AIR con experts have revealed an easy, three-step “pre-cooling” hack which can boost your blower for free at the press of a button.
With the Met Office predicting “rising” temperatures, peaking in the mid-20s within days, the handy trick could save you feeling all hot and bothered on the road.
Some form of air con has been a standard feature in cars since at leas the 1960s.
Yet it remains one of the most misused and misunderstood pieces of automotive tech out there.
Fortunately, specialists from BH Petrol have stepped in to offer a list of tips and tricks you can use to get the most out of your blower.
This included an easy method for “pre-cooling” your motor before setting off to get the temperature down fast.
The pre-cooling technique is a simple yet effective hack to ensure a comfortable drive.
BH Petrol
Most drivers might be tempted to just hop in their motor, whack the air con on max and drive off.
But this is actually very inefficient and makes cooling the car both harder and more costly.
Plus, research by the Centre from Disease Control (CDC) in America suggests that just one hour sitting idle on a 26C day could see your vehicle’s interior temperature hit as high as 50C.
That’s too hot for anyone to sit in safely for any length of time so not pre-cooling could actually be harmful to your health too.
Instead, as soon as you get in, roll all the windows down to allow the hot air built up inside the cabin to escape.
Then set the fan running without the air conditioning activated to force the old air out and get fresh air from outside circulating.
Finally, once the temperature is bearable, hit the AC button and roll up the windows to keep the cool air in.
When it gets down to the set temperature, add in a push of the recirculation button to keep the pre-cooled air flowing around the cabin.
Not only does this make your car a much more comfortable place to be, it reduces pressure on the air con system by not forcing it to repeatedly cool hot air from both inside and outside.
This in turn slashes your fuel consumption, which can mean big savings in the long term.
The experts at BH Petrol said: “Are you tired of the uncomfortable heat in your car, especially after leaving your car parked under the afternoon sun?
“The pre-cooling technique is a simple yet effective hack to ensure a comfortable drive.
“This circulates the cooler air more effectively, allowing you to enjoy a comfortable temperature inside much quicker.”
