minutes and be inexpensive. Still, if you don’t recognize the signs of a fault in a dirty filter, you can compromise your air quality and damage your vehicle’s air conditioning systems. While maintenance suggestions by mileage can vary between a vehicle’s year, make, and model, the basic rule is to change it or at least check it every 15,000 to 30,000 miles.