On sweltering hot days, having air conditioning in your car is a blessing. However, if your vehicle has been sitting outside all day, it can feel even hotter inside than the temperature outside.
Given the increasing popularity of larger vehicles, you might have noticed that the heat feels worse than it did in your older, smaller car—and you’d be correct.
“A lot of folks nowadays drive SUVs or larger cabin vehicles,” said Ben Perricone, territory manager for AAA Mid-Atlantic Approved Auto Repair Program.
These vehicles typically have larger windows compared to the coupe or sedan you might have driven in the past.
“That increased glass area, it’s greenhouse,” explained Perricone. “And even with window tinting, the interior of the car will get up to 135 or 140 degrees very, very quickly.”
Your immediate reaction might be to start the car and blast the air conditioner on full power. While this will eventually cool things down, it’s not the most efficient approach.
“You’re trying to cool off 135-degree air. And that’s going to take a lot longer than cooling off 100-degree air or 90-degree air,” Perricone noted.
He recommends using the outside air, which is typically cooler than the air trapped inside the car.
Once you start your vehicle, Perricone advises, “crack the windows a little bit and get going and leave the air selector on fresh air.”
“What that’ll do is replace that 135-degree air with 90-degree air or whatever the ambient temperature is,” he explained.
“After two or three minutes, then seal it all back up because now your air conditioner is working on 85-degree air instead of 135-degree air, and you’ll get that car cooled down just that much quicker.”
This method also reduces the strain on your air conditioning system, making it work more effectively.
Of course, running the AC does affect your fuel efficiency, but it’s a trade-off most drivers are willing to accept during hot weather. Still, there are additional measures you can take to keep your car cooler when it’s parked.
If you have time before driving, roll the windows down and let the fan run for a few minutes.
Parking in a shaded area or a garage can help, as can using reflective windshield shades. Window tinting is another effective solution.
When driving with passengers in the back seat, avoid using the recirculating air feature, as it prevents cooler air from reaching the rear of the vehicle.
Lastly, Perricone emphasizes the importance of safety: never leave pets in a parked car. The interior temperature rises rapidly, creating a dangerous situation for animals left inside.