As temperatures plummet across the UK, morning commutes are getting colder. If you want to stay warm in the car without breaking the bank amid rising fuel costs, there is a simple trick that can help.
According to automotive experts, most motorists overlook a small button on the dashboard which could slash the car heating bill. That secret weapon is the air recirculation button – a small symbol showing a car with a circular arrow inside, typically found on your climate control panel.
Neil Atkinson, owner of car restoration company Carrosserie said: “Most drivers have no idea what this button actually does.
“They see it, maybe press it accidentally, but never understand how it can dramatically improve their car’s heating efficiency.”
This button works by stopping your car from pulling in the crisp outside air and instead, recirculating the already warmed air on the inside. This stops the weather from constantly warming the freezing air from outside.
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.”
This trick works best during stop start traffic and short trips – perfect for the school run or the office commute.
But Neil warns against using the feature incorrectly: “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 fogging occurs because recirculated air becomes more humid over time. When this happens, briefly switching back to outside air brings in drier air to clear the windows.