Why should the car's air conditioning be recirculated?

As every year, the month of June marks the start of the hottest weeks, and vehicle air conditioning systems become essential elements when traveling by car, especially during the central hours of the day. Curiously, however, the air conditioning system is one of the great unknowns for most car owners in our country, as are the basic functionalities needed to optimize its performance.

Now it's been a while we already explained some tricks and tips for effectively using the car's air conditioning during the summer months, as trying to park in the shade whenever possible, opening the windows and doors before starting the engine to dissipate the heat inside the vehicle, waiting a few seconds to turn on the cooling system, or driving at a temperature equal to or higher than 21 degrees Celsius, as below this figure fuel consumption increases by 30%.

Having the cooling system in good condition is a key road safety element during the summer months, as with temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius our brain suffers effects similar to driving under the influence of alcohol: our reaction capacity decreases by more than 20%.

Surprisingly, not everyone knows about a feature of their vehicle's cooling and air conditioning system, such as the air recirculation button, which allows for more comfortable travel, protects us from particles and bad odors, and also allows us to increase energy efficiency.

The operation of the vehicle's cooling or heating system is simple: when we turn it on, the car absorbs air from the outside, filters it, and cools (or heats) it to subsequently allow it to enter the cabin. Once we feel comfortable inside the cabin, it is advisable to activate the air recirculation function, which will allow us to reabsorb the air from the cabin itself, filter it again, and use it to circulate it again inside the car. With this function activated, we will also prevent the entry of bad odors or particles when we pass through industrial areas, for example, while also making it possible for the car to cool down more quickly and for fuel consumption to be lower, thanks to the fact that we relieve the vehicle of having to take in outside air, which is always warmer, and cool it down to the desired temperature.

However, this recirculation system requires some precautions. Firstly, the filters of the ventilation system must be clean, as the presence of bacteria can contaminate the interior of the car. Likewise, it is not at all advisable to smoke inside a vehicle with the cooling system activated, for obvious reasons. Finally, it is worth noting that this recirculation system can cause drowsiness while driving, because it forces us to breathe the same air many times, and it can finally cause the car windows to fog up, especially during the winter months.