And this is the right way to do it!

You know that feeling when it’s hot outside and you open your car door only to be met by a wall of heat? It’s not the most pleasant sensation. And remember when cars didn’t have A/C yet? Having to drive a long distance in a hot car was the worst! Having air conditioning in your car is amazing, though: you no longer have to sit sweating in a scorching hot car or get nauseous because of the heat. But, you do need to use the A/C the right way! These are some common A/C mistakes and how to fix them.

Do you make these air conditioning mistakes?

1. Putting the A/C on the highest setting as soon as you get in the car

Many people turn the A/C on as soon as they get in the car and put it on the highest setting as well. This is a big mistake, though, because it’s much better to open all of the doors and windows about a minute before getting in the car. That way, the temperature will drop quite a bit already before you even start the car. That means that your A/C will have to work a lot less hard once you start driving.

2. Keeping the ‘recirculation’ turned on

When you’ve just stepped into your car, it’s a good idea to turn on the recirculation. This way, the car will cool down a lot more quickly. After the car has cooled down, however, you should put the A/C back to using outside air. This will make sure the cold air stream is divided a lot more evenly throughout the car.

3. Not turning on the air conditioning in the morning because it’s still cool outside

Most hot days it’s still cool in the morning, but it gets really hot in the afternoon. Most people only turn on the A/C when it’s actually getting hot in their car when they’re driving. It’s better to already turn it on a bit earlier, though, because that way you’ll prevent the windows from fogging up on the inside. Fogged up windows might compromise your ability to see out the windows, which could lead to dangerous situations on the road.

4. Directing the air flow in the wrong direction

Oftentimes, people don’t even notice the A/C is turned on because they’ve turned the air flow in the wrong direction. If you want to create an evenly distributed air flow, you should aim the air upwards instead of at the faces of the people in the car. That way, the entire car can cool down instead of just your face. It’s much more comfortable that way as well.

5. Maintenance

You might not like to hear this, but even your car’s air conditioning needs maintenance. The A/C’s filter needs to be replaced every 15,000 to 20,000 kilometres. Plus, you need to replace the refrigerant every couple of years as well. So, if you want your A/C to work properly, make sure you keep up with its maintenance.

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