Is it normal for the car's heater to only get hot when set to H1?
2 Answers
It is normal for the car's heater to only get hot when set to H1. Meaning of H1: Actually, "H1" on the air conditioning panel stands for "HI," which is the abbreviation of the English word "HIGH." When the heater is set to the HI position, the heating temperature reaches its maximum. Reason why it only gets hot at H1: It should be noted that since the heat for the car's heater is provided by the coolant, if the vehicle is in a cold state, the heating process will be much slower. Once the water temperature rises, it will return to normal. Solution: If the vehicle's water temperature is relatively low, the heating effect will also be much slower. Therefore, in winter, it is best to wait until the water temperature reaches around 90 degrees before turning on the heater. Otherwise, the vehicle's temperature will not rise, which can increase engine wear. When turning on the heater, there is no need to press the AC button, as doing so will only increase fuel consumption and will not help with heating at all.
When driving in winter, I noticed that the heater needs to be set to H1 to feel warm, which seems a bit abnormal. Normally, after the engine warms up, the heater should quickly provide warmth at a medium setting. If you have to turn it all the way up to feel heat, it could be due to the thermostat stuck in the open position, causing the engine coolant temperature to stay too low, or the heater core might be clogged, affecting heat exchange. I've experienced a similar issue before—it was due to poor coolant circulation, which improved after repairs. I recommend checking the coolant level and color; if it appears brownish or has sediment, it might indicate rust buildup clogging the system. If left unaddressed, the car's defrosting will be slow in cold weather, increasing safety risks. It's better to have a professional inspection sooner rather than later to avoid minor issues turning into major repairs.
