Vehicle's Air and Cabin Filters Offer Critical Protection from Soot, Smoke

The soot and smoke from wildfires can be a serious concern for both vehicles and passengers, unless the air filters and cabin filters are in optimum working condition. The Car Care Council suggests that these filters be checked to ensure they
provide maximum protection during this difficult time.

The vehicle's air filter traps dirt particles, including soot, which can cause damage to engine cylinders, cylinder walls, pistons, piston rings and bearings. The air filter also plays a critical role in keeping smoke and soot from contaminating the airflow sensor on fuel-injected cars.

Air filters are a normal wear item that requires regular checks and replacement. As a rule of thumb, air filters should be inspected at each oil change and replaced annually or when showing other signs of contamination.

The cabin air filter is responsible for cleaning the air entering the passenger compartment. Under normal circumstances, it helps trap pollen, bacteria, dust and exhaust gases that may find their way into a vehicle's heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The filter also prevents leaves, bugs and other debris from entering the HVAC system, which could also cause problems.

More than 80 percent of new domestic and import vehicles sold in the U.S. today come equipped with cabin air filtration systems or a slot where one can be installed. Most filters are accessed through a panel in the HVAC housing, which may be under the hood or placed within the interior of the vehicle.

A cabin air filter should not be cleaned and reinstalled. Instead, it should be replaced every 12,000 to 15,000 miles or per the owner's manual. In areas with heavy airborne contaminants, it should be changed as often as necessary.

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Consumer Reports Finds Vacuums' Claims to Remove Allergens Mean Less Than They Suggest

While vacuum marketers continue to push allergen relief along with the usual cleaning,
results from a new Consumer Reports test show that those promises mean less than they suggest. Months of rigorous testing on vacuums at all price levels also showed that some new names and designs didn't cut it in Consumer Reports' evaluations.

Some uprights, including models from Bissell, Dirt Devil, Dyson, Electrolux, and Oreck, claim to filter allergens. Dyson touts an Asthma Friendly seal from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America certifying its uprights are "proven more suitable for people with asthma and related
allergic sensitivities," and many of its models carry a Seal of Approval from the British Allergy Foundation for products that "restrict or remove allergens from the environment of allergy sufferers." Vacuums that made those claims did, indeed, pick up allergen-sized particles in Consumer Reports tests. But so should others, since pollen, mold spores, and other typical allergens are large enough to fall to the floor, where they're easy to capture.

CR says it also found two models that quit -- the Electrolux and the Eureka Optima. The Electrolux suggests using its Twin Clean canister's "powerful brushroll" for deep-cleaning, which this model did well in the carpet tests. But the tough pet-hair test stopped it cold. The latest Eureka Optima was better than earlier versions at capturing larger particles. But it scored a "Poor" in the emissions tests. Two samples temporarily shut down after those tests triggered their thermal-overload protection.

Two less-familiar brands also proved disappointing. Koblenz markets its U-610-ZN ($440), upright for commercial use, yet it delivered less-than-stellar cleaning, won't accept tools, and was noisy enough to require hearing protection. Metropolitan's ADM-4PNHSF ($600), canister
proved fine on carpets and floors, but only "Fair" in our hose-airflow tests.

"With all the promises, it's easy to get confused when shopping, especially if you have asthma or allergy concerns. But at roughly 100 times larger than the smallest specs we measure, allergen particles should be easy game for practically any vacuum. And models that scored at least Very
Good in our dust-emissions tests will nab the bad stuff," says Bob Markovich, Home & Yard editor at Consumer Reports. "Our long list of Quick Picks and CR Best Buys includes vacuums that cost as little as $60 and proved capable at a variety of cleaning tasks."

The vacuum story is in the October issue of Consumer Reports which goes on sale at newsstands and everywhere on September 4.

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