Summer is the best time of the year for many people. When the temperatures rise, visitors to the bathing lake are delighted. Drivers, on the other hand, take a more critical view of the summer heat. Heat in the car is not only uncomfortable, it also puts a strain on the circulation and on the driving behavior. That is why it is important that you as a car driver know what you can do against heat in the car. How to properly ventilate, park, and protect yourself and your car, we explain here. Ready? Then let’s get started!
Contents
Protecting your car from the sun – tip 1: parking properly in the heat
Whether you park in a public parking lot or at home – with the choice of the right parking place the first step against heat in the car is already done.
- It is always best to find a parking space under a tree.
- Alternatively, it is also sufficient to park in the shade of a screen, carport or building.
- If you can’t avoid a sunny parking space and there is no parking garage nearby, you should park your car with the rear facing the sun if possible.
TipIf there is not enough shaded parking, the nearest parking garage is a good solution.
heat in the car – tip 2: how to ventilate your car properly!
If you can’t find a shady parking space, you can still do a few things to avoid having to start the journey in an oven.
- Open all the windows and leave the car ventilate well – ideally for a few minutes.
- After driving, you can leave the windows open again for a few minutes. This is how fresh air gets into the car – which replaces the remaining stuffy car air with fresh air.
As soon as the worst of the heat has gone out of your car, you can turn on the air conditioner.
- Here, too, there are a few things to keep in mind, as we will reveal to you in a moment under tip 3!
cooling your car in the heat – tip 3: the right way to use your air conditioner
You might think that operating an air conditioner would be self-explanatory. In fact, there are some sources of error that you as a user can avoid. If you follow these tips, the air conditioning can work optimally for you.
- Turn up the air conditioning to full while you are still airing the car with the windows open.
- Leave the windows open for a short time after starting the car.
- As soon as the first cold air comes out of the vents, you can close the windows.
- First close the driver and passenger windows and wait approx. 15 seconds.
- Now you can close the rear windows.
Using the air conditioner in hot weather – this is how to set it correctly
- Even though it’s tempting in sweaty temperatures, you should keep the air conditioner do not set it too cold.
- the perfect comfort temperature in the car is between 22 °C and 25 °C.
- However, according to experts, the difference to the outside temperature should not be more than 5 °C.
- Otherwise, the difference in temperature will have a negative effect on your circulation as soon as you leave the car.
- As soon as the interior is at a pleasant temperature, you should turn off the air conditioning.
- Turn off the air conditioner not too weak.
- It’s no use setting the temperature correctly if the fan is working too weakly at the same time.
- It takes too long for the interior to cool down to the right temperature.
- This wastes valuable time and refrigerant without the desired effect.
- Turn the fan to the correct position.
- Do not point the air conditioning nozzles directly at your body – especially not at your head and chest area.
- You risk a headache, a conjunctivitis or a sinus infection.
Why not put it in the footwell? Very simple. Cold air is heavier and descends. If you put the nozzles only in the footwell from the beginning, the cold will stay there as well.
- If you direct the cold air upwards, it will sink down from there and cool the interior.
regulating heat in the car even without air conditioning
While we recommend using the air conditioner regularly throughout the seasons to protect it, it is important to keep it clean. Nevertheless, it should not run for too long at a stretch.
- Let the air conditioner not unnecessarily long
- Turn off the air conditioner a few minutes before you arrive and leave the fan running.
- So the evaporator can dry out and you prevent germs in the air conditioning system.
- In addition, you can open the windows a little and use the wind to cool down.
- Another advantage is that you can get used to the ambient temperature.
- This way you won’t be hit by the heat when you get out of the car.
- If you are driving through the city, or only to the next town, you can also use the wind to cool down the car.
- How to save fuel and refrigerant.
Heat protection for the car – tip 4: protect the car from the sun
If you have to leave your car in the heat for a long time, it is advisable to take precautions. There are many inexpensive ways to let as little sun as necessary into your car. Glass panes in particular are susceptible to heat buildup. And with the trend toward ever-larger windshields and glass roofs, you can quickly create a greenhouse effect in your own car.
- There are sun protection mats for the windshield.
- These are placed either on the outside or inside of the windshield, wedged between the front doors of the car and fixed in place.
- Thanks to its reflective surface, a large proportion of the sun’s heating rays are blocked out.
- The mats can be rolled up quickly to save space and stowed in the trunk.
- You can also use cardboard or a blanket to protect the windows/heat.
- However, these are less handy to stow away, resp. More difficult to clean.
- These fabric garages are allowed as long as your license plate and any parking permit remain visible.
- There are sunshades made of mesh material for the side windows.
- You can either purchase one-size-fits-all sun visors or
- Order sun visors matched to model and type of vehicle.
- The latter are very fitted and provide good sun protection.
Lowering car interior temperature with tip 5: how to protect the interior from heat
Especially when your car is parked in the heat for a longer period of time, it’s advisable to protect the interior or. Protect the surfaces from the heat and the sun’s rays. Especially in combination with sun protection for the front and side windows, you can counteract the development of heat in the car at high temperatures!
Child and dog in the car in the heat
At this point, we would like to emphasize once again: you should never leave children and animals in the car LET. Heat buildup in a closed car can quickly reach life-threatening levels.
- Even at a pleasant outside temperature of 25 degrees, it can quickly become uncomfortably warm in a car. If it is even warmer, temperatures can quickly become like those in a sauna.
- Leaving children unattended in the car may fall under the following categories bodily injury or child abuse – and is a criminal offense.
- If animals are left in the car, this can lead to animal cruelty
- First, call 911 immediately.
- inform bystanders and passers-by about the situation – so one person can monitor the car while someone else tracks down the vehicle owner.
- If the situation is critical, for example because the child or animal appears lifeless, you may also break the window!
driving in the heat – tip 6: watch your fluid intake
When the temperature rises, it’s not just your car that needs cooling down. You and your passengers should also refresh yourselves regularly. This means first of all: drink a lot!
The best thing to do for refreshment during the car ride:
- Water
- Spritzers
- Chilled teas
Not recommended:
- Coffee
- Alcohol
Why not coffee? It is hopefully self-explanatory that alcohol is not a good refreshing drink for car drivers. But why no coffee? Quite simply.
- Coffee has a dehydrating effect and causes additional water loss in the body.
- Strong drainage ensures
- Decreased concentration
- Headache
- And in the worst case even circulatory problems.
Therefore, in order to refresh yourself and compensate for the loss of fluids, water and co. The best choice. Coffee, however, is always suitable as caffeine kick for the break at the rest area!
Heat in the car – our conclusion
With a little planning, prudence and simple means, you can do a lot against heat in the car. a few blankets, sheets and sunscreen mats – and you can easily stop the worst of the heat – these utensils can also be found in any car trunk. Take a relaxed approach to driving in the heat and always allow plenty of time. So you can take breaks in peace and quiet and rest more often too.
And what about you? What are your tips for a relaxed drive in the heat?? We look forward to your comment.