The dashboard button that cools your car down 'better than aircon'

The summer heat can make driving a sticky, uncomfortable task for many road users. Given the advice against keeping bottled water in your vehicle during heatwaves, it's particularly challenging to maintain a cool temperature in your car under direct sunlight.

That's why motorists are sharing a lesser-known tip about a dashboard button that cools down your car more efficiently than air conditioning. This button, marked with a small arrow and a symbol representing the interior of a car, is the 'recirculate air' button. It's an excellent method to cool down your car even when the air conditioning is off.

As the name suggests, this feature cuts off all outside air and only recirculates the existing air inside the car, reports the Express. Interestingly, this is also beneficial for hay fever sufferers as it prevents fresh pollen from entering through your vents.

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The principle behind this is that the air outside your car is hotter than inside. So, with a quick blast of air conditioning, the air inside will be much colder. You can then continually recirculate this existing air instead of replacing it with new warm air. This means you don't necessarily need to keep the air conditioning on as long as your windows are closed, saving fuel in the process.

A spokesperson for UK Car Discount explained the benefits of a lesser-known car feature, saying: "Picture this: a blazing summer day and a parked car soaking up the sun's rays. The air recirculation button comes to the rescue, offering an effective solution to expedite the cooling process.

"By recirculating the cool air within the cabin, this button helps create a refreshing environment almost instantly. This becomes especially invaluable during scorching weather, allowing you to enter a chilled car free from the heat. No more waiting for the air conditioning to kick in the air recirculation button has your back, ensuring you experience a swift and soothing transition from the outside heat."

They further clarified, "It works by recirculating the cool air you get from your A/C when you first turn it on. The longer it's on for, the cooler your vehicle will get! If you don't use it, the car will use the air from the outside that is a lot warmer, and your A/C will work harder and continuously to cool the hot air."