Frequently Asked Questions
About Cabin Air Filters.
Q1: What is a Cabin Air Filter?
The Cabin Air Filter removes the dust, pollen, mold spores and other particles that can flow inside the passenger compartment of your vehicle, especially in certain driving conditions such as city driving, dusty roads and industrial areas. Both foreign and domestic vehicles are now installing this filter to keep the airflow clear and clean within the passenger compartment of your vehicle.
Q2: What are the benefits of a Cabin Air Filter Service?
Captures airborne particles as small as one micron
An electro statically charged layer will hold the small particles in the filter, not the air
Maintains clean airflow throughout the vehicle's passenger compartment
Protects air conditioner and heater core from dirt, debris and possible corrosion
Q3 How often should the Cabin Air Filter be replaced?
Some filters have an electrostatic charge within the filter which depletes with time. Over time, larger particles in the air will eventually clog the filter. Failure to replace this filter will cause reduced airflow into your vehicle's passenger compartment.
Most Vehicle manufacturers recommend a regular Cabin Air Filter replacement every 12 months or 15,000 miles.
Q4 What happens if the cabin air filter elements are not changed out regularly?
If the elements are not changed at the specified interval, or if the "on-condition" warning of element clogging was ignored, there would be no immediate cause for alarm. The filter pressure drop will gradually increase as the element clogs, and there will be some gradual reduction of the recirculation fan air flow as a result. The filter element will not collapse or fail, because it is designed to accept the full pressure rise capacity of the recirculation fans.
Q5 What testing has been performed on cabin air filters after they have been in-service?
One of the objectives of the EC Cabinair project was to establish the current in-service performance of filtration systems through the programme of Measurements in the Sky.
In order to evaluate the performance of the filtration systems installed on current commercial aircraft, Pall are continually monitoring the in-flight performance of their filtration equipment. Pall have been involved in cabin air filtration for over 20 years and in the last 5 years alone, more than 300 cabin air filter elements have been returned from service, either at the request of Pall or by the airlines themselves. Overall, this monitoring programme has confirmed that the cabin air filter elements are performing satisfactorily in-service.
The types of test performed include: weight measurement, differential pressure across the filter element, particulate removal efficiency, and analysis of contamination.
Q6:Is there a danger to the maintenance personnel by removing used cabin air filters?
There is no more risk involved in replacing a cabin air filter than carrying out general maintenance on any aircraft part that has been in service for a number of years. Maintenance staff who may be concerned about the general accumulation of dust and debris on cabin air filters should wear the same personal protective equipment as for other aircraft maintenance tasks.
Q7: Does the filter help allergy sufferers?
Yes. The filter traps virtually all pollen and dust particles that may cause allergic reactions. Such particles are generally 7 to 100 microns in diameter. A dot made with a sharp pencil is huge at 200 microns.
Q8: How does the filter work?
Filter fibers are electrostatically charged, allowing the filter to work at higher efficiency because it attracts and holds contaminants within the media. This reduces the chance of surface clogging and allows the filter to last longer.
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