Maintenance for your car is important to learn. Taking care of the oil changes and wiper blades to tire rotations and replacements. One item that often eludes people’s attention, though, is the cabin air filter. It’s an easy, affordable thing to replace.

What is a cabin air filter?

Located on most vehicles behind the glove compartment, the cabin air filter is responsible for filtering the air that enters the cabin of the vehicle through the heating and air conditioner system. It keeps air quality healthy inside your vehicle.

When should I replace the cabin air filter?

The time period for replacing your cabin air filter is dependent on the make, model, and year of your vehicle, so you’ll want to check your owner’s manual for verification. In general, though, most cabin air filters should be replaced somewhere between every 15,000 and 30,000 miles. Replacement can also depend on how much you drive and where.

How to change a cabin air filter?

Take a look at your owner’s manual. In the manual, you can find where the air filter is located for your specific vehicle. This will determine how difficult or easy it is to replace the cabin air filter. The cabin air filter should be easily accessible if it is behind the glove box or under the hood. However, if it is under the dashboard, this could present more of a challenge.

Protect yourself by wearing gloves and a mask. Sometimes, removing the dirty air filter can get a bit messy. Replace the old air filter with a new, clean one.

If you prefer to leave this task to the professionals, thankfully cabin air filter replacements aren’t going to cost you an arm and a leg, with prices ranging from around $40 to $80 for parts and labor.