A ‘BACKWARDS’ cold air hack could actually warm your car up much faster on winter mornings, experts have claimed.
With the Met Office warning of more freezing weather on the way this week, drivers have been warned that received wisdom about their motors’ heating could actually be leaving them out in the cold.
Fortunately, specialists from Trusted Auto Professionals, a dealership chain based in Lander, Wyoming, were on hand with a handy, if counterintuitive, tip.
Writing in a blog post for the brand, one expert urged motorists to actually start their car with their air-con set on cold and the fan off.
They explained: “It may seem backwards but that’s how a car’s heating/cooling system works.
“Then, after driving for a bit, turn it to hot and turn on the fan.
“It’ll get hotter faster this way, than if you were to get in and turn it to hot with fans on full.”
This is because it takes some time for your air-con system to pull in freezing air from outside and heat it up, so cranking the fan all the way up will just pull more cold air around the cabin.
Allowing your car to heat more steadily will, according to the expert, actually lead to a more sustainable heating effect and get you warm faster.
You can still use the heater to de-ice your windscreen if it has frosted over before you set off but once that’s done, try and drive a short distance before trying to warm the rest of the cabin.
However, it is important to note that the expert’s tip isn’t necessary if your car has a Climate Control system rather than a traditional air-con.
This means that the computer unit in the vehicle automatically regulates the temperature and so won’t blow through cold air when the heating is on.
Climate Control is becoming more of a standard feature across the industry, but drivers of cheaper or older cars should certainly take not of the advice.
It comes after drivers were warned that they risk significant engine damage from a common car warming hack, costing thousands in repairs.
Likewise, a popular de-icing method could see you slapped with an £80 fine, it has emerged.
