Which one is the recirculation mode in A/M?
2 Answers
When the car air conditioning indicator A is lit, it will automatically switch between recirculation mode and fresh air mode based on the air quality inside and outside the vehicle. When the M indicator is lit, it means forced recirculation mode. When either A or M indicator is on, it's not completely in fresh air mode. Only when neither A nor M indicators are lit is the system in fresh air mode. The car's recirculation and fresh air modes serve different purposes. Recirculation mode can improve the cooling efficiency of the air conditioning system. Although it provides better cooling effect, prolonged use of recirculation mode will reduce the air quality inside the vehicle. The main advantage of fresh air mode is maintaining air freshness inside the car (especially in areas with good outside air quality). The function of fresh air mode is ventilation. When the interior air becomes relatively stale, switching to fresh air mode can replace the cabin air and improve air quality. Recirculation mode helps maintain warmth in winter and keeps the cool air in summer. However, prolonged use of recirculation mode carries risks. It's recommended to alternate between recirculation and fresh air modes. When using recirculation mode, switch to fresh air mode every hour because passengers exhale significant amounts of carbon dioxide, making the air stale and requiring fresh air mode to improve quality. If you want rapid cooling after turning on the AC, activating recirculation mode can shorten the cooling time.
The car air conditioning recirculation button usually has a small icon on the center console, resembling a car with an arrow circulating inside, indicating that the air only circulates within the vehicle without drawing in outside air. Having driven various cars, I find it particularly useful for quickly cooling or heating the interior air. For example, in summer when the car is too hot, pressing it immediately helps the cold air blow faster, and similarly in winter for rapid warming. It's also handy when the outside air is polluted, such as during heavy traffic with strong exhaust fumes or in dusty weather, activating recirculation to prevent pollutants from entering the car and maintaining freshness. However, don't keep it on all the time, as the air can become stuffy and accumulate carbon dioxide. After about half an hour, switch back to fresh air mode for ventilation to stay healthy. This feature is quite practical for daily driving, enhancing comfort and even saving a bit of fuel since the air conditioning doesn't have to process outside air.
