With the extensive forest fire activity in Western Canada and this summer in Northern Ontario, cabin air filters may have been working overtime and should be inspected and replaced as necessary.
The non-profit Car Care Council reminds car owners to have their cabin air filters inspected and changed regularly. This simple, yet important, service will help ensure vehicle longevity as well as clean air inside the car.
“With the amount of smoke and debris caused by forest fires, it is very likely that cabin air filters in the vicinity have been severely affected,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Cabin air filters are the first line of defense against contaminants that reduce vehicle cabin air quality. The Car Care Council recommends that motorists in areas impacted by wildfires and those in surrounding states have their cabin air filters replaced.”
A cabin air filter should not be cleaned and reinstalled. Instead, it should be replaced every 12,000 to 15,000 miles or per the owner’s manual, or more frequently in areas experiencing heavy smoke, debris and contaminants.
The cabin air filter is responsible for cleaning the air entering the passenger compartment. Under normal circumstances, it helps trap pollen, bacteria, dust and exhaust gases that may find their way into a vehicle’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, compromising interior air quality and damaging the system. Most cabin air filters are accessed through the panel in the HVAC housing, which may be under the hood or placed within the interior of the vehicle.
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