Running Your Car’s A/C During Winter

It seems like one of the ultimate no-brainers: When it’s time to shut down your home’s air conditioning system for the season, it’s also time to stop running your car air conditioner, as well. One main reason that drivers do this, other than relying on common sense, is to help to prolong the life of the automobile’s cooling system.

However, there are some very good reasons why you should consider using your car’s A/C all year round, as doing so could prove more beneficial to the system’s longevity than only operating it during warmer weather.

According to one expert, your car’s air conditioner uses a drier form of air that can essentially serve as a dehumidifier, particularly on those colder, more humid days when your windshield might tend to fog up.

Another benefit of using your car’s A/C more frequently is that the system’s many moving parts get some essential exercise, which can help some components from permanently seizing up. And the benefits of a mechanical workout aren’t limited to hardware: An automobile air conditioner also contains and uses fluids, such as Freon and oil. Keeping those fluids moving helps to lubricate the overall system. But that can only happen when the central unit is operational.

Your car’s A/C may seem like it’s so self-contained that there’s no need to be concerned about its components becoming caked in bacteria or mold growth. However, these toxins will gradually build up in any system that is not used on a regular basis. Need proof? Recall the last time you started up your car’s A/C after it had been dormant for a long period of time. The foul-smelling air that likely wafted your way wasn’t just a malfunction of some sort. It was the result of accumulated, dirty compounds that could have been eliminated by running the system on a more regular basis.

And, yes, many car A/C units can be “run” while you have the temperature set to something warmer on a cold day – helping you to stay comfortable while your A/C gets some needed attention.