September 17, 2024

Your Tesla’s Dirty Little Secret: The Hygiene Upgrade You Didn’t Know You Needed

Whether you’re a full-blown auto enthusiast or someone who simply understands the value of proper upkeep and maintenance, your new-to-you vehicle deserves a clean slate. But sometimes, even after a full detail, you still catch a whiff of some stranger’s cigar or the funky tang of a toddler’s cereal milk, spoiled ages ago in the backseat. Maybe it’s there all the time, or maybe it’s only when you first close the door.

The truth is, no matter how clean the previous owner kept your car, chances are the cabin air filter has long been ignored. One of the perks of owning an electric vehicle is far fewer service appointments, but it’s that very same reason that EV customers aren’t typically reminded to change this crucial piece of your vehicle’s complex HVAC infrastructure. In fact, the cabin filter is often the single most ignored maintenance item on any vehicle because of misconceptions regarding the role this filter plays.

Changing a Tesla cabin filter is not only required to ensure heating and cooling system longevity, but it is also one of the easiest do-it-yourself maintenance procedures to perform. Cabin air filters on any car should be changed yearly, and if you or your passengers have allergies, or you spend much of your time in congested traffic, you are advised to change your cabin air filter every 6-9 months.

So what’s the big deal about cabin air filters?

First off, you and your passengers spend countless hours inside your car. Every time you open your windows or doors, a vacuum is created, sucking in allergens, dirt, germs, and smells from the outside world. And when the HVAC system is running, your car is actually pulling outside air directly into the cabin, so the only thing standing between you and the smog, grit, and grime of bumper-to-bumper traffic, air pollution, and pollen is your vehicle’s cabin air filter. By changing your filter regularly, you ensure those undesirable elements remain outside the vehicle, so you and the kids breathe healthier, cleaner air all year long.

Another reason to change your filter regularly—especially in electric vehicles—has to do keeping your complex heating and cooling systems running efficiently. As the cabin air filter does its job trapping allergens, smog and the like, it also begins to clog. This forces the fans powering your vents and defrosters to work harder and harder as they try to push large volumes of air past a congested filter—and when your battery works harder, your car becomes less efficient.

A clogged cabin filter also means it’s going to take longer for your climate control system to reach optimum temperatures. Clogged filters are especially problematic in the warmer months when their reduced airflow allows air conditioning condensation to build up on the old filter and inside your vents. This moist environment is the perfect habitat for mold, mildew, and other musty smells to become entrenched in your ventilation system. Unfortunately, this problem requires a much more labor-intensive remedy—one that could have easily been prevented with just a five-minute cabin filter replacement.

Here at EVANNEX, our parts and vehicle experts are ready to provide you with the parts, the knowledge, and the Lifetime Replacement Program you need to ensure your investment is protected from the elements and performing like new—and that translates to fewer trips to your local dealership and more money for doing whatever gets you going!