How Often to Change Cabin Air Filter on Your Hyundai

Mechanic servicing cabin air filter 

For drivers wondering how often to change the cabin air filter on your Hyundai, this is a good thing to get ahead of, especially as your vehicle gets older. The cabin air filter is responsible for cleaning the air you and your passengers breathe when you get behind the wheel, so maintaining it is a good practice alongside Hyundai's other annual upkeep appointments. Of course, we'll cover plenty in this post, including how often to change the cabin air filter on your Hyundai, so stick around!

What Does a Hyundai Cabin Air Filter Do?

A Hyundai cabin air filter cleans the air entering your car through the ventilation, heating, and air conditioning systems. By keeping your Hyundai cabin air filter up to date, you ensure there aren't blockages from dirt and air debris, preventing it from letting clean air into your vehicle and working at optimal capacity. The better the air quality inside your Hyundai car, truck, or SUV, the less you'll feel the need to roll down a window-changing the filter matters.

Improves Cabin Air Quality

A clean and maintained Hyundai cabin air filter has the biggest impact on your everyday driving experience: improved air quality in your car. When you don't replace this filter, your Hyundai's air conditioning and heating system will not be able to properly filter out debris and airborne pollutants from reaching your main cabin. This means worse air to breathe each day.

Protects Your AC System

Another reason to regularly replace the cabin air filter in a Hyundai is that it puts less stress on the HVAC system. A clogged or dirty filter will trigger the rest of your air conditioning/heating system to work harder, which could cause long-term damage and costly repairs. If you don't maintain your air conditioning components, don't expect them to last longer than five or six years, if that. To put things into perspective, the industry average is about 8-10 years.

How Often Should You Change Your Cabin Air Filter?

How often should you change the cabin air filter on your Hyundai? Hyundai recommends changing your cabin air filter every 12,000 miles or 12 months. Consider this a yearly appointment requiring a certified professional to get inside your vehicle and replace the dirty filter. Here at Colonial Hyundai in New London, we can help with this appointment each week from Monday to Friday, so please give us a call.

Factors That Affect Frequency

Regarding the factors that play a role in changing your Hyundai cabin air filter, this typically has to do with your driving habits and the climates you live and travel through. For instance, if you're an avid road tripper and drive thousands of miles on the road in a short period, you'll likely need a new cabin air filter faster than the average person. The same can be said for those living or driving a lot in urban, polluted environments. The more smog and airborne debris your Hyundai air filter has to work with, the dirtier it will get. This varies for everybody.

Signs Your Cabin Air Filter Needs to Be Changed

Quite a few symptoms might pop up when it comes to the signs you need to change the cabin air filter inside your Hyundai. The most obvious will be bad smells, allergies, and discomfort. However, things like foggy windows, reduced airflow, and visible dust, dirt, and debris inside your cabin also indicate the filter needs to be swapped out.

Reduced Airflow in Cabin

Reduced airflow in your Hyundai's main cabin is never a good sign. As we mentioned, the more clogs and blockages on the filter, the less space there is for air to move through into your Hyundai. That can give your car a muggy feeling in warmer months.

Unpleasant Odors

Odd or bad smells inside your car, truck, or SUV's cabin are yet another sign of a dirty filter. If the vehicle smells musty or moldy, it is likely time to replace the cabin air filter.

Increased Allergy Symptoms or Respiratory Discomfort

A dirty or clogged Hyundai cabin air filter can be very noticeable for those who already suffer from climate and environmental sensitivity. The more you scratch your eyes, wipe your nose, and cough or sneeze, the more you'll realize that a filter appointment is needed.

Benefits of Regularly Changing Your Cabin Air Filter

There's a reason you need to know how often to change the cabin air filter on your Hyundai. The benefits of regularly changing your Hyundai cabin air filter can't be highlighted enough. We will detail these below:

Improved Air Quality

First, by replacing the cabin air filter, you ensure that the air you breathe is clean and debris-free.

Enhanced AC Performance

Secondly, your A/C system will have to work less hard to operate, meaning a better chance of lasting 8-10 years.

Better Fuel Efficiency

You also will notice less fuel and energy being used, resulting in better MPGs. It's a win-win.

How to Change the Cabin Air Filter on Your Hyundai

If you want to change the cabin air filter on your Hyundai, you can follow these easy steps:

  • Locate and open the glove box inside your Hyundai
  • Remove the stoppers inside (if applicable)
  • Remove the support rod on the outer side of the glove box
  • Lower your glove box further, accessing the filter cover
  • Remove the cabin air filter cover and replace the filter
  • Re-assemble your glove box, and you're done

When to Consider Professional Service

Knowing how often to change the cabin air filter on your Hyundai might seem overwhelming. If the above steps sound challenging, or if you feel more comfortable with a professional technician working inside your Hyundai, the team here at Colonial Hyundai will lend a hand. We recommend trying this filter replacement only if you're 100% confident in your skills to do it correctly and successfully, so no worries if you have cold feet. We are here to help!

Schedule Service at Colonial Hyundai

With this guide to when to change your Hyundai cabin air filter finished, it is time to schedule service with the friendly and professional crew here at Colonial Hyundai. We are open Monday through Friday weekly and are here to tackle your upcoming maintenance appointments. See you soon!