Do You Need to Turn on the AC Button in Winter?
2 Answers
You do not need to turn on the AC button in winter. Reasons for not turning on the AC button in winter: The AC button controls the air conditioning compressor. In summer, you must turn on the AC button to activate the cooling function. However, the warm air in winter is generated by utilizing the car's internal heat circulation, which does not require the air conditioning compressor to be activated. Therefore, to use the heater, you only need to adjust the air conditioning settings without turning on the AC switch. Function of the car AC: The AC button in the car is the switch for the air conditioning cooling function. When the weather is hot and you need to cool down the car, pressing the AC button (which should light up an indicator) activates the air conditioning compressor, blowing cold air from the vents to lower the temperature inside the car. This provides a comfortable environment for passengers and reduces travel fatigue.
As a veteran driver with nearly 20 years of experience, there's actually some nuance about whether to use the AC button in winter. The truth is, cabin heating relies on engine heat and doesn't require the compressor to work. However, activating the AC engages the dehumidification function - especially useful during humid southern winters. When your windshield fogs up, turning on AC will clear the condensation in minutes, working far better than heat alone. Just remember that keeping AC on constantly increases fuel consumption - I usually turn it off after defogging. Also, compressors can fail from prolonged disuse, so occasionally running it for 10 minutes helps maintain lubrication.
