The ‘overlooked’ button could keep your vehicle toasty without burning through extra fuel unnecessarily
As temperatures drop and fuel costs remain high, drivers might be searching for methods to stay warm without draining their bank accounts at the gas station. However, car specialists reveal that many motorists are overlooking a simple dashboard control that could dramatically reduce their winter heating expenses while maintaining comfort for extended periods.
The overlooked treasure hiding in plain sight? It’s the air recirculation button – a compact symbol showing a vehicle with a curved arrow within, usually found on your climate control system.
Neil Atkinson, proprietor of automotive restoration business Carrosserie, disclosed that this frequently neglected function represents one of autumn and winter’s most closely-guarded secrets for economical driving, reports the Daily Record.
“Most drivers have no idea what this button actually does,” Neil explained. “They see it, maybe press it accidentally, but never understand how it can dramatically improve their car’s heating efficiency.”
How does the recirculation button function?
The control works by preventing your vehicle from continuously pulling in freezing outside air. Rather, it reuses the pre-warmed interior air, ensuring your heating system doesn’t need to work excessively hard warming fresh, cold air from outdoors.
“Think about it logically,” Neil said. “Your engine is working harder to heat air that’s potentially minus five degrees outside, rather than air that’s already been warmed to 15 or 20 degrees inside your cabin. It’s like constantly leaving your front door open while trying to heat your house.”
For ordinary drivers facing regular winter journeys, this efficiency boost could slash petrol consumption throughout the colder months – potentially saving families cash this winter. The fuel-saving benefits are particularly evident in stop-start traffic and short trips, when engines struggle with heating performance.
Using the function correctly
Neil cautions against misusing the feature: “Once your cabin reaches a comfortable temperature, that’s when you switch on recirculation. Don’t use it from the moment you start the car, and definitely turn it off if your windows start fogging up.”
The condensation occurs because recirculated air becomes progressively more humid over time. When this happens, temporarily switching back to external air brings in drier air to clear the glass.
The technique works brilliantly during typical winter scenarios: morning commutes, school runs, or any journey under 30 minutes where you want maximum warmth with minimal petrol consumption.
As heating costs soar across every area of life, this simple dashboard trick offers motorists a valuable opportunity to stay warmer whilst spending less.
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