Last weekend many cities across America posted record high temperatures for this time of year, with some reaching the mid to high 80s. Soon drivers will be rolling up their windows to escape the intense summer heat– instead, opting for cool, fresh air from their dash vents. Sadly, some are in for an unpleasant blast of warm air when they switch on the car AC for the first time this year. If this happens to be your experience, we encourage you to check your car’s cabin air filter before assuming any climate control components have failed. For most cars it only takes a few minutes to access the cabin air filter and replacing one is much less costly than any of the scenarios we’re about to highlight.
When AC is On But Airflow is Not Cold
While one job of a cabin air filter is to ensure that cabin air is clean for commuting occupants, that’s only half the battle. The cabin air filter is also there to protect the delicate components of the car’s climate control system. Without it, these components don’t last long. If airflow through your car’s dash vents feels strong but isn’t cold, you could be looking at a litany of problems from refrigerant leaks to compressor failure or dirty evaporator coils. Many of these problems can be directly attributed to excessive dirt, dust and larger debris flowing through the climate control system. The best protection against these common car AC problems is timely cabin air filter replacement.
When AC Airflow Feels Weak
Weak airflow through your car’s dash vents could simply be the result of a clogged cabin air filter, so it’s always a good idea to look there before doing anything else. If the filter has been neglected for too long, there could be damage to other components such as the evaporator blower. And that’s a problem because the fan blades of the evaporator blower are what pushes cool air through the filter housing and ductwork beyond the cabin air filter. We’ve seen some jaw-dropping examples of downright filthy cabin air filters– some that look like they’ve never been changed at all. Mice nests, leaves, pine needles, mold, mildew, etc. are all trapped by the cabin air filter and in some cases, it doesn’t take long to become completely occluded. If you let this happen, the most acute problem will probably be evaporator blower failure. If there’s a problem with the blower motor, airflow will be reduced, and unnatural noise might be heard during operation. The unusual sounds and inability to defog the windshield make this a very easy symptom to spot. Some blower motors aren’t too much trouble to replace, but others can be very expensive, and no one wants to learn that the hard way!
The Best Protection Against Expensive Car AC Problems
We don’t want you to be the person to replace expensive car AC components because of a neglected cabin air filter. Most cabin air filters are incredibly easy to replace, requiring only a few minutes and little to no tools. PUREFLOW cabin air filters ensure that you’re always breathing the cleanest air in your car– while also protecting the delicate and expensive components of your car’s climate control system. With high temperatures right around the corner and layer of pollen coating most cars, springtime is the best time to think about cabin air filter maintenance. When was the last time you replaced yours?
