Do You Need to Turn on AC When Using Air Conditioning in Winter?
2 Answers
You don't need to turn on the AC when using air conditioning in winter. The heating system utilizes the car's internal heat cycle, which is a form of waste heat utilization, so there's no need to press the AC button. The functions of car air conditioning are: 1. Achieving cooling effects through the continuous phase change cycle of refrigerant; 2. Removing dust, odors, smoke, and toxic gases from the car's interior air to freshen it, and humidifying the interior air to increase relative humidity. Maintenance methods for car air conditioning include: 1. Don't set the temperature too low; 2. Control the direction of air vents; 3. Avoid prolonged use; 4. Appropriately use high fan speed; 5. Turn off the air conditioning when driving at low speeds.
I remember the first time I drove in winter, I turned on the heater without pressing the AC button, and the windows fogged up instantly, making it impossible to see the road. It really scared me. Later, a friend told me that the AC button isn't just for cooling—it also dehumidifies by removing moisture from the car, so even with the heater on, the windows won't fog up. Now, I've gotten into the habit of turning on the AC along with the heater in winter. Although it uses a bit more fuel, safety comes first. Especially on rainy days or when there are more people in the car exhaling moisture, turning on the AC to dehumidify solves the problem. In fact, many new cars with automatic climate control systems manage AC dehumidification automatically, while manual systems just require pressing a button. In short, whether to use AC with the heater in winter depends on whether fogging occurs, but for safety, I recommend keeping the defogging function on all the time.
