Air conditioner. In winter, is it better to turn off the air conditioner in the car?

Winter tires, cold-resistant washer fluid, an ice scraper, or a seasonal inspection—most informed drivers have a list of things to do with their car before the first frost sets in. And the air conditioner? Is it only for summer or winter too?

Air conditioning in winter. Safety first

Using an air conditioner is not only a matter of comfort. When the air inside the car warms up from 21 to 27 degrees Celsius, the driver's reaction rate drops by as much as 20 percent. “This is a very serious safety risk, as confirmed by studies showing the relationship between high temperatures and the number of accidents. The problem of overheating also affects passengers, especially young children and the elderly, who can easily survive severe dehydration or even heat stroke,” warns Kamil Klechevski, director of commerce and marketing for Webasto Petemar.

Air conditioning in winter. Appropriate airflow setting

It's also important to direct the vents - don't direct a strong stream of cool air directly at your face, as this can cause a cold. It is much better to place them in the direction of the windshield and side windows, as well as the legs. In addition, the system should be used in moderation - setting an extremely low temperature in 30-degree heat outside is not a good idea, especially if you are going to get out and get in the car a lot. The optimum temperature that will protect us from heatstroke is between 19 and 23 degrees Celsius and should not differ from the temperature outside the car by more than 10 degrees.

Use traditional methods

The temperature in a car left in the sun can even exceed 60 degrees Celsius. To speed up the cooling of the cabin and unload the air conditioner, before the trip, you should open all the windows in the car and ventilate the interior a little. If we start the route from an inner neighboring street or dirt road, we can leave the windows ajar and drive a few hundred meters at low speed so that a gust of wind will bring in more fresh air.

Air conditioning like a marathon runner

Using a conditioner in moderation and maintaining it with the simplest of methods is important because it prolongs its life. When operating at high speed, the air conditioning compressor is subjected to very high loads. In addition, in such conditions, the system slightly increases fuel consumption. However, this does not mean that air conditioning should be spared. On the contrary, longer downtimes cause uneven oil deposits in the system, so after a restart, the moving parts do not have sufficient lubrication, and this can cause a quick failure. That is why experts advise using air conditioning not only in summer, but also in winter. Moreover, it perfectly dries the air inside the car when it rains and snows outside.

Air conditioner. Adequate service

Efficient air conditioning means regular maintenance of the air conditioner. If we want to use its full potential in the summer, it is better to review the system in the spring. “At least once a year, we must replace the cabin filter and disinfect the entire air conditioning system. It may contain microorganisms hazardous to health. It is also worth checking the tightness of the system and the condition of the refrigerant, advises expert Webasto Petemar.

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