What is the purpose of an air conditioning filter?
3 Answers
Here are the functions of an air conditioning filter: 1. Provide fresh air to prevent car windows from fogging up, ensuring clear visibility for the driver and safe driving; it supplies fresh air to the passenger compartment, preventing occupants from inhaling harmful gases and ensuring driving safety; it also effectively sterilizes and deodorizes. 2. Ensure safety and hygiene by keeping the air in the passenger compartment clean and free from bacterial growth, creating a healthy environment; it effectively separates solid impurities such as dust, powder, and grinding particles from the air; it also intercepts pollen, ensuring that drivers and passengers do not experience allergic reactions that could affect driving safety. 3. Adsorb harmful substances such as moisture, soot, ozone, odors, carbon oxides, SO2, CO2, etc., from the air; it has strong and durable moisture adsorption capabilities. 4. Filter solid impurities by tightly fitting the filter to the housing, ensuring that unfiltered air does not enter the cabin. It separates solid impurities such as dust, pollen, and grinding particles from the air.
The cabin air filter is quite important in a car. What I care about most when driving is whether it can effectively block dust and pollen from outside. Especially for families with children, a dirty filter during spring pollen season can easily trigger sneezing fits. It also helps filter out fine particulate matter like PM2.5. When driving on highways in summer with windows closed and the air circulation system on, it's solely responsible for filtering the incoming dirty air. Not replacing it for too long causes bigger problems - a moldy filter can actually blow unpleasant odors into the cabin. Last time I smelled that musty odor was when I realized it needed replacement. For frequent drivers, I recommend checking it every six months or so. Cities with heavy rainfall should replace them even more frequently, since respiratory health isn't something to skimp on by buying cheap products.
I used to think that the air conditioner not cooling was a refrigeration issue, but later an experienced mechanic told me that a clogged filter can affect the entire system. This thing acts like a mask, protecting the evaporator and blower. When dust accumulates in the air ducts, it's easy for mold to grow. The time I removed the filter myself, I was shocked to find leaves and small insects stuck inside. Not replacing it for a long time can cause the blower to make strange noises, and in severe cases, you might even need to dismantle the dashboard to clean the ducts. Now during maintenance, I always ask the workers to check the filter location first. Some car models have it installed behind the glove compartment on the passenger side, making it easy to replace yourself. Choosing an activated carbon material works even better, as it's particularly effective at absorbing cooking fumes and odors.
