AUTONEWS

Your car's air conditioning won't cool properly if you make these typical mistakes

The arrival of warmer days means more frequent use of your car's air conditioning. However, many drivers make mistakes that may not immediately cause a breakdown, but can reduce the cooling efficiency and unnecessarily burden the vehicle.

Many air conditioning systems suffer from poor maintenance, so some car brands need to replace the air conditioning filter after 15,000 kilometers. This will make the air conditioning work more efficiently, and you will also prevent the spread of mold and bacteria...

It is better to open the doors and windows when entering the car before turning on the air conditioning. This simple procedure can significantly reduce the temperature. Once the car is ventilated, you can get in, close the doors and windows and turn on the air conditioning, writes Revija HAK.

To achieve even distribution of air flow, the ventilation openings should be directed upwards, and not towards the faces of the passengers. It is even better to turn on the ventilation openings that run along the windshield. This simple procedure improves the quality of air flow through the car interior (heat rises).

Immediately after getting into the car, it can be helpful to turn on the interior recirculation for a few minutes, as this will cool the interior even faster. After a few minutes, turn on the outside air supply. This will allow the system to distribute the air flow more evenly and efficiently.

In some areas, even in summer, it can be quite cold in the morning. However, it is often a good idea to turn on the air conditioning immediately. This prevents the windows from misting up when the outside temperature starts to rise slightly.

To use your car's air conditioning correctly, you should adjust the controls according to the weather, use recirculation intelligently, and perform preventive maintenance. Adopting these habits saves fuel, cools the cabin faster, and protects your health.

In the Heat: How to cool your car quickly

Don't turn the air conditioning on full blast as soon as you get into the vehicle if it has been parked in the sun.

Open the windows: Leave the windows open for about a minute while you start driving to expel the accumulated hot "air".

Turn on the system: Activate the ventilation and then the air conditioning (A/C) button.

Activate recirculation: Turn on the internal recirculation button (the icon with an arrow going around inside the car). This makes the system reuse the air that is already cooling in the cabin, instead of pulling hot air from the street, saving the engine and fuel.

Close the windows: As soon as the air starts to come out cold, close the windows completely.

Direct the airflow: Point the air vents upwards or to the sides, never directly at the body. Cold air is denser and descends on its own, cooling the environment evenly.

In the Rain: how to defog the windows (below)

The most common mistake in the rain is turning off the system to avoid getting cold, which worsens the fogging.

Air conditioning (A/C) on: It works as a dehumidifier and removes internal cabin moisture instantly.

Recirculation off (Outside air open): Make sure recirculation is deactivated. Pulling in outside air equalizes the internal and external temperature of the windows, preventing water from condensing.

Direction: Point the airflow directly at the windshield using the dashboard control. If you are cold, you can adjust the selector to a warm or hot temperature, as long as the A/C button remains on.

In heavy traffic and tunnels (below):

Use internal recirculation: Keep the function activated to prevent polluting gases and bad smells from other vehicles' exhausts from entering your car.

Deactivate on the road: When traffic flows well, turn off recirculation for a few minutes to renew the oxygen in the cabin, preventing dizziness and drowsiness.

Care and maintenance habits (below):

Turn off before destination: About 2 to 5 minutes before turning off the engine, turn off the A/C button and leave only the ventilation running. This dries the moisture accumulated in the air ducts and prevents the proliferation of fungi and bad smells.

Turn on every week: Even during the winter, turn on the air conditioning for at least 10 to 15 minutes once a week. This circulates the gas and lubricating oil, preventing the hoses and compressor seals from drying out.

Cabin filter replacement: Replace the air filter (cabin filter) every 6 months or 10,000 km, or at least once a year. A dirty filter blocks airflow, strains the system, and introduces dust mites and dust into your breathing.