Five ways to make your car’s air conditioning colder – how you park could give you a good headstart
MOST drivers would agree that air conditioning is one of the best innovations to hit the motoring industry.
The technology actually dates back all the way to 1939 and has been a godsend for Brits ever since amid increasingly hot summers.
As the mercury touched 27C in May, though, motorists may well be wondering how to get the best out of their air con.
High humidity and spiking temperatures can turn even the smallest motor into a hot hatch in all the wrong ways.
Thankfully, experts from car care firm Firestone were able to share five top tips to beat the heat and keep your blower as cold as possible.
They said: “When it feels like a sauna outside, the last thing you want is even more hot air blasting you in the face when you get in the car.
“If your car A/C isn’t cutting it this summer, learn how to make the air conditioner colder in your vehicle—and save that super sweaty feeling for a good gym session.”
Make the change
First of all, you need to stay on top of your air filter changes to get the best out of your air con.
The filter is usually found under the glovebox and, as the name suggests, all the air that is sucked into the car to be cooled passes through it.
They are usually good for around a year (or 15,000 miles, whichever comes sooner), but by then they can become clogged with dirt and debris.
If that happens, it can impact the airflow into the car, reducing the efficiency and effectiveness of the air con.
Try and change it just as warmer weather starts to come along to prevent damp air from entering the cabin after the rainy season.
Hayfever sufferers should be particularly rigorous as the filter is responsible for catching pollen before it gets into the car.
Changing the filter can be done easily at home in about ten minutes and a new one only costs about £5 at the lower end.
Supercharge the system
The experts revealed that drivers can “supercharge” their air con by staying on top of their refrigerant levels.
This gas is vital to the running of the system as it is responsible for the cooling of the air as it passes from the evaporator into the ventilation section.
Low refrigerant levels will make your blower less effective and leave you circulating warm air around the car.
Topping it up yourself is a bit tricky but Halfords offers a free air con check to see what your level is like.
The actual service itself costs about £50 but is usually only needed once every couple of years.
Take it slow
When you hop in the car, it can feel like an oven, especially if it’s been sat in the sun for any length of time.
As a result, it can be tempting to whack the blower straight up to max in an effort to get the car cooled as quickly as possible.
However, this is actually a mistake as it forces the system to use the air inside the cabin, which is often hotter than the air outside.
Instead, try starting slow and gradually increasing the power until the air is cooled, then hit the recirculation button to keep the temperature stable.
As an extra little hack, point the vents up towards the roof rather than at your face as it’s a more efficient way to cool the whole car faster.
Avoid mixed signals
Once you’ve worked up to max power, don’t undo your good work by confusing your air con’s settings.
The best thing to do is set the temperature knob down as low as it will go, even if you aren’t too warm anymore.
If you leave it somewhere in the middle, you could find that it will start to reheat the air slightly only to cool it down again.
This is extremely inefficient and will burn more fuel and cause more wear and tear, leaving you sweating over the finances as well as the heat.
Parking peril
Where you park is absolutely vital to keep your car cool.
Leaving your car out in the sun can cause internal temperatures to reach over 50C when it’s 30C outside, according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in the US.
As such try and park up in a shaded area, ideally under some form of built-up cover rather than beneath a tree.
If you can’t find a suitable spot, then try using sunshades across your windscreen and windows and even cracking the window open slightly to prevent the interior from baking.
Out of order
If you’ve tried all that and are still too hot, it could be a sign of an issue with your air con.
This could be caused by anything from a leak to a worn-out part.
You can get this checked at any good garage and many, like Halfords, will have a look for free.
But as long as you stay on top of the maintenance, your air con should last you many years to come.