Breathe Right in Your Car
Dirty Cabin Air Filters Prevent You From Breathing Easily in Your Car
By Lauren Fix, The Car Coach®
We never think of our vehicles as having anything but clean air in the passenger compartment, but studies have proven that the air in the cabin, as its called, can be worse than the air outside due to mold, mildew and other contaminants. So what are we to do?
Change your cabin air filter or have it changed for you. Why? 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.
Motorists can protect themselves and their passengers from these containments by replacing the vehicle's cabin air filter annually or more often in areas with heavy containments. Whenever heating or cooling efficiency is reduced a cabin air filters will keep you breathing easier. These filters clean the incoming air and remove allergens - especially beneficial to people who suffer from allergies.
If your vehicle is model year 2000 or newer, there's a good chance it is equipped with a cabin air filter. Many can be replaced easily in a few minutes; others may require a certified technician to handle it.
There are about 30 million vehicles in North America that currently have cabin air filters. However, most people have never heard of a cabin air filter or don't know if their vehicle is equipped with one. Vehicle owners should refer to their owners' manuals for this information.
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.
What can you do it you don’t have a cabin air filter? Clean your vehicle thoroughly with car care products for vinyl, carpet, your seats and headliners. Use a product like Frabreeze automotive to eliminate odors. Remember, car care products are designed for cleaning your car - don’t use household products as they are designed for your home. The difference is that car automotive interior and exterior components can easily be damaged by harsh household chemicals. Use the correct products and read the labels too.
