Car AC Hack: The Right Way to Use Recirculation Mode for Better Cooling

In the scorching summer heat when staying inside the car is a challenge, efficient use of air conditioning (AC) can make all the difference. Nowadays, all cars come equipped with powerful air conditioners (AC) and other features like the recirculation button for maximum comfort. To drive smarter, you must understand your vehicle’s main features like AC controls properly. That’s why getting familiar with your vehicle is an essential part of driving lessons as well as many corporate driver training programs like the low-risk driving courses. The recirculation button is a simple yet powerful tool for maximizing comfort and fuel efficiency in cars. And yet, many drivers are either unaware of it or fail to use it efficiently. When used wisely, it can not just maintain perfect car temperature but also help save fuel and improve AC performance. This article will explore the purpose of the recirculation mode, how to use it wisely and the benefits it provides.

What Does the Recirculation Button Do?

Climate control has become an essential part of a vehicle’s main features. The recirculation button, often depicted with a circular arrow, is a mode or feature offered by most cars to help maintain the right temperature even in the hottest of days. Its main function is to recirculate the air already present in your vehicle instead of drawing in fresh air from outside. When used properly, this mode can cool the car better, increase AC’s efficiency, and keep the air cleaner.

When Should You Use Recirculation Mode?

If you’re using the recirculation mode only in summer and turning it off otherwise, you’re not wrong. However, there are ways to use this mode more efficiently. Here’s how and why:

Efficient Cooling in Hot Weather

When the temperatures are extremely high, the AC systems in your vehicles have to work a lot to cool the hot air from outside, affecting their performance and cooling. Using the recirculation mode in such heat reduces the strain on your AC compressor and provides faster cooling. However, if you make sure the air inside your vehicle is not too hot to begin with, then cooling it down further becomes easier.

So, the next time you want to start your AC when the car has been sitting in the sun for long, first roll down the windows for a minute to let out the hot air trapped inside and then close the windows and use recirculation mode. This will cool down your car faster and more uniformly.

Traffic and Pollution Control

When you’re stuck in heavy traffic, there’s a lot of dust, pollution, and exhaust fumes from all the stuck vehicles polluting the air. Such air has many harmful pollutants and carbon monoxide that can cause damage to the body and make breathing a bit difficult. So, instead of having your AC bring this polluted air inside the car, it’s better to recirculate the air inside the car and cool it down. Studies show that recirculating air can reduce the amount of pollutants inside the car by 20%. This feature is a must in traffic as it helps keep the outside pollutants from affecting the air quality inside your car.

When Should You Turn It Off?

While recirculation mode has many benefits, it’s not ideal for all situations:

• Winter Use - Recirculation mode simply recirculates the air inside the car. In winters, when the air is humid, recirculation can increase humidity and cause fogging. To reduce humidity and prevent windows from fogging, it’s better to use fresh air mode.

• For Long Drives - Long drive means sitting inside the car for a long duration. While recirculation mode can keep the air clean and cool, it still uses the air inside the car only. The oxygen in this stale air gets reduced after some time. It’s better to use fresh air mode and let fresh oxygen come in occasionally, to prevent the air from becoming stale.

Benefits of Using Recirculation Mode Wisely

Recirculation feature, when used correctly, offers multiple advantages such as:

• Faster cooling: It quickly cools the car and makes you feel comfortable even in extreme heat.

• Better fuel efficiency: It reduces the strain on your AC compressor, allowing it to work more effectively without using a lot of fuel.

• Cleaner air quality: With this mode, you need not let the outside air in, which means less exposure to exhaust fumes and harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide when waiting in traffic.

• Prolonged AC system life: When your AC doesn’t have to work overtime, it can do more work in less and be more efficient. This also reduces wear and tear on your AC components and increases their lifespan.

• Maintaining a Comfortable Temperature: Recirculating already-cooled or heated air helps maintain a steady and comfortable temperature inside the car.

How Corporate Driver Training Helps

Despite most modern cars having many great features, drivers are often unaware of them and if aware, fail to use them effectively. What they lack is a comprehensive knowledge of the features and more familiarity with their vehicle’s functions. Low-risk driving courses can teach students driving techniques that can reduce fuel consumption and improve performance while maintaining safety. Similarly, other corporate driver training programs can help drivers understand their vehicle features and maintain them better. It can make driving more comfortable, enhance safety, and increase vehicle longevity. Corporate Driver Training Australia provides professional programs that teach drivers practical skills, including how to maximize fuel efficiency, reduce fatigue, and use vehicle features effectively.

Conclusion

Efficient use of the recirculation button can improve your driving experience significantly. With its proper use, you can enjoy faster cooling, better air quality, and improved fuel efficiency. Whether you’re navigating city traffic or dealing with extreme heat, this simple AC hack can make all the difference. Corporate driver training programs are designed to teach drivers about such features that can make their driving more efficient and responsible and their ride more comfortable!

Want to learn more about smart and efficient driving techniques? Enrolling in corporate driver training courses from Corporate Driver Training Australia. Our expert trainers can help you gain essential skills to drive safer and smarter.

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