May 11 2020

Air Recirculation: What It is for and How it Works

 

Even if you've been driving for years, there are still buttons on your car that you probably don't know exactly what they do. Take the air recirculation button as an example. You know, the one with the car symbol with the “U” turn arrow inside it (the one in the cover image). Surely you have seen it right next to the controls of the air conditioning/climate control and you have pressed it a few times.

If someone were to ask you what exactly that button does, could you give a solid answer? If the answer is "no", you have found the right article. Because although that button is a great unknown in our lives, its presence is necessary for both comfort and security reasons. If, on the other hand, you already know what the air recirculation function does, read no more. Although we are not born knowing everything, and contributions that have escaped are always accepted.

 

What Does the Air Recirculation Button Do?

Simply put, the air recirculation button recirculates the air. If that is all. Case closed. Although if we delve further into the explanation, we could say that the aforementioned reuses the cold air that is obtained when the air conditioning is activated. The longer it is on, the colder the car will be until it is as cool as possible, something programmable if your car has an automatic climate control (it adjusts to the temperature marked on the dial).

Roughly, the button that recirculates the air serves to determine where we want the car to take the air. If the system is operational, by means of a ventilation outlet located under the windscreen, the interior air is sucked in to be redirected to the different parts of the cabin, such as towards the feet or face. The car becomes almost hermetic to avoid taking air from outside, forcing the one inside to circulate through the different filters.

 

When Should the Air Recirculation Button be Used?

Typically, you only want to press the air recirculation button in summer. If the air isn't moving during those hot days, your car's air conditioning system is working harder to cool down the hot outside air as it enters the interior. It is at this point that the air conditioning compressor can get to work beyond its means and negatively impact fuel economy.

In the colder winter months, you'll basically want to forget that there's even the air recirculation button. If you use it when it's cold outside, you'll be trapping external moisture inside the car, which can lead to foggy windows, and that's bad news for any driver looking to make a safe trip. However, if you have only lowered yourself “for a moment” and the air inside is hot, it is not a bad idea to use it for a few minutes.

Now, it is important to note that the main function of the button is not only to recycle the air in the passenger compartment but also to prevent dirty air from entering the exterior. If you circulate through the streets of large cities in episodes of high pollution, if you are in a traffic jam inside a tunnel, if you live in a coastal area of ​​very fine sand (or in the desert), or if you pass by any place that gives off an inhuman stench, feel free to press the button.

Of course, it should not be abused either. In fact, it is recommended not to use the air recirculation button for more than 10 minutes. As mentioned a few lines above, it can create condensation on your car windows, especially in winter. On the other hand, when that air has circulated many times through the same place, it can cause drowsiness, reducing the concentration and reflections of the driver.

 




"DO NOT COPY" Above Article, Prepared & All Rights Reserved By The Dealer's Point







 


Live help is offline...