Interesting facts about the air conditioner in the car

In summer, optimal cooling in the car with the car air conditioner is indispensable. How to operate them properly to avoid unnecessary costs read here…
saving on fuel and maintenance costs despite constantly running air conditioning? colds and muscle tension as well as allergic reactions are promoted by air conditioning in cars. This is avoidable if you follow a few sensible rules. GTu gesellschaft fur technische uberwachung provides the most important tips for the correct handling of the car air-conditioning system at the start of the automotive spring.

Contents:

The right temperature
Optimal humidity
The right setting
close windows
Deep-freezing costs fuel
Use circulating air intelligently
Switch on air conditioner regularly
Regular maintenance
Precautions for allergy sufferers

The right temperature

Air conditioners create a comfortable indoor climate through two main factors: temperature reduction and air dehumidification. On sunny days, the cool air dispensers have been proven to contribute to active safety. Studies show that the driver’s physical performance drops rapidly at interior temperatures of more than 24 degrees Celsius.

Lack of attention, poorer reaction and increased aggressiveness are the result. On the other hand, the air conditioning should not be set too cold. Because if there is a large difference between the inside and outside temperature, we also expose ourselves to unnecessary physical strain.

The GTu tip: do not cool too much. If possible, the difference to the outside temperature should not be more than eight degrees. Two to three degrees lower than outside is optimal. Most drivers find a temperature range between 20 and 24 degrees ideal.

Optimal humidity

In addition, air conditioning removes moisture from the outside air drawn in through cooling and thus ensures physical well-being. A physical effect that is easy to explain. Cool air can absorb less water than warm air.

The GTu tip: air conditioning prevents the windows from fogging up. Switch on the system even in damp weather. An additional plus in safety for cold days.

The right setting

In addition to the optimal temperature selection, you should also pay attention to the correct ventilation. It is wrong to turn the blower to zero, because then the air conditioning system also switches off. High fan speeds cause unnecessary drafts and noise. Higher-quality air conditioners are controlled automatically. With little effort, the desired temperature and optimum cooling can be distributed to the numerous air outlets in the vehicle. But even with the simpler, less efficient mechanically controlled air conditioning systems, a reasonable setting can usually be found.

The GTu tip: do not point the air vents in the dashboard directly at your body if possible. How to avoid dry eyes and unpleasant cold on the skin. Wear light, long-sleeved clothing wherever possible for summer car trips. For train-sensitive people, this is a must.

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Windows closed

Air conditioning works most efficiently with the windows fully closed. Even small gaps are a disadvantage. Keeping the cool inside and the heat outside. Exception: open the windows briefly before starting if the car has been standing in the blazing sun for a long time. because temperatures of 60 degrees and more can easily arise in the interior, which can be reduced more quickly by short-term ventilation.

GTu Tip: park in the shade when the sun is shining and pull down the blinds. air conditioners of some expensive models have an extra stand ventilation system, some of them even solar powered. Use this technology if available.

Deep-freezing costs fuel

not only for health reasons, but also for economic reasons, the air conditioner should not be set too cold. In extreme cases, the maximum output of an air-conditioning system in city traffic can cause additional consumption of more than three liters per 100 kilometers. On the other hand, sensible use of the air conditioning system only costs a moderate amount of fuel, sometimes significantly less than half a liter per 100 kilometers on cross-country trips. An acceptable price for the enormous gain in comfort.

The GTu Tip: for reasons of fuel economy, do not turn down the engine at full power when the car is very hot. At most, an initial three-minute kick is acceptable. For automatic air conditioning systems, set the desired temperature a little higher at the beginning and reduce it gradually. This reduces the noise level of the fan.

Use recirculated air intelligently

Air-conditioning systems are equipped with a so-called air recirculation system, which stops the supply of fresh air to the vehicle if necessary and instead recirculates the available air. Saves energy, because in recirculation mode the already precooled air of the passenger compartment circulates instead of the warm outside air. If the air conditioning system does not have an air quality sensor that automatically activates the air recirculation system in certain situations, you should at least press the switch when driving through tunnels or in traffic jams to reduce the pollutant load in the passenger compartment. However, it is not advisable to drive in recirculation mode all the time, as this prevents fresh air from getting into the interior of the car and the air becomes too dry.

The GTu tip: at least when the air conditioner is in recirculation mode, you should not smoke in the vehicle, as the smoke drawn in settles on the evaporator of the cooling system and can thus lead to permanent odor nuisance.

Switch on the air conditioning regularly

The air conditioning system deserves a minimum of attention. keep the air intake in front of the windshield free of leaves so that the air conditioning system can "breathe" freely and work efficiently. For the same reason, do not cover the air vents in the passenger compartment. Switch on the air conditioning at least occasionally, even on cool days, in order to activate the cooling circuit again and again. This lubricates the seals so that they do not become brittle and thus prevents the threat of coolant loss. Premature repairs can be avoided.

The GTu tip: treat your air conditioning system – even in winter! – run the system for at least ten minutes every week to keep the refrigerant in the circuit.

Regular maintenance

air conditioners need maintenance. If the system is still tight? Is the refrigerant level correct?? If the cooling capacity drops noticeably, this indicates a loss of coolant. Refilling is absolutely necessary to avoid expensive consequential damage, for example to the compressor of the system.

The GTu tip: it is best to have the air conditioning system checked by a specialist workshop as part of the inspections that are recommended anyway. This is also an opportunity to eliminate leaks by replacing old hoses and seals, for example, and to clean the system and top up any missing coolant.

Precautions for allergy sufferers

Air conditioners should not normally be pollen slingers or even breeding grounds for fungi and bacteria. This can usually be ensured by changing the filter as recommended by the manufacturer and cleaning it as part of the inspection. Nevertheless, in individual cases, germs can settle in the filter or dirty evaporators can store unpleasant odors, which then enter the vehicle interior through the ventilation system. A problem, especially for allergy sufferers. In extreme cases, the only remedy is the chemical cleaning methods recommended by the manufacturer and carried out by a specialist workshop.

The GTu tip: switch off the air conditioning in good time before the end of the journey, but leave the fan still running. So you reduce the condensation in the system and thus the danger of germ colonization.