Sitting in a scorching hot cabin can be really challenging, but how can you cool the car quickly? The following methods can help you in the summer heat!
When a car heats up under the sun's rays, the first thing you want to do is cool the car quickly by turning on the air conditioning. However, if the interior temperatures are unbearable, this will only happen after a while. Since most parking lots lack shade, most people turn to car sunshades as a preventive measure. Unfortunately, this cannot always solve the problem during heat waves. Is there even a secret hack for this or do you just have to endure such situations stoically? Here are some clever ways to prevent heat build-up in the car and prevent sweaty moments before the journey.
How hot does it get in the passenger compartment and what can cool a car quickly?
Even if you are patient, this will help youextremely hot weather also headachesprepare. Tests conducted by researchers show that both vehicles parked in the shade and in the sun heat up at about the same rate. At 35°C, the average air temperature in the cars was 47°C, with the dashboard even reaching 70°C. The steering wheel heated up to 53°C under the sun's rays, while the temperature of the seats rose to 50°C. Although the cars parked in the shade were a little “cooler,” the interiors felt almost the same in both cases.
Interior temperatures are pleasant in the morning, but if you're still sweating in the car after a long day at work, this can be problematic. The clothes become sticky, the children complain and the situation becomes “red hot”. Unfortunately, as the sun moves throughout the day, there is no time for explanations in the afternoon. So be prepared by using the methods described below to cool your car quickly!
What effective steps can you take to combat heat in your car?
Regular air conditioning maintenance is the first step to maintaining a comfortable vehicle during the summer months. It is important to be able to restore this comfort in order to prevent possible risks while driving. But what other basic measures are there that can efficiently cool down a hot interior in just a few simple steps?
- Eliminate hot air from the interior - The first clever option is to pull down the driver's window and quickly open and close the opposite car doors a few times. This can quickly cool your car and instantly reduce temperatures by up to 10°C.
- Tricks against hot leather seats - In principle, there are special covers especially for baby seats and children's sensitive skin that cannot tolerate sudden temperature changes. Try something similar by finding it for the size you need. Also try to consider options such as cooler bags, whose purpose is to act as compresses. You can find these anywhere, or you can make your own version using items chilled in the freezer. Additionally, with leather seats, it is recommended to put on light protective covers or even a simple towel while you are away.
- What helps with hot steering wheel or other parts – Although this is not an everyday solution, activating an ice pack can help with heated surfaces and driving parts. This means your steering wheel or other part of the interior doesn't get as hot and you can cool your car quickly. If the car belt is also too hot to touch, you can use some kind of textile to protect it from the hot plastic. Otherwise, you can simply cover the vulnerable areas with additional textiles. However, a sunshade for the windshield still prevents direct sunlight from entering the passenger compartment. This protects both your steering wheel and the gear lever from heating up.
Follow other tips and cool your car quickly
Water has the property of quickly lowering the air temperature. It is therefore advisable to wipe surfaces that have become hot with wet cloths. This obvious step immediately makes the interior more pleasant. You can also use ice cubes if necessary. For example, a bag of ice can be an efficient way to reduce the temperature in the car for short journeys. If you also have an empty plastic bottle, you can cut off the top and attach it to the car window with the neck facing inward. However, this trick requires the air to be compressed and then decompressed again to get it out.
Although almost every driver knows this, you should set your car's air conditioning to the lowest temperature and let in outside air instead of recirculating the inside air. The outside temperature will definitely be lower than inside the car. In the meantime, open all windows because the air conditioning needs some time to develop its full performance. Additionally, you should use the cooling system's bottom vents facing the base, as warm air rises and cold air sinks. If necessary, you can also close the dashboard vents to speed up the process.
What preventive measures should you take against heating build-up in your car?
- To prevent the interior from overheating, you can leave the car windows slightly open when you are away. This provides some air circulation and prevents the temperature inside from rising excessively. However, do not leave your car unattended with the windows open more than an inch.
- You should also avoid direct sunlight in the parking lot if possible. Stop in the shade, perhaps under a tree or near buildings, as this is the easiest way to prevent your vehicle from overheating.
- If you want to cool your car quickly, you can first open the windows on both sides before driving by making a few quick back and forth movements with one of the doors. This acts like a large fan and although it seems strange, the movement ensures significantly faster air circulation in the passenger compartment. It is also advisable to always keep the sunroof closed in summer.
