Using car air conditioning in winter?

Using car air conditioning in winter?

Sounds bizarre, doesn’t it? Using car air conditioning in the winter months. They’re cold enough; our cars don’t need cooling down any more. Well, you’re right but if you wait until the New Year to fire it up again, you’ll be left disappointed. So why on earth is using your air conditioning in winter a good idea?

The most important part of your air conditioning system is the refrigerant gas stored in the compressor. This makes the outside air crisp and cool and is probably the most critical part of the process. During the journey from the compressor to the condenser, the refrigerant gas becomes a liquid and then bonds with the outside air. After that, it travels to the drier to remove any impurities in the air, such as dust or pollen. After that, the air is almost ready to be pumped into the cabin.

The last step in the process involves a set of evaporation coils. The liquid passes over these and turns back into a gas – the cool air which you feel in the cabin. The right amount of liquid is released every time thanks to the thermal expansion valve. This limits the amount of liquid which can flow over the evaporation coils at any one time. At the end of this process, the refrigerant turns back into a gas and returns to the compressor to begin the journey again.

The three main reasons to use your air conditioning during winter are: to keep the system lubricated for the summer, keep your windscreen demisted and limit the build-up of mould and harmful bacteria.

Your air conditioning system will seize up if it’s not used regularly. The rubber seals, over which the coolant flows, are affected the most. If you don’t use your air conditioning system for a few weeks, you could cause leaky seals and pipework – which could create a costly repair bill. If you use your air conditioning during the winter, the rubber seals will stay well lubricated and be ready to rock and roll when summer comes around.

This becomes especially important if you or someone you know suffers from asthma or allergies. Remember when we said that your car air conditioning system filtered the outside air to get rid of dust and pollen? If this dust and pollen are allowed to settle on the filters, it could quickly become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria that you don’t want to be breathing in.

If you switch your car air conditioning system on and there’s a funny smell, it could be a sign that bacteria is growing deep inside. This could have happened thanks to a lack of usage. To avoid this, make sure you give your air conditioning a quick blast now and then during winter. 

When it’s cold outside, we all know how easy it is for our windscreen to get fogged up. But how? Well, when moisture settles on the windscreen, it condenses on the cold surface and creates steam. This leads to a lack of visibility and a potentially dangerous situation if you don’t clear it quickly enough. That’s where your car air conditioning system comes in. It dries the air in the cabin so moisture, steam and frost can’t form on the windscreen. Use your air conditioning to clear the windscreen in the morning rather than a cloth. You’ll notice the difference and be able to set off sooner.

There are lots of obvious benefits to using your air conditioning all year round. But, the most important question of all is, how do you do it? 

Now, we’re not saying you should have your air conditioning on all the time – why would you want to make yourself even colder? No, you only need to switch it on for roughly ten to fifteen minutes every two weeks. This keeps it ticking over, but it doesn’t mean you can’t get use it more regularly.

Most importantly, you can use the heater at the same time as your air conditioning. You can sit in a warm car with the air conditioning dial turned to fully cold position. Let it warm itself up, while you keep yourself toasty. The only thing we don’t recommend that you do is to open the windows while your air conditioning is on.