Do you need to turn on the AC when using the car heater in winter?

[KadenFitz]

In winter, you don't need to turn on the AC when using the car heater. Pressing the AC button activates the compressor, which provides cold air, while the heater does not require it. This is because the heater transfers some of the heat originally dissipated through the radiator into the cabin, so using cold air would counteract some of the engine's power, whereas the heater does not affect the engine's performance. Here's an introduction to the AC function: 1. The AC button is used to start the compressor, which pressurizes the refrigerant (Freon). To use the heater, you don't need to turn on the AC; simply adjust the fan speed to blow warm air. The warm air at this time utilizes the car's internal heat cycle, transferring heat from the radiator into the cabin without increasing fuel consumption. Note that the heater requires preheating; when the car is first started, the coolant temperature is low, so it takes some time for the blower to deliver warm air. 2. The AC is the cooling button, which requires the most work from the air conditioning system and consumes the most fuel. However, the heater does not require 'cooling' at all, as the car can fully utilize the heat generated by the engine to operate the heater.