Use Internal or External Air Circulation in Winter?
2 Answers
Correct practice is to alternate between internal and external air circulation in winter. More information about air circulation modes: 1. Brief description: Internal circulation means the air conditioning system closes external air intake and only recirculates air inside the vehicle cabin. External circulation means the air conditioning system opens external air intake to bring in fresh air from outside the vehicle. 2. Advantages of alternating use: Faster cooling/heating effect of air conditioning system, prevents excessive carbon dioxide concentration and oxygen level drop in cabin (which causes drowsiness and affects driving safety), maintains clean cabin air quality and a good cabin environment.
Yesterday, picking up my kid from school, I finally figured this out. In winter, when you get in the car shivering from the cold, I always turn on the recirculation mode first—the hot air instantly turns the car into a furnace! But once the car warms up, the windows start giving you trouble—your breath fogs them up completely. That’s when I click the fresh air mode, and the cold wind mixed with fresh air rushes in, clearing the fog in three minutes. On long drives, you have to be extra careful. Last time on the highway, I got drowsy after two hours—turns out it was because I kept the recirculation mode on too long, causing oxygen deprivation. Now, once the car is warm enough, I switch modes, automatically switching to fresh air every 30 minutes for ventilation. I also wear a scarf to keep my neck warm, ensuring both warmth and safety.
