Why Your Car’s Air Conditioning Matters All Year Round
There was a time when air conditioning in cars across the UK was seen as an unnecessary luxury — after all, with only a handful of truly hot days each year, why would you need to make your car feel like a polar bear’s bedroom?
However, these days most cars come with air conditioning as standard — and for good reason. Air conditioning doesn’t just cool the air; it also dries it. That means during the colder months, switching it on with warm air helps demist your windows much faster than a regular fan.
Many modern systems also include air filtration, removing pollutants and pollen from the cabin — keeping the air you breathe cleaner and healthier. Plus, at higher speeds, using air conditioning can actually be more fuel-efficient than opening the windows for ventilation.
The benefits go far beyond a few summer days. The biggest mistake most drivers make is simply not using their air conditioning often enough. The system relies on regular use to circulate oil and refrigerant gases, which keep seals and pipes lubricated. Without that, seals dry out, gas escapes, and when you finally need that cool air — it doesn’t work properly!
