Can Car Air Conditioning Provide Heating?

[MacEzra]

Heating is generated by utilizing the car's own heat circulation system and does not require the compressor to work. Here are the relevant details: 1. Internal Circulation: Internal circulation primarily prevents external dust and harmful gases from entering the car in a timely and effective manner. For example, when driving through areas with smoke, dust, unpleasant odors, or in heavy traffic, it blocks harmful exhaust emissions from vehicles ahead. Another function is to maintain warmth. 2. External Circulation: External circulation mode uses a fan to draw outside air into the car, meaning the air passage between the outside and inside of the car is open. The air blown by the fan comes from outside, so even if the fan is off, airflow is still drawn into the car while driving, replenishing fresh air inside. Sometimes, you may feel airflow even when the fan is off, which is due to the external circulation setting being enabled.

[McJustin]

Car air conditioning can indeed provide heating! I was also confused when I first bought my car, but later discovered that the red temperature knob is the key. In winter, avoid turning on the heater for the first five minutes of driving—wait until the coolant temperature gauge reaches the middle position for the best effect. Here's the important part: the heater doesn’t actually consume extra fuel! It simply recycles waste heat from the engine. From my experience, directing the airflow toward the feet is the most comfortable, as blowing it directly at the face can cause drowsiness. Another handy tip: when the windshield fogs up, using the heater + external air circulation clears it faster than using cold air. One thing to note: turning on the heater right after starting the engine can actually slow down the engine’s warm-up process.

[SanBrooklyn]

The heating principle of car air conditioning is completely different from that of household air conditioners. In fuel-powered vehicles, the engine coolant circulates to the heater core in the dashboard, and the blower heats the cold air before blowing it out. Therefore, the higher the heating setting, the faster the coolant temperature drops, which is why you may notice a sudden drop in coolant temperature during traffic jams. Electric vehicles, on the other hand, rely on PTC ceramic heating elements to generate heat by consuming electricity. Important reminder: Running the heater for extended periods while parked can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, so it's essential to crack open a window! I usually turn off the recirculation mode when using the heater to prevent the cabin from becoming too dry. If you notice a strange odor from the heater, it's likely due to mold growth in the heater core.

[LeIsabela]

The car's air conditioning can provide heating, but it's completely different from cooling. Cooling requires activating the compressor, while heating simply involves turning the temperature knob to the red zone. When I first started driving, I thought I needed to press the AC button, but the mechanic laughed at me, saying the compressor isn't needed in winter at all. The effectiveness of the heating depends on the engine temperature, which is why turning on the heater right after a cold start in winter doesn't work. A seasoned driver taught me a trick: wait until the temperature gauge needle reaches around 90°C before turning it on, and the air from the vents can get hot enough to burn your hand. However, running it for too long can make your throat feel dry, so keeping a bottle of water in the car is a good idea. Occasionally, the air conditioning might blow out a dusty smell, which is a warning sign of dust buildup in the heater core.

[SanBennett]

Many people don't know that car heater doesn't consume extra fuel! The principle is that engine heat is transferred to the heater core through coolant, so using heater just recycles waste heat. But note two points: Turning on heater during cold start slows engine warm-up, better wait until coolant temperature rises; Also, blasting heater with weak battery may drain it. I've tested different temperature settings: 22℃ is most comfortable, above 25℃ feels stuffy. Surprisingly found heater defogs faster than AC, especially on rainy days - high temp + external air circulation clears windshield fog in 10 seconds.