Most, if not all, vehicles have a recirculation button with the A/C controls in their cars. But many of us are unsure when to use it. Well, the easy answer is to use it in the summer and turn it off in the winter.
How It Works
The recirculation button simply takes the air from inside the car and recirculates it in the cabin instead of pulling fresh air from outside.
Summer Benefits
On days like those we have had this last week when it is miserably hot outside, if you do not recirculate the cooler air in the cabin, than your A/C system is pulling hot air from outside and trying to cool it. Using the recirculation feature will get your car cooler and will decrease the wear and tear on your A/C system.
Tip: If your car has been baking in the sun, it’s better to roll the windows down and turn recirculate off for the first minute or so to get rid of the super hot air inside the car before turning recirculate on.
Traffic Conditions
Also, any time you are stuck in traffic (summer or winter) be sure to use the recirculate. If you are pulling air from outside, then you are pulling in all the pollutants and carbon monoxide from all the traffic.
Studies show that recirculating your A/C can cut down on the pollutants entering your vehicle by 20% when stuck in traffic!
When to Use Recirculation:
- Summer months – To cool your car more efficiently
- Heavy traffic – To reduce pollutants entering your vehicle
- When driving through areas with strong odors – To prevent unpleasant smells from entering
When to Turn Recirculation Off:
- Winter months – To prevent fogging of windows
- When first entering a hot car – To expel the initial hot air
- When you need fresh air circulation – For longer journeys when the cabin might get stuffy
Understanding how to properly use your car’s A/C recirculation feature can improve your comfort, reduce pollutant exposure, and even extend the life of your vehicle’s air conditioning system.
