Contamination filter: role, location and cost
Content
Anti-pollution filter, better known as Cabin Filter or a pollen filter, filters the outside air entering your car to purify it. Its use allows you to guarantee good air quality in the passenger compartment, in particular, by eliminating pollution or even dust. In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about the anti-pollution filter: its role, location, signs of wear, and purchase price!
💨 What role does the anti-pollution filter play?
The anti-pollution filter plays an important role in minimize air pollution present in your car. Adopted in 2000 on all new vehicles, it improves the comfort of the driver and passengers on board. Indeed, it will filter multiple items like various allergens, pollen, dust and especially polluting particles.
It will filter the air directly from your vehicle's air conditioning system. To equip your car with this type of filter, you will have a choice between 3 different models:
- Standard pollution filter : Filters mainly pollen and a small amount of polluting particles;
- Activated carbon contamination filter : thanks to the presence of activated carbon, it filters pollen more effectively, as well as odors, polluting particles and gases;
- Polyphenol contamination filter : It is especially effective in filtering different types of allergens.
Depending on your needs, you can choose the type of filter that suits you best, based on its efficiency and fits your budget.
🔎 Where is the pollution filter?
Since the pollution filter is associated with air conditioner your car, it is always close to its components. This way, you can find it behind or under the glove box.
To access the filter, the glove box must be completely removed and you will find the filter under the hatch in the ventilation duct.
On some vehicle models, the contamination filter can be accessed through hood... Indeed, if you cannot remove the glove box, you will need to access the filter located at the top left under the hood of your car.
As a rule, access to the anti-pollution filter is quite easy... Indeed, it is a part that you can change very easily on your own, so it remains accessible and does not require significant tools to access it.
⚠️ What are the symptoms of a clogged pollution filter?
On average, the anti-contamination filter needs to be replaced. Every year or all 20 to 000 kilometers... However, some symptoms may indicate premature filter wear, which needs to be replaced quickly. Thus, you will have the following manifestations:
- One air conditioner non-functional : the air emitted by the air conditioning system is very weak or not at all due to a clogged filter;
- The filter is completely clogged : if you look at the filter, it is in a very bad condition, there is dust and dirt on it;
- The heater will not work well : if you are driving in winter, your heating system will also not be able to work;
- Le windshield it will be more difficult to fog up : if you want to remove fog present on the windshield, the blown air power will be too low to fog effectively;
- The ventilation circuit is damaged : Since the ventilation does not work properly with a damaged filter, it may damage the ventilation circuit.
💸 How much does the anti-pollution filter cost?
A pollution filter can be purchased from a car dealer, from a car supplier, or directly on the Internet at many sites. Depending on the characteristics of the selected filter and brand, its price may vary from 15 € and 30 €.
To find out the current filter model on your car, you can refer to service book from it to find out the original filter installed on your car.
This way, you don't have to calculate labor costs to replace it, because you can do it yourself. It should also be noted that this filter changes frequently during your revision annual.
You are now an expert in protecting your vehicle from pollution. Therefore, it is very important to maintain good air quality in the passenger compartment and to ensure proper operation of the air conditioning and heating system. As soon as it starts to fail, it must be quickly replaced so as not to damage the ventilation circuit!
