Can replacing your pollen filter help with hayfever?
Anybody who suffers with hayfever knows just how disrupting it can be to everyday life throughout the summer months. Have you ever considered how the inside of your car could be making your hayfever worse?
Even though we tend to use our cars on a daily basis, we very rarely consider what air is getting into our car and what we’re breathing in. This is where the pollen filter (Also known as a cabin air filter) comes into play.
This crucial filter is responsible for filtering the air we breathe inside our car by trapping dust, pollen, and pollutants before they enter the interior through the ventilation system.
The vast majority of newer cars and vans are fitted with pollen filters, and they’re usually located under the dashboard or behind the glove box.
In exactly the same way as other types of filters, pollen filters become clogged as they get older which reduces their ventilation efficiency.
When should I consider changing my pollen filter?
There is no definitive answer to this question, but most manufacturers recommend between 15,0000 to 30,000 miles or every 2 years. However, this is entirely up to you and highly depends on your environment.
For example, if you’re frequently driving in a high pollen level area such as the countryside, you may wish to change the pollen filter once a year to stop the nasty pollen ruining your day!
Using Tesla as another example, they recommend the model 3 pollen filter to be replaced every 2 years in the UK or USA but every year in China due to the higher levels of pollution.
We recommend consulting your owner’s manual to find out exact recommended times for replacing the pollen filter in your car.
How much should a replacement pollen filter cost?
The cost of a replacement pollen filter is entirely dependent on the make and model of your vehicle.
In some vehicles the location of the pollen filter is notoriously difficult to reach so you may be charged more labour whilst in other vehicles it’s a very simple job.
The same applies to the actual pollen filter part itself, they can cost as little as £15-£30 whilst others cost as much as £100 upwards.
Conclusion
At Lindleys Autocentres in Nottingham, we change thousands of pollen filters every year and you would be shocked at some of the things we see that have been kept out of the cabin (Leaves, wool, spiders, bees, etc)
If you suffer with hayfever, then we highly recommend changing your pollen filter, this will help alleviate some of the symptoms whilst driving and offer some respite.
If you’re weighing up the cost vs the benefits then it really is a no brainer! Changing your pollen filter is relatively cheap and can offer you peace of mind about what you’re breathing in.
