How Long Should You Wait Before Turning on the Car Air Conditioning?
2 Answers
You can turn on the heating air conditioning two to three minutes after starting the car. Here are the relevant details: 1. Interior Temperature: In winter, it's necessary to quickly raise the temperature inside the car. When the car starts, the engine begins to warm up. Wait until the engine temperature gauge needle points to the middle position. Then, turn on the heating air conditioning and set the air circulation to external circulation to expel the cold air from the car. After waiting for 2 to 3 minutes, switch the air circulation to internal circulation. 2. Rainy or Snowy Weather: In rainy or snowy weather when there is a significant temperature difference between the inside and outside of the car, the front windshield is prone to fogging up. At this point, simply adjust the direction of the warm air to blow towards the front windshield, and the fog will clear within a few minutes.
After getting in the car, I recommend waiting for the engine to warm up slightly before turning on the AC—usually about half a minute to a minute is sufficient. As someone who commutes frequently by car, I've found that this approach improves the cooling efficiency and prevents the compressor from overworking. If the car feels like a sauna, I first roll down the windows briefly to let the hot air escape. Once the RPM stabilizes, I then activate the AC. This practice not only protects the engine but also saves fuel, and those small monthly savings add up. After adopting this habit, I've noticed more stable car performance, and the AC runs quietly even during prolonged use. The approach varies slightly by season—avoid rushing to turn on the AC in hot summers, and the same logic applies to heating in winter, where engine preheating is key.
