Cars are equipped with air conditioning to keep the temperature as pleasant as possible. Drivers do not always use those systems properly so that the capacity of the air conditioning is not used to the maximum. That causes high temperatures in the car, which is at the expense of safety and your health. Did you know that your reaction capacity at a temperature of 35 degrees is 20 percent lower than at 25 degrees? That effect is comparable to an alcohol percentage of 0.05 percent. You can also dry out at high temperatures.
Keep the temperature in the car as cool as possible
An air conditioner can be set in different ways. Sometimes this is at the expense of performance. To get the most out of the air conditioning in your car, we have five handy tips for you.
1. Keep the windows open for one minute after departure
The temperature in a car parked in the sun can rise to 60 degrees in the summer months. You can quickly lower the cabin temperature by fully opening all windows for a minute when you drive off. Thanks to this natural ventilation with outside air, the car cools down quickly. Then you close the windows, and the air conditioner can do its job.
2. Set the air conditioning to the ‘auto’ position
By manually operating the air conditioning, the windows inside the car can cool down so much that they will fog up. This reduces visibility. Preferably turn the air conditioner to the ‘auto’ position. Then the system itself arranges that the driver and passengers are not too hot, without the windows misting up.
3. Point the air nozzles towards the roof
In warm weather, it is tempting to aim the vents with cold air at yourself, but that is bad for the air circulation. You should preferably direct the air nozzles in the direction of the roof for an optimal distribution of the cold air in the car.
4. Do not switch off the air conditioning in the chilly mornings
In the summer it can be quite fresh early in the morning. Do not switch off the air conditioning, because the cold outside air can cause the windows to mist up. The air conditioning prevents this.
5. Replace the filters regularly
An air conditioner requires regular maintenance. Replace the filters every 10,000 – 15,000 kilometers, so that you remain assured of powerful airflow.
