Getting the Most from Your Car's Air Conditioning
By Kimberly Graf. Published on July 5, 2024
It's no secret that hot weather is here, and it's staying a while. If you're like most people, you have to travel in the heat of the day, and it's downright dangerous in a hot car. So we've put together some ways that you can avoid the heat by getting the most out of the air conditioning in your car. Make your vehicle an oasis in the hot sun with these tips!
First of all, make sure that you are running your air conditioner at the lowest possible setting. Most cars have a setting that is just 'low', with no number attached to it. You might think that running it this cold will make it work harder, but that isn't the case.
Because of the way that car air conditioners work, it's actually harder for your car to keep up if you're trying to get the air to exactly 72 degrees. Air conditioning units that go in your car are automatically set to put out air at a temperature between 32 and 40 degrees. Having it set to any higher temperature requires the unit to reheat the air before giving it to you.
So instead of just putting out the air it would usually, it's forced to take an extra heating step to make sure you're at peak comfort. If you want to get the most out of your air conditioner (and the longest life), you'll want to run it on 'low'. You can close vents or turn them away if it's too much, but it's definitely more beneficial this way.
Another thing that most people don't know about the air conditioner in their car is that it does no good to idle with it on before you start to drive. It wastes both fuel and your time. The air conditioner works better if you're driving in all aspects, including power. When the engine is turning faster (say, when you're driving on the highway), it takes less fuel and electricity to run the air conditioner.
It's also probably colder, and definitely saves on gas as well as stress on your unit. In fact, it is recommended that you start the fan while you're already driving, and crack the rear windows for a few seconds to let the hot air leave the car. Using the front windows for this method may leave the front of the car nice and cool, but the back of the car will suffer for it.
Another thing that will do this and decrease the efficiency of your air conditioner, is letting the air recirculate. Again, this pulls all of the cool air from the back to the front of the car, which may not be a big deal if there's no one in the back seat. But doing this for too long will have your backseat passengers complaining about how hot and sticky it is.
Cabin air filters are an important part of your air conditioning unit, and pretty much essential for getting any cold air out of your vents. It also takes all of the dust and dirt out of the air so you aren't breathing it in. If it's in an easily accessible location, you can easily change or clean it when it gets dirty to help your overall output. If it's clogged up or full of dust, it makes your system work harder – which is no good for keeping your car cool.
So check it regularly during the summer months and make sure that it doesn't get gross. They aren't expensive to replace, either, so it's an easy, affordable maintenance that will keep your air conditioner running well.
There is a seemingly endless debate about whether running the air conditioning takes less fuel than rolling the windows down. The verdict? There's not really a difference. Studies have shown that you aren't saving or spending enough fuel one way or another to make it a concern. However, driving on the highway with the air conditioner on makes the unit more efficient, so it is cheaper to run the air while you're driving at higher speeds than when you're just driving around town.
But the actual difference in dollars isn't going to break the bank. So honestly, you should just do whatever you find to be the most comfortable at the time.
Running the air conditioning in your car doesn't have to be a hassle – it can be easy to get the temperature you want without any stress. If you want to get the most out of your car air conditioning, just these few simple steps can help!
RANDY MOSER on 7/18/2024, said:
On auto A/C consideration should be taken on extended idle periods. Another words car sitting still. When this occurs there is no airflow across the condenser tubes located at the front of the radiator. The airflow cools the refrigerant back to the compressor. Efficiency down head pressure up.