Do You Need to Turn on AC for Car Heater?
2 Answers
You do not need to turn on AC for car heater. The AC in a car is the switch for air conditioning cooling, while the car heater mainly utilizes the heat circulation principle of the coolant to generate warmth. The method to switch between cooling and heating in a car air conditioner is as follows: 1. Generally, the car air conditioner switch is a rotary knob divided into two ends—one end is for cooling (blue), and the other end is for heating (red), each marked with different intensity levels to adjust the cooling or heating strength. 2. If you need cooling in summer, rotate the air conditioner switch to the blue end and turn on the AC switch to activate the compressor for cooling. 3. If you need heating in winter, rotate the switch to the red end without turning on the AC switch. When the air conditioner is not in use, simply rotate it to the off position. 4. Whether you are using cooling or heating, adjust the intensity level according to your comfort. If you feel cold, increase the heating level accordingly.
As a seasoned driver with over a decade of experience who frequently takes family trips, I know that you don't need to turn on the AC for heating in winter. The warm air comes from the engine's heat, blown directly into the car by the fan in the engine compartment—it's both hot and fuel-efficient. The AC is for cooling or dehumidifying, and turning on the compressor increases fuel consumption, which is unnecessary in winter. However, in damp, cold weather or when the windows fog up, turning on the AC a bit can help dehumidify and prevent blurred vision for safety. The car's automatic air conditioning is smart and may sometimes activate the AC to adjust humidity, but when manually operating, simply raising the temperature is enough. In short, it's perfectly fine to turn off the AC for daily heating.
