CAR TIPS & ADVICE

Air conditioner (AC) is an indispensable part of a car, especially under a hot and humid weather. However, AC can also have negative impacts on our health if it is misused.

1. Prevent air circulation

The main function of the car AC is to filter the air and cool down the interior, giving passengers a comfortable feeling, especially in the hot summer weather. However, if the car has to travel a long way, then the AC will back-fire due to the door being closed all the time.

In fact, the AC system’s working principle is base on thermal insulation. If it’s a long haul drive, the air will only circulate inside the cabin and is totally isolated from the outside. Therefore, passengers will feel suffocated and can be put in danger if they have respiratory diseases.

If it’s a long haul drive, the air will only circulate inside the cabin and is totally isolated from the outside

According to car experts, to remedy this problem, passengers should occasionally open the window, so that they can receive fresh air from the outside, replacing the suffocating one on the inside and feel more refreshing.

2. Heat shock

A common habit of car users is to jump right into a cooled car from the burning hot temperature outside. This will cause an unforeseeable consequence to the human health. On a sunny day, the temperature difference between the air-conditioned car and the outside is usually big (about 5 - 10 Celsius degree), and it will cause heat shock to the body. The negative effect might be minute in the beginning, but keeping that bad habit can eventually cause cardiovascular problems.

3. Should we start the AC as soon as we start the car?

The answer is always no. According to the seasoned experts of car driving, we should turn on the fan first for 5 to 10 minutes to circulate the air and expel hazardous gas out of the car. Only after that can we turn on the AC.

We should turn on the fan first for 5 to 10 minutes to circulate the air and expel hazardous gas out of the car

If turning on the AC right after turning on the car, the battery will have to work harder to carry another process, this practice will lead to the decrease in the battery’s age and reduce the overall efficiency. Moreover, when starting the car, not opening all the window can trap the hazardous air and uneasy odor (typically the plastic smell) inside, causing bad effect on the human body.

4. Contaminated air

If the car carries a lot of food, drinks or smelly stuff, the air in the car is highly likely to be infected by bacteria. As mentioned above, closing all the window while turning on the AC can isolate the air from the outside, trapping the harmful gases inside. This will consequently allow air-borne bacteria to contaminate the air, prompting suffocation and even diseases.