Air con in your vehicle can be invaluable, especially when you are driving around on hot, stuffy days. Rather than open a window and letting in pollution and noise, switching on your air con can have your vehicle cool and fresh in a matter of seconds. That being said, it does not make sense to leave your air con running all the time.
In our experience, switching off your air con when you are not using it is a good idea. Not only can permanent running be a drain on your battery, but it can also shorten the length of time between air con re-gassing. When the time does come for you to refresh your air con with an air con regas, look no further than Protyre. Our air con engineers are all certified with the Safe Handling of Refrigerants certificate, ensuring that your air con is maintained to the highest level and to the required legal standards.
Air con maintenance is important, and we always recommend having an air con regas carried out at least once every two years in order to ensure that your air con system stays in good working order. At Protyre, years of experience tell us that regular regassing is the best way to ensure that your air con will work whenever you need it, in both the summer and the winter.
In fact, using your air con in the winter is as effective for your vehicle as running it in the summer because an air con system in good working order will allow you to clear misty windows in minutes, keeping you safe on the road. When you do find yourself in need of some cool air in the midst of summer, remember to keep your vehicle's windows closed. Opening windows when the air con is running allows exterior air to flow back inside, warming up the interior and putting additional stress on your air con system.
The more stress your system is under, the more energy (and therefore fuel) it will burn to keep it efficiently running, and the more you will need to spend at the service station!
In addition to air con and general vehicle maintenance, at Protyre we care about providing the correct tyre for every individual vehicle. From manufacturers including Bridgestone and Pirelli, we have tyres to suit every budget and for every type of vehicle. You can browse and buy your new tyres now through the Protyre website, with many of our branches able to offer same day fitting on some of the tyres in our range.
The next time your air con requires some expert care and maintenance, or when you are looking for some brand-new tyres, look no further than Protyre, the local garage you can trust. With easy, online booking, you can also take advantage of free vehicle checks, or expert servicing for your vehicle, today.
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About the author
By David SholicarDavid is the National Retail Operations Manager for Protyre. One of David’s areas of responsibility and expertise is dealing with the DVSA and MOT’s for Protyre. As the Authorised Examiner Designate Manager ( AEDM ) David deals with applications for changes to the many Vehicle Testing Stations ( VTS’s) including managing the growth of the Number of MOT testing stations that Protyre operate, allocating MOT tester roles, and monitoring the MOT Test logs to ensure that Protyre MOT standards are maintained as the best in the industry.
FAQs
As long as the engine is running and you aren't running low on fuel, you can keep your car idling with the AC on for as long as you'd like. However, you will want to avoid doing this with the engine off, as this will use up almost all of your battery power in a short time, leaving you in need of a jumpstart.
Is it better to leave car AC on or turn off? ›
While it's generally a good practice to turn off the AC before turning off the car, there may be occasional exceptions, such as extremely hot weather, where briefly leaving the AC on after shutdown can provide comfort. However, this should be done judiciously to avoid battery issues.
How long can I leave the AC on in my car? ›
You can then keep the AC of your vehicle on for as much time as you would want. On the other hand, you should avoid doing so when the car engine is off. That�s because it will consume almost the entire battery power within a short span. Thus, you may have to jumpstart.
Is it bad for AC to run constantly? ›
Also, running your air conditioner continuously will wear out the unit faster. Like any other machine, the more you use it, the faster it wears out. Even with regular maintenance, you'll likely shorten the life of your AC unit if you let it run all day, every day.
How often should you use your car AC? ›
Run your air conditioning at least once a week (for around 10 minutes) to maintain gas pressure, even in winter. Avoid turning your air conditioning on full-blast when you first get in the car.
Does the car AC affect the engine? ›
Every time it cycles on it creates more strain on the engine, generating heat. In addition, the engine's serpentine belt drives the AC compressor, which also takes more energy from the engine. So yes, running your air conditioner during hot weather will cause the engine to run hotter.
Is it better to leave AC on all day or turn it off? ›
For three kinds of cooling system – central air conditioning, air source heat pump and minisplit – it was most efficient to turn cooling off during the eight-hour workday and then on again at the end of the day.
Can I sleep in the car with AC on? ›
So, the risks are high when you sleep inside the car by turning the AC on. A long hour of the idle state of your car with AC on status may increase the chance of Carbon monoxide accumulation more. The gas may kill you by building up inside. Even some holes in the car may allow the exhaust fumes inside.
Is it more efficient to keep AC on in car? ›
There are estimates that the air conditioning system will lower mileage by about 3 MPG. However, it is more likely that the cost of running your car's air conditioner will depend on your vehicle's age, make, model, and driving speed—as well as external factors like the outside temperature.
Is it OK to leave car on with AC? ›
You won't hurt anything by turning the air conditioner off. You also won't hurt anything by leaving it on all the time. Run it when you're too hot, or when the windows fog up. If you're too cold, it's just fine to turn it off.
The constant running of your AC unit will reduce pressure in the evaporator, or cooling coil until it freezes over, according to Cool Today. This is why in some cases, this constant running can be dangerous. The freezing of the coil can cause liquid refrigerant to flood back into the unit's compressor and damage it.
Is it efficient to turn off AC in car? ›
But if you want to save some fuel while cruising on the highways, or extend the range of your EV to the nearest charging point, you can turn OFF the AC, only use the blower and keep the windows up, to get better efficiency from your car.
Is it okay to leave the AC on 24/7? ›
Clogs Air Filters
When you operate your air conditioner 24/7, the greater the likelihood your air filters will become clogged with dirt. The result of this is it would cause your A/C unit to blow out warm air instead of cool air.
Should I give my AC a break? ›
The lower your thermostat, the more frequently your AC runs throughout the day. Try a temperature that doesn't lead to overcooling. The occasional break is healthy for your AC unit. Plus, it keeps energy costs down.
What happens if a car AC compressor runs continuously? ›
If it's not because of the weather, then AC compressor stays on all the time means there is something wrong with the unit. If not troubleshooted as soon as possible, you will face a jaw-dropping electricity bill, plus your AC will be subject to extra wear and tear from unnecessary overworking.
Is it OK to use AC all day? ›
Leaving your air conditioning unit running all day won't typically cause damage to the unit itself, but it can strain the system and result in costly energy bills. Running your air conditioner non-stop for extended periods without regular maintenance leads to wear and tear on the unit.
Is it okay to leave AC on all the time? ›
So, is it better to leave your AC on all day? Well, it depends. After all, turning the AC on and off costs more initially. However, leaving your AC on all day consumes more energy and adds wear and tear to your system, which may cost you more money for repairs in the long run.
Is it bad to idle your car with the AC on? ›
But you should not idle the car for too long, it will be dangerous for you and your passenger. If your car is idle and the air conditioner is on, you risk carbon monoxide poisoning.
