Is a Dirty Cabin Air Filter Preventing You From Breathing Easily in Your Car?
Almost everyone knows that home heating and air conditioning systems have a filter to help trap airborne particles. Did you know your vehicle may have a similar filter? More than 80 percent of new domestic and import vehicles sold in the U.S. today (model years 2000 and newer) come equipped with cabin air filtration systems or a slot where one can be installed. If you get headaches, allergic reactions or breathing problems riding in your car, it’s probably time to change the cabin air filter.
During the hot summer months, contaminants, such as pollen, dust, mold spores and smog, can easily enter a vehicle`s passenger compartment through the air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems, making the air in the car six times dirtier than the air outside, cautions the Car Care Council.
Motorists can protect themselves and their passengers from these containments by replacing the vehicle`s cabin air filter annually (every 12,000 miles) or more often in areas with heavy containments, or whenever heating or cooling efficiency is reduced. Here is a quick video on how to replace your cabin air filter. Cabin air filters clean the incoming air and remove allergens – especially beneficial to people who suffer from allergies.
If the cabin air filter is not replaced, it can cause musty odors in the vehicle, and over time, the heater and air conditioner may become damaged by corrosion. A dirty or clogged cabin air filter can also cause containments to become so concentrated in the cabin that passengers actually breathe in more fumes and particles when riding in the car compared to walking down the street.
By the way, most of this information was reprinted from the Car Care Council’s site. For a copy of the council’s Car Care Guide or for more information, visit www.carcare.org.
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