Air Conditioning in the car: Should I turn it on in winter?

Our car air conditioner is a valuable tool in all months of the year, even in winter with foggy windows and cold temperatures.

Many people think that the Air Conditioning of our cars is only useful in the summer. However, this is not true. The air conditioning system is designed to create ideal conditions in the vehicle cabin, regardless of the weather conditions. So, its usefulness is equally important in the winter months!

The car's system can bring warm air into the cabin even without the air conditioning compressor being activated. But there are some key differences.

For example, the most efficient way to demist a vehicle's windows is to use the A/C. With the compressor button pressed, the air entering the cabin is freed from ambient moisture and prevents the windows from fogging, from passengers' breath or the weather.

Those who have a car with automatic air conditioning will have seen that with the quick windscreen defogger button (available on all models with automatic air conditioning), the Air Condition compressor is also automatically activated for maximum efficiency.

Therefore, on cars with manual A/C, the button that activates the compressor should be pressed when the issue is to defogger the windshield. When the procedure is carried out the driver should set the temperature he wants in the cabin, leaving the A/C open.

The air will be recirculated, the vents will bring in fresh air free of ambient moisture, and the windows will not fog up again, even at the lowest fan settings.

The air conditioning system is not burdened when it is used continuously. More simply, there is no problem in its continuous use. The manufacturers did not make the A/C to work in the summer, but all year round. To put it another way, it is worse for the health of the A/C to sit idle for many months than to use it. With continuous use, the growth of mold and microorganisms in the system circuit is prevented, so the air is cleaner. It is a necessary condition to change the cabin filter whenever provided by the manufacturer