Do I need to turn on AC when using the heater?
2 Answers
You don't need to turn on AC when using the heater. Because what you need in winter is warm air, which is hot air. Function of the heater: It generates heat by converting the heat from the coolant in the engine. For new energy vehicles, the heat is provided by a heating module. AC is the air conditioning cooling button. Pressing this button will start the air conditioning compressor. On some models, the indicator light on the button will illuminate, while others will display a prompt on the central control screen. Precautions for using the heater: During winter use of the air conditioning, since most vehicles now use automatic air conditioning, you may notice that the AC function is automatically activated after turning on the air conditioning. The reason for this is that when the driver sets the air outlet direction to the windshield, the defrosting function will be activated.
As someone who frequently drives long distances, I've found that there's no need to turn on the AC button when using the heater. The AC primarily activates the compressor for cooling, while the warm air is provided by the engine's residual heat through the heater core, requiring no compressor involvement. Unless there's urgent need to defog the windshield—where the AC can dehumidify and speed up the defogging process—in most normal driving scenarios, simply adjusting the temperature knob to increase warmth is sufficient when using the heater. Turning on the AC only wastes fuel unnecessarily, as activating the compressor increases engine load, raising fuel consumption by a few percent. My personal tip is to check the dashboard before winter drives to ensure the AC light is off—over time, this can save a significant amount of money. Remember, the heat source comes from the engine, which is free and efficient, so why use unnecessary features? This approach not only saves money but is also eco-friendly.
