The Proper Use Of The Air Recirculation Button In Your Vehicle
When the weather heats up, and it’s time to turn on your vehicle air-conditioning, there’s one button you may not know how to use. Have you seen the button in your car that shows an arrow going in a circle? That’s the air-recirculation button. Although some drivers know what it’s called, many don’t know what it’s for! If you’ve ever wondered why it’s there and what it does – read on; you’ll be glad you did!
What Does The Air Recirculation Button Do?
The air recirculation button effectively cuts off the outside air to the inside of the car, ‘recirculating’ air inside your vehicle.
What the air-recirculation button is used for:
- Boosting your AC to help your cabin get as cold as possible as quickly as possible
- Stopping pollution & exhaust fumes i.e., in a city center traffic jam, entering your cabin
- Reducing pollen when driving if you suffer from hayfever
- Stopping strong outdoor odors entering your car
The Benefits Of The Air Recirculation Button
- The air-recirculation function ensures your AC works to the optimum level, allowing your vehicle to get as cold as possible as quickly as possible.
- It helps stop pollution, smells, and pollen from entering your cabin
- It helps keep your air-filter cleaner for longer
- It reduces strain on your AC system
- It helps reduce fuel consumption by assisting the AC system
Some new cars do not have an air-recirculation button. This is because modern vehicles are often equipped with sensors that monitor the cabin air and moisture levels, adjusting the “air circulation” automatically.
When To Use The Air Recirculation Button
- When using AC, unless the system becomes too cold, use it to quickly cool down your vehicle
- In summer & hot weather
- In dense traffic, to stop pollution from entering the cabin
Extreme Weather
If you’re driving in a heatwave, you should turn on your AC & your air-recirculation ON to ensure your air-con gets as cold as possible as quickly as possible.
If you don’t switch the air-recirculation button on, your air-conditioning will constantly cool warm air from outside your vehicle, and will have to work much harder, putting more stress on the blower & air compressor.
The system works by recirculating the cool air you get from your A/C when you first turn it on. The longer it’s on, the cooler your vehicle will get! If you don’t use it, the car will use the air from the outside that is much warmer, and your A/C will work harder and continuously to cool the hot air.
If your AC has to work harder, you’ll increase fuel consumption, and your cabin won’t reach its optimum level of coldness from the air-con system. You will also be putting undue wear and tear on your A/C compressor.
When Not To Use Air-Recirculation
In winter and cold weather. Generally, when its cold outside, ensure the recirculation button is switched off! The air-recirculation button is best to use alongside your AC during warm weather. It doesn’t benefit much during cooler weather and can even be detrimental.
Some drivers think it makes sense not to have “all that cold air coming in” if they use heaters in winter. However, in reality, it’s best to keep it switched off. The standard “fresh air” mode forces the outside air through your heater core, so it’s nice and toasty before it reaches you, and your windows will de-fog a lot quicker and stay that way while you drive.
Disadvantages Of The Air Recirculation Button
The main downside of the air-recirculation button is that it traps humidity inside the car, which results in misted windscreens, especially when the air is cold outside and in wet weather.
- It can cause your windscreen to mist up
- It can trap humidity in the cabin
- If your vehicle is fully loaded with passengers, it can cause it to be stuffy and may make you drowsy
Our Goal For You and Your Car
Our goal is to save you money, not spend it.
This is why each and every car that we service gets a free Courtesy Maintenance Inspection during its first visit.
We aim to let you know about the small problems before they become big.
Right now we have a number of customer cars with well over 200,000 miles, and several approaching 300,000!
And these cars are not just limping along – most look and drive pretty much the way they came out of the showroom.
Proper maintenance is an investment in the life of your vehicle.
Knowing, not just doing, but actually knowing and understanding the difference, makes all the difference.
Be sure your car is properly loved, our professionals will attend to both you and your car’s needs.
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