06/20/2024
Most vehicles have a recirculation button with the AC controls in their cars, but many of us are unsure when to use it. The simple answer is to use it in the summer and turn it off in the winter.
The recirculation button takes the air from inside the car and recirculates it in the cabin instead of pulling fresh air from outside. On hot days, if you do not recirculate the cooler air inside the cabin, your AC system will pull in hot air from outside and try to cool it. Using the recirculation feature will cool your car faster and decrease the wear and tear on your AC system.
If your car has been baking in the sun, it’s better to roll the windows down and turn off the recirculation for the first minute or so to get rid of the super hot air inside the car before turning the recirculation on.
Additionally, anytime you are stuck in traffic (summer or winter), be sure to use the recirculation. If you are pulling air from outside, you are also pulling in pollutants and carbon monoxide from the traffic. Studies show that recirculating your AC can cut down on pollutants entering your vehicle by 20% when stuck in traffic!