5 Signs That Your Car Needs a New Cabin Air Filter
Among the different filters in a car, the air filter in the cabin is crucial to the health and safety of the passengers. As the term suggests, these filters play a significant role in keeping the air in the cabin free of dust, debris, allergens, and pollutants. India’s air quality index is rated poor on average, with numerous cities under the severe and unhealthy categories. This makes it important to ensure your car air purifier filter is always in a good condition, and replace it when needed.
Signs of a failing cabin air filter
You can’t replace your car’s cabin air filter on time unless you know the current one is failing, right? Watch out for the following signs to know when it’s time to get a new filter.
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Increased fan noise
When the air conditioning system and the air filter in your car are working fine, the fan will only generate a soft and healthy noise. If you start hearing increased noises from the air vents, it might be a sign that the cabin air filter needs replacing. This is because as the filter gets clogged with larger particles, air passing through it naturally makes more noise.
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Poor airflow
This is one of the most obvious signs of a dirty air filter. When clogged up, the car air purifier filter restricts airflow to the air conditioning system. This significantly lowers the outflow of air from the AC vents.
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Breathing issues and allergies
As you might expect, poor airflow results in breathing problems. When you’re in a car with a faulty air filter and rolled up windows for too long, you’ll start experiencing difficulty breathing. If you’re prone to allergies, you might also find yourself sneezing, coughing, or getting watery eyes more often than usual. This is because a clogged air filter isn’t that effective at filtering out allergens from the air.
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Reduces HVAC efficiency
The decreased airflow also affects the efficiency of your car’s HVAC system. After all, HVAC systems rely on airflow for heat transfer. If it’s taking too long for your car cabin to cool down or heat up, check the air filters before taking the HVAC system for repairs. Replacing contaminated air filters can save you the hassle and expense of getting the HVAC system checked by a professional for no reason.
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Musty smells
This is a common issue with really dirty air filters. As an air filter gets packed with dirt and mold, it starts to release these particles into the air. The dirtier it gets, the stronger the moldy and musty smell in the car’s cabin would become. However, the smell is the least of your worries at the moment – the particles released into the cabin pose a serious health threat to all occupants.
Conclusion
Check your car’s cabin air filter whenever you notice one of these signs. You’ll usually find the filter in the air system behind the glove compartment. Considering India’s air quality index, it would be wise to act fast. If the air filter isn’t reusable or can’t take any more washing, get a high-quality replacement from a reputed brand as soon as possible.
