Cassels Garage

Efficiently Using Your Air Conditioner

Published on August 16, 2016
Efficiently Using Your Air Conditioner

Now that it’s August, we are in the peak of hot, summer weather. July and August are typically the hottest months of the year, and in Florida especially, the heat in these months can be overwhelming. Temperatures are hitting the 90s nearly every day, and it feels nearly impossible to walk outside without breaking a sweat. Fortunately, in Brevard County we are lucky enough to have a sea breeze to cool things off a little.

We all know the feeling of getting into to our car after leaving it in the sun for a couple hours, and the second we turn the car on we put the air conditioning on full blast to try to cool ourselves and our car down. What many people don’t consider is that constantly using our air conditioner can quickly deplete our gas, which we all know isn’t cheap. A study by the Society of Automobile Engineers actually found that driving with the air conditioner on full blast can decrease gas mileage by as much as 10%! This means using our air conditioner effectively can definitely pay off. At Cassels Garage, we want to help you get the most out of your money, so here are some tips on how you can use your automotive air conditioner as efficiently as possible:

  • It is better to run your air conditioner at high-blowing speeds for shorter periods of time than to have it run on a low-blowing speed for a long period of time.
  • For vehicles that have front and rear air conditioning, including SUVs, vans, and mini vans, it is best to have both air conditioners running. Many people turn one of the compartments off in an effort to save fuel, but having only the front or rear conditioner on means it will take longer to cool the inside of the car. Vehicles like these only have one air compressor, so it is actually more efficient to keep both air conditioner compartments on.
  • Make sure you maintain your cabin air filter. Regularly replacing it can ensure that you are getting clean air, free of dust, pollen, and other allergens.
  • Clean leaves and other debris out from the cowl at the base of your car’s windshield. Doing so will allow outside air to circulate more freely.
  • Keep your air conditioner on the recirculating setting. This takes air from inside the car and cools it, as opposed to cooling the outside air.

These tips will help you get the most out of your air conditioner while you try to stay cool this month. At Cassels Garage, we are ready to help you with any automotive repairs or car services you need. Whether it’s air conditioning, brakes, oil changes or really anything automotive related, we have you covered! We have been serving the Melbourne area since 1966, so let the experts take care of your automotive service needs this summer!

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