The purpose of the air-recirculation button in your vehicle

Most vehicles have a recirculation button with the AC controls in their cars. But many of us are unsure when to use it.

Well, the easy answer is to use it in the summer and turn it off in the winter.

The recirculation button simply takes the air from inside the car and recirculates it in the cabin instead of pulling fresh air from outside. On hot days, if you do not recirculate the cooler air in the cabin, then your AC system is pulling hot air from outside and trying to cool it. Using the recirculation feature will get your car cooler and will decrease the wear and tear on your AC system.

Side note, if your car has been baking in the sun, its better to roll the windows down and turn recirculate off for the first minute or so to get rid of the super hot air inside the car before turning the recirculate on.

Also, any time you are stuck in traffic (summer or winter) be sure to use the recirculate. If you are pulling air from outside, then you are pulling in all the pollutants and carbon monoxide from all the traffic. Studies show that recirculating your AC can cut down on the pollutants entering your vehicle by 20% when stuck in traffic!

What does the air-recirculation button do?

The air recirculation button effectively cuts off the outside air to the inside of the car ‘recirculating’ air inside your vehicle.

What the air-recirculation button is used for:

Boosting your AC to help your cabin get as cold as possible as quickly as possible
Stopping pollution & exhaust fumes ie. in a city center traffic jam, entering your cabin
Reducing pollen when driving if you suffer from hayfever
Stopping strong outdoor odours entering your car such as silage

The benefits of the air-recirculation button

The air-recirculation function ensures your AC works to the optimum level, allowing your vehicle to get as cold as possible as quickly as possible.
It helps stop pollution, smells and pollen from entering your cabin
It helps keep your air-filter cleaner for longer
It reduces strain on your AC system
It helps reduce fuel consumption by assisting the AC system

Some new cars do not have an air-recirculation button. This is because modern vehicles are often equipped with sensors that monitor the cabin air and moisture levels, adjusting the “air-circulation” automatically.

When to use the air-recirculation button

When using AC
In summer & hot weather
In dense traffic to stop pollution entering the cabin

If you’re driving in a heatwave you should turn on your AC & your air-recirculation ON to ensure your air-con gets as cold as possible as quickly as possible.

If you don’t switch the air-recirculation button on then your air-con will be constantly cooling warm air from outside your vehicle and will have to work much harder, putting more stress on the blower & air compressor.

It works by recirculating the cool air you get from your A/C when you first turn it on. The longer it’s on for, the cooler your vehicle will get! If you don’t use it, the car will use the air from the outside that is a lot warmer, and your A/C will work harder and continuously to cool the hot air.

If your AC has to work harder, you’ll increase fuel consumption and your cabin won’t reach its optimum level of coldness from the air-con system. You will also be putting undue wear-and-tear on your A/C compressor.

When not to use air-recirculation

In winter and cold weather.

As a general rule, when it’s cold outside make sure the recirculation button is switched off!

The air-recirculation button is best to use alongside your AC during warm weather. During cooler weather it doesn’t have many benefits and can even be detrimental.

Some drivers think it makes sense to not have “all that cold air coming in” if they are using heaters in winter. However, in reality it’s best to keep it switched off. The standard “fresh air” mode forces the outside air through your heater core so it’s nice and toasty before it reaches you, and your windows will de-fog a lot quicker and stay that way while you drive.

Disadvantages of the air-recirculation button

The main downside of the air-recirculation button is that it traps humidity inside the car, which results in misted windscreens, especially when the air is cold outside and in wet weather.

It can cause your windscreen to mist up
It can trap humidity in the cabin
If your vehicle is fully loaded with passengers, it can cause it to be stuffy and may make you drowsy

ur vehicle is fully loaded with passengers, it can cause it to be stuffy and may make you drowsy

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