Do you need to turn on the AC when using the car heater?
2 Answers
You do not need to turn on the AC when using the car heater because the warm air transfers part of the heat originally dissipated by the radiator into the cabin. Turning on the cold air would offset some of the engine's power, whereas the warm air does not affect the power. The AC is the cooling button, and the hot air from the air conditioning does not require cooling at all. The car can fully utilize the heat generated by the engine to produce warm air through the air conditioning. Car air conditioning refers to the air conditioning device installed in the car, which can cool, heat, ventilate, and purify the air inside the cabin, providing a comfortable environment for passengers, reducing driver fatigue, and improving driving safety. It includes cooling devices, heating devices, and ventilation devices.
I often think about these things during my daily commute. Actually, you don’t need to press the AC button to use the car heater. The car heater utilizes the engine’s own heat, blowing warm air into the cabin through the heater core. Turning on the AC will engage the compressor, wasting fuel unnecessarily. However, when the windshield fogs up in winter, I turn on both the AC and heater—the compressor helps remove moisture, clearing the fog much faster. Once the windshield is clear, I turn off the AC. One tip: avoid blasting hot air directly at your face, as it can make you drowsy within half an hour. I usually set it to footwell mode—warming your feet keeps your whole body comfortable.
