Air conditioning in winter?

The tires were replaced with winter ones, the working fluids and the battery were checked. It feels like you are going on vacation or skiing. Nothing could be more wrong. It's also worth checking the air conditioner. It is really worth turning it on in winter, for at least several reasons.

In spring and summer, air conditioning saves the lives of drivers - it improves driving comfort and the well-being of travelers. Many of us don't he imagines driving a car without air conditioning at a temperature of plus 20 degrees Celsius. We quickly got used to the fact that in a newly purchased car, this ceased to be a convenience, becoming a necessary standard. However, as soon as the mercury column drops below 15 degrees, for the majority it becomes an unnecessary element, and the button for turning it on is covered with dust for almost half a year. We think that the air conditioner is on, which means more fuel consumption, which means unnecessary costs for the current operation of the car. However, when we look at this question "cold", it turns out that the climate in winter is not a bad idea.

For safety

In the autumn-winter season, many drivers are faced with the problem of constantly misted windows, which not only violate the comfort of the trip, but also, by limiting visibility, endanger us. Gymnastics in the form of wiping the window with a rag or sponge, which is still acceptable before the trip, while driving is often associated with the need to find “wiping devices”, unfasten seat belts, lift the figure from the seat and thereby cause significant discomfort for the driver and reduce concentration on the road . And - importantly - rarely helps for a long time. The solution to the problem is, of course, air conditioning.

– Evaporating windows with an air conditioner is a much faster method than standard heating. When the heating is turned on together with the air conditioning, the air is not only heated but also dehumidified, which effectively helps to get rid of moisture,” says Zaneta Wolska Marchevka from the Suzuki Automobile Club in Poznań.

Turning on the air conditioning and heating button also allows you to maintain sufficient humidity in the car interior, which leads to the absence of fogging of all windows of the car and increases the comfort of the trip.

For savings

Motivated by apparent savings, turning off the air conditioner for almost six months could also have a dire effect on our portfolio. Separated coolant from the oil, running after a long break, can damage the compressor, i.e. engine of the entire cooling system. In turn, regular air conditioning operation – all year round, including in winter – provides natural lubrication of the compressor components and can save us from high costs in the spring. Experts advise turning on the air conditioner at least once a week, at least for only 15 minutes. This should be enough to provide reliable protection for the entire system.  

For good health

It is also a mistake to believe that the air conditioner needs to be checked only in the spring. – The air conditioner should be checked twice a year, preferably before the summer season, when the whole system is used most intensively and it is worth taking care of its performance and efficiency, and before winter, when the air conditioner should be turned on less often, but its use can significantly increase travel comfort , and therefore our safety,” says Wojciech Kostka from Ford Bemo Motors Service in Poznań. – Moreover, not every inspection should mean the need to replace the coolant, comprehensive disinfection and replacement of filters. Now it's also much easier to review on the site or find a stock at an attractive price, he adds. 

Especially allergy sufferers should remember that the car's ventilation system can be a breeding ground for fungi and mold, for which autumn moisture is an excellent breeding ground. Proper maintenance and use of the air conditioner throughout the year effectively reduces this risk.

However, it should be remembered that turning on the air conditioner in severe frost can fail, which does not necessarily mean its failure. In some, especially newer, vehicles, manufacturers use a mechanism that prevents the air conditioner from turning on if the temperature drops below 5 degrees Celsius. This is necessary to prevent icing of the evaporator. The solution may be to warm up the car with air recirculation turned on and only then start the air conditioner.

As you can see, air conditioning in winter is not a paradox at all. However, if we do not decide to use it permanently for reasons of passenger safety or health, it is worth considering turning it on periodically for purely economic reasons. The increased fuel consumption for such short sets will certainly be invisible to our wallet, and will avoid costly repairs or replacement parts before the season when air conditioning is really needed. But it's something every driver should do "in cold blood".