For many the best time of the year is summer; however, the heat and the sun can make the days unbearable especially at the time of driving. Although cooling the cab of the vehicle only takes a matter of minutes, this lapse often seems like an eternity to reach a comfortable temperature.
Fortunately, there are many simple things that can be done to keep the car cool during the summer, from optimizing the air conditioning to finding a shady place to park the vehicle.
These tips can help keep your car cool during this summer:
- Limit the amount of sunlight entering through the windows
The windows of the car can act as a greenhouse, retaining heat and sunlight. Although outdoors are only 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius), direct sunlight passing through the window can cause the interior temperature to be up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius).
Knowing this, there are some ways to help keep your car cool by reducing the amount of heat coming in through the windows:
- Sun curtains: Sunshades are a great investment since they block the direct rays of the sun that enter your car. This makes the internal temperature stay a little lower, which can help your car cool down faster.
- Polarized windows: Although it is a bit more expensive, inking or polarizing windows is a way to block the sun constantly. But before taking your car to obscure the windows, make sure you know the state traffic laws, as there may be restrictions on how much or which windows you can polarize.
- Indoor parking: if you do not have polarized windows or a sunshade, a useful alternative may be to park in the shade. Look for a shaded space or park your car in such a way that the sun falls on the rear glass, instead of on the windshield. This can help you keep the steering wheel and the front seats slightly cooler.
- Slightly open the windows: Because the closed windows retain warm air, leaving them slightly open while you are parked will create a slight air flow. If your car has a sunroof, you can also use it or use the ventilation function if it’s not raining. For windows and solar roofs, leave them minimally open (less than one inch), in order to minimize the possibility of theft.
- Do not let your seats get too hot
Warm seats can cause discomfort. For this reason, you should consider buying a car with fabric seats instead of leather. If it’s within your budget, you can also consider buying a car with air-conditioned seats that circulate fresh air in your back. In general, this works by using a porous mesh in the car seat, which allows air to flow through it. The fans inside the seat produce air circulation, which diffuses to spread the cooling effect through the seat and through the mesh, cooling the surface of the seat. For those who already have leather seats, but need a way to keep them cooler, buying cooling gel covers or pads is a great choice. Simply cover the leather seats with towels, to provide some insulation between your body and the heated seat.
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- Maximize the effectiveness of your air conditioner
Air conditioning helps to reduce the time it takes for the inside of your car to reach a comfortable temperature. Also, air conditioning works best when your car is moving, so once you’re on the road, turn on the air at full power and lightly open all the windows until the indoor air is cool. This helps to improve cooling efficiency since hot air will be pushed out of the windows as fresh air comes out of the vents. When the cold air begins to come out of the vents, close the front windows and leave the rear windows slightly open for another 10 or 20 seconds. Once the desired temperature has been reached, use the air re-circulation feature of the car along with the air conditioner to keep the air cooler.
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If your car’s air conditioner is not working properly or is not used in the most efficient way, it may take longer than you would like for your car to reach a comfortable temperature. There may not be a regular interval in which the air conditioning system of your car should be checked by a professional, but rather when the air coming out of the vents does not feel so cold as you want, it’s time to have them inspect it. If the air that comes out does not feel cold, you may need to go to your car mechanic to check the refrigerant and make the necessary adjustments.
In conclusion, is there anything worse than a hot car in the summer? You may enjoy spending time outdoors during the summer months, but the heat and sun can make driving unbearable. Your car may feel like an oven inside, and it may take what seems like forever to cool down. To this end, the quick tips above are here to aid you as regards keeping your car cool during this summer.