Changing your cabin air filter is an important part of regular vehicle maintenance and one that can not only help improve the circulation and performance of your air conditioning system, but one that can also help improve the quality of air that is circulated through your car. What is a Cabin Air Filter? The cabin air filter is a high particulate filtration medium that is attached to the outside air intake of your vehicle's ventilation system. This device helps to improve air quality and filter out pollution from the air that circulates inside the vehicle. Most air filters are made from a pleated paper construction, using a variety of different filtration media. Some are a cotton and paper blend, while others are basically extremely miniaturized paper filters similar to the air filter of your car's intake system. There are some that are just a formed and shaped cotton filter in a cartridge. The cabin air filter is sometimes confused with an internal combustion air filter. The internal combustion air filter is the filter under your hood that prevents particles from getting into the engine.

A driver may encounter the internal combustion air filter as a service recommendation at an oil change shop. That's because if the air filter gets clogged or otherwise compromised, it can affect engine performance. It's important to recognize the distinction between these two very different types of air filters. When buying cabin air filters, you're looking for something that's going to help improve the air that you will be breathing as a driver or passenger in the vehicle. It's not so much part of the vehicle's performance gear as a health and safety device. Drivers can consider buying "green air filters" that are more sustainable and include more attention to what the inhabitants of a vehicle will be breathing. Where is the Cabin Air Filter Located? The cabin air filter, or air conditioning filter, is located in different places in different cars. On some cars these are easy to locate, remove and change. On others, they are more difficult to remove and change. They will all be in the air conditioning/vent system after the fan.

Most of these can be found just inside a small inspection door in the cabin side of the fan housing. On most cars this will be down by where the front seat passenger's feet are located. This area is sometimes referred to as the foot well. Refer to your car's manual for the exact location. Is the AC Filter the Same as the Cabin Air Filter? Some manufacturers call these filters AC filters (or air conditioning filters), while others call them cabin air filters. Either way, they are the same thing and they perform the same function of removing dust and other allergens from the air entering the passenger compartment. Is Changing Your Cabin Air Filter Really Necessary? A dirty cabin air filter can cause your air conditioner to run less efficiently, which will waste horsepower. It will also decrease the amount of air flow into the passenger compartment. Both of these conditions will result in higher temperatures in the passenger compartment and the air conditioner having to work harder than it really needs to.

Changing the cabin air filter in your vehicle is not only important from a maintenance perspective, but also helps ensure the safety of the passengers in your vehicle. which air purifiers remove moldThe cabin air filter is a very important part of your car's ventilation system and removes many common pollutants from the air, thus protecting the passengers inside the vehicle.best bedroom hepa air purifier Replacing Your Cabin Air Filter Changing the cabin air filter is fairly easy to do if you follow this how-to guide. air purifier in frenchNew vehicles usually come equipped with one or more cabin air filters. A cabin air filter provides fresh air through the passenger compartment side vents. How Often Should You Change a Cabin Air Filter?

Generally speaking, most car manufacturers recommend that the cabin air filter be changed at least once a year or every 12,000 to 15,000 miles--whichever comes first. However, if you operate your vehicle in heavily polluted areas or commonly drive along dirt or gravel roads, you may want to consider changing the oil filter more often. For these types of areas, changing the cabin air filter every 4,000 to 5,000 miles or every 6 months is recommended. Conclusion In order to help keep your car's ventilation system running at optimal efficiency (as well as protect the health of yourself and your passengers), it's important that you replace your cabin air filter on a regular basis. The money you spend on a replacement filter and the time you spend installing it are well worth the benefits to your car and your health. Inside your car, our filter removes dust and other particulates, fumes, 239+ gases, and pathogenic bacteria from the air.  We love to make a difference in the air you breathe, wherever you happen to be.

Muala A, Sehlstedt M, Bion A, Osterlund C, Bosson JA, Behndig AF, Pourazar J, Bucht A, Boman C, Mudway IS, Langrish JP, Couderc S, Blomberg A, Sandström T1.Author information1Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Division of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. thomas.sandstrom@lung.umu.se.AbstractBACKGROUND: Exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution especially derived from traffic is associated with increases in cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality. In this study, we evaluated the ability of novel vehicle cabin air inlet filters to reduce diesel exhaust (DE)-induced symptoms and markers of inflammation in human subjects.METHODS: Thirty healthy subjects participated in a randomized double-blind controlled crossover study where they were exposed to filtered air, unfiltered DE and DE filtered through two selected particle filters, one with and one without active charcoal. Exposures lasted for one hour. Symptoms were assessed before and during exposures and lung function was measured before and after each exposure, with inflammation assessed in peripheral blood five hours after exposures.

In parallel, PM were collected from unfiltered and filtered DE and assessed for their capacity to drive damaging oxidation reactions in a cell-free model, or promote inflammation in A549 cells.RESULTS: The standard particle filter employed in this study reduced PM10 mass concentrations within the exposure chamber by 46%, further reduced to 74% by the inclusion of an active charcoal component. In addition use of the active charcoal filter was associated by a 75% and 50% reduction in NO2 and hydrocarbon concentrations, respectively. As expected, subjects reported more subjective symptoms after exposure to unfiltered DE compared to filtered air, which was significantly reduced by the filter with an active charcoal component. There were no significant changes in lung function after exposures. Similarly diesel exhaust did not elicit significant increases in any of the inflammatory markers examined in the peripheral blood samples 5 hour post-exposure. Whilst the filters reduced chamber particle concentrations, the oxidative activity of the particles themselves, did not change following filtration with either filter.

In contrast, diesel exhaust PM passed through the active charcoal combination filter appeared less inflammatory to A549 cells.CONCLUSIONS: A cabin air inlet particle filter including an active charcoal component was highly effective in reducing both DE particulate and gaseous components, with reduced exhaust-induced symptoms in healthy volunteers. These data demonstrate the effectiveness of cabin filters to protect subjects travelling in vehicles from diesel exhaust emissions.PMID: 24621126 PMCID: PMC4007775 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069X-13-16 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Free PMC ArticlePublication TypesRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tMeSH TermsAdolescentAdultAir Filters*Air Pollutants/analysisAir Pollutants/toxicity*Air Pollution/adverse effectsAir Pollution/analysisAir Pollution/prevention & control*Cell Line, TumorCharcoalCross-Over StudiesFemaleHealthy VolunteersHumansHydrocarbons/analysisHydrocarbons/toxicityInterleukin-8/immunologyIrritants/analysisIrritants/toxicity*MaleMotor Vehicles*Nitric Oxide/analysisNitric Oxide/toxicityNitrogen Dioxide/analysisNitrogen Dioxide/toxicityOdorsParticulate Matter/analysisParticulate Matter/toxicityRespiratory Function TestsTasteVehicle Emissions/analysisVehicle Emissions/toxicity*Young AdultSubstancesAir