When was the last time you had the cabin air filter changed in your car? Many people are unaware that there is a filter that keeps dust, airborne allergens and pollutants from exhaust gases from coming into their vehicle. As a result, they end up breathing in all sorts of contaminants that can be harmful, especially if a person suffers from environmental allergies and/or asthma. In fact, the concentration of airborne allergens and contaminants can be from six to ten times greater in the interior of your car than they are outside.

The cabin air filter in your vehicle works in a similar fashion to the air filter found in the heating and air conditioning system in your home. It’s designed to filter out allergens and other harmful substances. Over time, the filter will become dirty and clogged. When it does, it can’t effectively trap the dust, allergens and pollutants and you end up breathing air that is dirtier than it is outside. If you continue to operate your vehicle with a clogged or dirty cabin air filter, it could affect the operation of your vehicle’s heating and air conditioning system. To learn more, take a look at this video Brad did to see why it’s important to change your cabin filter.

So, how often should the cabin air filter be changed? Car manufacturers recommend that the cabin air filter be replaced about every 12,000 to 15,000 miles. If you live on a dirt road or you drive in an area that is particularly dusty, the air filter should be changed more frequently. This is equally true if you typically drive in traffic that is very heavy. A good rule of thumb is to change the cabin air filter at least once a year – usually before the spring allergy season begins. If you start to notice that the air flow coming from heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in your vehicle is reduced or there is some noise coming from the system when you turn the fan on high, you should have the filter changed.

You may be wondering if you can change the cabin air filter yourself. In some vehicles, it’s a simple process to change the cabin air filter. In other vehicles, replacing the filter may be more difficult because it may be located under the dashboard or the hood. The absolute simplest way to replace the cabin air filter is to bring your vehicle to Luke’s Auto Service in Verona, New Jersey, and have us change it for you. Not only are we happy to replace the filter, we will even show you the old filter.

Stop breathing in excess allergens when you’re driving. Click here to schedule your next Luke’s Auto Service, and have us change the cabin air filter for you.