Filtration
Cabin Filter ReplacementThroughout the winter most drivers rely heavily on their vehicles’ ventilation system to keep themselves warm and their windscreens de-iced. As we move into the Spring/Summer season, many of these vehicles will need aircon system maintenance and cabin filter replacement. Service Essentials Cabin filters can be easily overlooked as an item for replacement, but like all filters they must be replaced at regular intervals to prevent them becoming the cause of a problem. In the case of cabin filters they can become the silent enemy to the health and well-being of the cabin’s occupants.
Left unchanged, the cabin filter will eventually become clogged and will no longer trap and retain excess dust, bacteria and micro-organisms. This is exacerbated if the vehicle is left to stand for several days because it gives bacteria the opportunity to grow – especially in warm weather. Clogged Filters A clogged cabin filter prevents the air conditioning system working at peak performance. As excess particles cannot be held in the filter the fan will blow them into the cabin, compromising the health of the occupants and pumping foul odours into the cabin. Another symptom of a clogged filter is that the air conditioning system has to work harder to draw air across the blocked filter. Naturally the passengers will run the system at a higher setting to compensate for the effects of the blockage. This forces the motor to run hotter which impacts on bearings and housings, and in time, the fan simply becomes noisy.
Tell tale signs that it is time to replace the cabin filter include:
Spring Clean Your Cabin Each year, spring time brings an uplift in car care and accessory products as people start to clean away the remnants of winter from their vehicles. Within the past few years, the interior accessory market has seen an influx of air fresheners, each new type diversifying slightly from the original hanging air freshener. Of course, these types of air fresheners are still popular with the Magic Tree brand seeing massive growth over the past ten years, but there are many more exciting brands available.
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One method to bring a vehicles air conditioning system back to health is to use an air conditioning cleaner developed to eliminate bacteria, fungi, moulds and viruses. These are the causes of unpleasant odours, hay fever symptoms and other allergic reactions. Reisse recommends using an air con cleaner in conjunction with the cabin filter change to maximise the benefits that the cleaning process is intended to bring.
These days, air fresheners come in a spray, gel form, pot or sachet; they hang, sit on the dash, on the air vent or under the seat and are available in every scent known to man (and some invented through clever marketing). For a low ticket item, it’s a perfect add-on sale for any garage or motor factor to subtly enhance the interior of the car with a pleasant smell.