YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS WRONG! HOW TO USE YOUR AIR CIRCULATION BUTTONS!

In this short video I explain what, why, and when to use your air recirculation and fresh air intake buttons in your vehicle! These are buttons you've likely seen many times, but you may not know exactly when to use them!

The air recirculation button in a car is designed to recycle the air inside the vehicle rather than pulling in fresh air from outside. There are some situations when using this feature can be useful, such as:

When driving in heavy traffic: In bumper-to-bumper traffic, the air outside the vehicle can be polluted and dusty. By using the recirculation button, you can keep the inside air clean and fresh.

When driving through a dusty area: If you're driving on a dirt road or through a dusty area, the air recirculation button can help keep the dust from entering the cabin of your car.

When driving in extreme weather conditions: If it's very hot or very cold outside, the recirculation button can help maintain a comfortable temperature inside the car without relying on the outside air.

However, it's important to note that using the recirculation button for long periods can lead to a buildup of carbon dioxide inside the car, which can be harmful to your health. So, it's best to use this feature only when necessary and remember to switch back to fresh air mode after a while.

Running your air conditioning (AC) in your car can affect the use of the air recirculation button in a few ways:

AC works better with fresh air: Air conditioning is most effective when it's used with fresh air from outside. When you turn on the AC, the system automatically switches to fresh air mode, even if the recirculation button is already on. This is because AC works by removing heat and moisture from the air, and it's easier to do this with fresh air than with recirculated air.

Recirculation can make the air feel stale: When you use the recirculation button for too long, the air inside the car can start to feel stale and stuffy. This is because the recirculated air is not being replaced with fresh air from outside. Using the AC in recirculation mode can exacerbate this problem, as the moisture from your breath and body can't escape, making the air even more humid.

Recirculation can save energy: On the other hand, using the recirculation button can be more energy-efficient than using fresh air mode, as the AC doesn't have to work as hard to cool down the air that's already inside the car. This can be especially useful in hot weather, where the AC may struggle to keep up with the heat outside.

In general, it's a good idea to use the recirculation button sparingly and switch back to fresh air mode periodically to maintain good air quality inside the car. Using the AC in fresh air mode is usually the most effective way to cool down the car quickly and maintain a comfortable temperature.