In winter and summer, many people use air conditioning in the car to escape extreme heat or cold. With the correct operation, the benefit can be maximized and fuel consumption can be reduced.

Refrigerator principle

The air conditioning in the car “works similarly to a commercially available refrigerator,” explains the ADAC. The compressor condenses the gaseous refrigerant. Since the compression heats the gas, it must then be cooled down. This is done in the capacitor, which makes the refrigerant liquid. The single -flowing wind is used. If the pressure subsides, the refrigerant evaporates and cools the air to about two degrees Celsius.

In summer

The extremely cold air of air conditioning seems pleasant in midsummer at first, but should be enjoyed with caution. There is an increased risk of colds, especially in direct influence on parts of the body. In order to cool the vehicle as quickly and efficiently as possible, the ADAC “recommends switching to recirculation operation for a short time with maximum cooling capacity”.

In order to avoid hot inside of the vehicle, you should park in shady places if possible. It can also be helpful to ventilate the car before driving off. In this way, the warm air can be exchanged for cool air faster. In the case of short distances, i.e. travel times under ten minutes, the air conditioning should remain. After all, in extreme cases there can be additional consumption of 2.5 to 4 liters.

In order to prevent residual moisture in the system, the cooling function – but not the fan – should be switched off shortly before driving. If there is no compliance, bacterial and fungal attack can occur, the ADAC warns. In most cases, an infestation on the bad smell is recognizable. However, the disinfection of the evaporator and the process line should be remedied.

In winter

In winter, the air conditioning is particularly used to reduce the air humidity in the interior of the car. In this way, the defolts of the disc can be prevented. At temperatures below five degrees Celsius, however, the air conditioning does not work, as the ADAC emphasizes. The danger that the evaporator might have been going on was too high. In order to counteract the moisture formation, however, be it advisable to clean the disc regularly: “A dirty pane binds the moist air particles itself and therefore fulfills much faster than a clean”. In order not to let the system dry out, however, the air conditioning system should also be operated regularly in winter – provided the temperatures allow it. Nevertheless, one should avoid short -term operation. Regular maintenance in the two-year cycle is recommended by service companies.

Editor finance.net

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