Cabin Air Filter Replacement near Arlington, VA

If you’ve been commuting through Arlington in your Honda Accord for the last few years, the chances are good that you need a new cabin air filter. Learn about your cabin air filter including why it’s necessary, how often to change it, and why you should bring your car to us at Sheehy Honda of Alexandria to perform this service.  

The Purpose of an Air Filter

Your Honda’s cabin air filter is typically located in a readily accessible area, like behind the glove box or under the dashboard. It’s near the endpoint of the airflow system into your car’s interior. This part performs a major task—trapping particulate matter that you encounter on roadways and keeping the atmosphere inside the vehicle clean. If you’ve ever followed behind a truck with foul-smelling exhaust, it should be clear that drivers breathe in what other vehicles expel or kick up on the roads. When the vents in your Honda are open, oxygen will pass through the filter, eliminating pollen and byproducts of combustion. However, the air filters will become filled by such materials and need to be swapped with a new one to provide optimal levels of comfort and airflow. 

Warning Signs

For the most part, you should have your cabin air filter replaced every 15,000 miles. However, if you spend a lot of time on I-395, you may notice that the piece is beginning to wear out sooner due to the concentration of pollutants in urban areas. Witnessing the warning signs that we discuss below should prompt drivers in this area to contact our Service Department so our techs can change out their filter. For example, a common symptom when this part is failing is decreased airflow from your vents. In this case, the system is struggling to push air through the contamination, and less is getting through. Another warning sign is when a musty smell permeates the interior when you turn on your air conditioning or heating system, an indication that too much matter has collected on the cabin air filter's surface. Lastly, a common problem that emerges when you need a fresh filter is when the air quality inside your Honda Pilot is diminished. As the cabin air filter becomes too full, allergens and other particles make it into the cabin. Bear in mind that our technicians can fix this problem for you. 

Types of Cabin Air Filters 

Although many types of cabin air filters are on the market, our Parts Department carries the ones that are built to fit your Honda model and last the longest. You can either order the part and install it yourself or have our experts do it for you as part of your regularly scheduled maintenance. If you choose to have your Honda serviced at our dealership, we’ll check the condition of your cabin air filter during our multi-point inspections and offer to swap it out for a new one if needed. When the time comes to replace it, you can choose from several different kinds. The most basic type is a paper particulate filter that helps remove pollen and other irritating elements while you drive near Doctors Branch Park. A step up from there would be an activated carbon filter that does everything the first sort does, but it also adds odor control. If you want the highest degree of air quality protection, antimicrobial filters are best. These remove particles from the air, reduce odors, and also inhibit the growth of mold on the product. If you have any other questions or you want to make an appointment, contact us today.