Should You Use Recirculation or Fresh Air Mode in Winter?
2 Answers
Whether to use the recirculation or fresh air mode for car heating in winter depends on the actual situation: 1. To quickly warm up the car interior in winter, you can first start the engine and drive normally for a while to allow it to warm up. Wait until the temperature gauge needle reaches the middle position, then turn on the heating with recirculation mode. Using recirculation allows the air conditioning to rapidly cool down or heat up the car interior. This not only warms up the car quickly but also avoids putting extra load on the engine, making it more fuel-efficient. 2. However, although continuous recirculation keeps the car warm, it creates a relatively sealed indoor environment. Prolonged exposure to this environment can lead to oxygen deprivation. Therefore, it's best to switch to fresh air mode every hour to draw in fresh air from outside. This air is then passed through the air conditioning evaporator or heater core to deliver either cool or warm air.
I've been driving for over 20 years. In winter, I'm used to switching to recirculation mode right after starting the engine to warm up the cabin faster - it's really uncomfortable sitting in a freezing cold car. But you've got to be careful! If the windows start fogging up, immediately switch to fresh air mode to bring in some dry air and defog them, otherwise your vision gets completely blurred and driving becomes extremely dangerous. On rainy or snowy days when humidity is high, fogging happens more easily, so I keep a close eye on it and switch to fresh air mode once it's warm enough to maintain air circulation. Also, when there are more people in the car, CO2 builds up quickly and can cause dizziness. Don't get greedy with the warm air and trap stale air inside - safety comes first. This long-term adjustment method not only ensures safety but also extends your AC system's lifespan. I recommend new drivers give it a try.
