What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
Why do you advise keeping the air conditioning switched on?
You regularly receive queries about air conditioning and its use to which your advice is (of late) to leave it switched on. My reaction is always the same - why, then, do manufacturers provide a conveniently placed on/off switch for the A/C?
I accept the need for regular operating of the system for the reason you state. (During Covid travel restrictions, I would ensure the A/C was 'on' during short 'essential journeys' whether or not I would have used it under normal mileage 'free movement' conditions).
You also imply some drivers do not use A/C 'during winter'. Do they never have a need to demist the interior of their vehicles - even with effective climate system with clear air filters, etc.?
In 'summer', A/C is not always needed. In fact, it can be preferable to have it switched off for specific periods in order to obtain the optimum comfort settings.
Then there is the extra load/fuel consumption factor.
I accept the need for regular operating of the system for the reason you state. (During Covid travel restrictions, I would ensure the A/C was 'on' during short 'essential journeys' whether or not I would have used it under normal mileage 'free movement' conditions).
You also imply some drivers do not use A/C 'during winter'. Do they never have a need to demist the interior of their vehicles - even with effective climate system with clear air filters, etc.?
In 'summer', A/C is not always needed. In fact, it can be preferable to have it switched off for specific periods in order to obtain the optimum comfort settings.
Then there is the extra load/fuel consumption factor.
Asked on 1 August 2022 by Vic Smith
Answered by
Dan Powell
Why is there an on/off switch? Simple, so drivers can choose to save money on fuel and deactivate the system.
Sadly, there are lots of drivers out there who switch off the AC in November and then keep it off until March (or whenever the weather warms up again). We receive thousands of AC complaints. They always arrive in the spring/summer months and generally start after the first spell of warm weather for the year.
That is why I advise drivers to keep the AC switch on. The entire ventilation system is designed to operate with it activated 100% of the time and the savings in fuel are far outweighed by the costs of repairing the AC.
Sadly, there are lots of drivers out there who switch off the AC in November and then keep it off until March (or whenever the weather warms up again). We receive thousands of AC complaints. They always arrive in the spring/summer months and generally start after the first spell of warm weather for the year.
That is why I advise drivers to keep the AC switch on. The entire ventilation system is designed to operate with it activated 100% of the time and the savings in fuel are far outweighed by the costs of repairing the AC.
Similar questions
I'm afraid I don't follow your advice of leaving the air conditioning on all the time, as surely this will use more fuel?
The air conditioning works perfectly well when turned on, but occasionally it...
The air conditioning temperature control doesn't work in my Citroen. When it's at the minimum it's okay, but you change temperature it starts heating?
My 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Electric's air conditioning has been out of order for two months and has had four separate visits to the dealer, who doesn't seem to have any idea what to do to fix it. It is now...
Elsewhere on 
.jpg)
