How Often To Change The Cabin Air Filter - Jiffy Lube

As a vehicle owner, it’s often easy to know when your car  may need maintenance. When your tires begin losing traction, you tend to notice. When your wiper blades leave streaks , you’re reminded every time it rains. And, you know that the oil change reminder light means it’s time to head to Jiffy Lube for an oil change.. But then there’s the often-forgotten cabin air filter. You don’t see it, but in reality, it impacts every breath you and your passengers take.

So, why is the cabin air filter important?  Let’s go over what a cabin air filter does, when and how often you need to change it, and the benefits of a cabin air filter replacement.

How Do You Know When to Change the Cabin Air Filter?

Just like the filter in your home air conditioning system, your vehicle’s cabin air filter eventually becomes clogged with dust and debris. As the cabin air filter begins to clog, you’ll generally notice reduced air flow from vents, a musty smell inside the car, or more and more dust settling on interior surfaces. Or you may find that the A/C isn’t blowing as strong. If you notice any of these symptoms, it may be time to bring your vehicle in for a quick and easy cabin air filter replacement.

How Often to Change Cabin Air Filter

But, what if you don’t notice any symptoms yet? How do you know how often to change your cabin air filter? The answer depends on your vehicle's make, model, and year, but generally, you should replace the cabin air filter every 15,000-30,000 miles. You can find your vehicle's recommended interval in your owner's manual. To find the specific recommendation for your vehicle, you should reference your owner’s manual.

Benefits of Regular Cabin Air Filter Replacement

Usually located either behind your glove compartment or under your hood, your cabin air filter plays a major role in ensuring your comfort and safety. Whenever you're running the heat or air conditioning system, it filters the air entering your cabin. This is important because while you’re enjoying the drive, there’s a whole world of dust, mold spores, pollution, and pollen in the air outside, trying to get in. These contaminants can compromise interior air quality and damage the vehicle’s cooling, heating, and ventilation systems. Replacing your cabin air filter as recommended can improve the interior air quality you and your passengers breathe and help optimize your vehicle’s climate system.