Recognize when to replace air conditioner air filters
Air conditioner filters are small details but play an important role in cooling efficiency and air quality in the car compartment. However, many car owners only care about engine maintenance and forget to replace air conditioner filters, causing the air conditioning system to operate ineffectively and causing many problems.
According to a technician at the Ninety Eight Auto Auto Repair, Maintenance and Care Center (Cat Lai ward, Ho Chi Minh City), air conditioner filters should be checked periodically and replaced after about 10,000 - 15,000 km or earlier if the car regularly operates in a dusty environment.
Even for cars that are rarely used, periodic replacement is still necessary because dust, moisture and bacteria can still accumulate over time.
For service business vehicles or vehicles frequently moving in dusty environments, car owners should check air conditioner filters regularly and replace them earlier when the filters have become dusty or air conditioner airflow has decreased significantly to maintain cooling efficiency and air quality in the cabin.
One of the easiest signs to recognize is slow air conditioning, weak airflow or unpleasant odors in the cabin. When encountering these phenomena, car owners should check the air conditioner's air filter before thinking about more complex damages.
On many current car models, air conditioning filters are arranged behind the storage compartment on the passenger seat, so removal and inspection are quite simple and usually do not require specialized tools. However, the installation location may vary depending on the car model.
If the filter surface is covered with thick dust, turns dark or has many leaves, insects and other impurities, the car owner should replace them instead of continuing to use them.
Do not wash air filters for reuse
Ninety Eight Auto technicians also noted that air conditioner filters should not be washed for reuse. Most air conditioner filters are made from synthetic fibers or non-woven filter paper, some types are also integrated with an activated carbon layer to increase deodorizing ability.
Washing with water or chemicals can deform the structure of the filter material, reducing the ability to hold dust, filter impurities, and absorb odors.
If the air filter only has a small amount of dust, the car owner can use low-pressure compressed air to blow lightly in the opposite direction of the air flow to remove surface dust. However, this is only a temporary solution and cannot replace replacement when the filter has been used for too long or is seriously dirty.
Not replacing air conditioner air filters on time also reduces airflow through the air conditioner, causing moisture to stay longer on the surface of the air conditioner after using the air conditioner.
This is a favorable condition for mold and bacteria to grow, causing odors in the car compartment, reducing cooling efficiency and possibly affecting the health of people sitting in the car, especially young children, the elderly or people with respiratory diseases.
The cost of replacing air conditioning filters is not high but brings many benefits such as maintaining cooling efficiency, improving air quality in the cabin, limiting odors, reducing dust on the air conditioning system and contributing to extending the life of the air conditioning system.
