Tips for Maximizing Your Car’s Heating and AC Performance

Now that fall is upon us, this can mean a mix of weather conditions as summer starts to transition into winter, and you may find yourself using both your car’s air conditioner and heater fairly frequently. If either of these systems is not working at peak performance, this can make for an uncomfortable commute. 

Fortunately, there are a few simple steps that you can take to boost the efficiency of your car’s heating and air conditioning systems and help to ensure your comfort on the road; here is an overview of just a few of these steps. 

Don’t Bother Warming Up Your Car’s Engine

One of the biggest mistakes people make is thinking that the heater or air conditioner in their car will work better if they start the car and let it run for a while before they leave; however, all this ends up doing is wasting time and gas. The fact is that both your heater and air conditioner start working faster, and work better when you are actually driving. By getting on the road and getting up to speed, you will have the best chance of maximizing the performance of your heater or air conditioner. If your car is particularly hot when you first start driving, roll down the rear windows for a few minutes, as this will help to force all of the hot air out of your car.  

Don’t Use Recirculation

Whether you are attempting to heat or cool your car, it’s a mistake to use recirculation mode as this can cause several problems. When you are attempting to cool your car, recirculation mode will take air from the front of the cabin and pull it back through the system. When it is really hot and/or when you have passengers in the back seat is that this tends to keep cool air from reaching the back of your car, which can leave the back of your car feeling state and hot. Turning off recirculation is the best way to ensure that your air conditioner is able to keep your entire car cool.

You should also avoid using recirculation if you are heating your car, as this makes it easier for your windows to fog up. Turning off recirculation mode will bring in fresh air that will give you a better chance of keeping your windows clear. 

Make Sure Your Cabin’s Air Filter is Clean

Something many car owners forget is to clean/replace their car’s cabin air filter; in fact, many drivers may not even know that their car has a separate cabin air filter. However, newer vehicles have a separate cabin filter that needs to be cleaned or replaced just like the car’s main air filter. If your cabin air filter is dirty, this can make it harder for your car’s heating and air conditioning system to get airflow, which can severely reduce its performance. If you have been having problems with the heater or air conditioner in your car, then you may want to check the cabin air filter. 

By taking a few simple steps you can help to boost the performance of your car’s heating and air conditioning system. Contact us to learn more useful car tips such as steps that you can take to improve your fuel efficiency.