Every summer we all look for ways to keep our cars cooler. Whether we're desperately searching for a shady parking spot, keeping our windows open, or buying solar fans, the list of ways we try to lower the temperature in our vehicle is quite extensive. Good sun protection for the car can also help. How you yourCar in summerThe best way to protect it from heat is to read our article.
Athigh outside temperaturesand strong sunlight can quickly heat up the inside of the car to twice the outside temperature. Heat build-up occurs, which can have health consequences such as sunstroke or heat exhaustion, especially in older people.
One of the most well-known methods of reducing the interior temperature of your vehicle is to use sun visors as sun protection. These products have been around for many years and are available in a variety of different styles and configurations. However, the question arises: Do sun visors for cars really work?
The short answer is: yes. Even if the car is equipped with air conditioning, you should not leave out sun protection for the car.
Car sun visors actually reduce the temperature in the vehicle. The traditional reflective models reflect the sun's rays and harmful UV rays, while non-reflective sun visors absorb them. Both options have advantages and disadvantages, but are generally effective. Below you can find out more about themHow sun protection systems workand the different possible options.
Car sun protection: This is how sun visors work
When sunlight enters the vehicle, what is not reflected is absorbed by the interior of the car. Most of the heat is absorbed by your dashboard and seats. This causes the vehicle to heat up very quickly because the absorbed light, which has been converted into heat, can no longer escape.
Sunshades reflect or absorb much of the light before it can enter the interior of your vehicle. Whether the light is reflected or absorbed depends on the type of sun visor you use.
Reflective sun visors, as the name suggests, reflect sunlight back out of the vehicle as it enters through the windshield. Non-reflective sunshades absorb sunlight after it passes through the windshield. Both sun protection systems significantly reduce the interior temperature in the vehicle, but popular belief is that reflective models work better.
Sun protection for the car: These are the advantages
Car sun visors can help reduce the overall temperature in your vehicle by up to 15 degrees, depending on the outside temperature. This also depends on what type of sun visor you have and how well it fits into your windshield.
The better the sun visor fits, with no uncovered areas, the more light is prevented from entering the vehicle and turning into heat. That's why it's so important to choose a well-fitting sun visor. Most models are available in a variety of sizes to ensure a good fit no matter what vehicle you have.
The advantages of good sun protection for the car at a glance:
- Lowers the interior temperature in the vehicle
- Reduces the time required for cooling via the air conditioning system
- Protects the dashboard from splinters and cracks
- Protects the leather seats
- Protects electronics from damage caused by excessive heat
Reduce heat in the car and reduce cooling time
If you've ever gotten into a hot car on a summer day, you know how uncomfortable it can be. Not to mention how long it can take for your vehicle to cool down again. Sun visors and shades effectively reduce the overall temperature inside your vehicle. This reduces the time needed for the air conditioning to cool the vehicle.
Protection from harmful UV rays
Sun visors can also protect the interior of the car from harmful UV rays. A sun visor on the windshield can help prevent the dashboard from splintering or cracking and protect the leather seats. Since dashboards have temperatures of up to 90 in the summer! As temperatures can reach degrees and leather seats can dry out and lose their color, sun protection goes a long way to keeping your vehicle's interior in good condition.
Protect electronic devices
If you store electronic devices in your car, you should also remember that too much heat can cause damage. You may be familiar with the message on a smartphone that it is overheating. This can be avoided by reducing the heat in your vehicle with a sun visor.
What types of sun protection for cars are there?
There are 3 main types of car sunshades today. They are sun visors, protective films and acrylic glass panes. All variants essentially serve the same purpose, but differ in a few ways.
Standard sun visor
The classic car sun visors are the best-known variant for sun protection in the car. The variants for the front window and the rear sliding can be folded like an accordion and are usually quite inexpensive. They serve their purpose, but can be a hassle to install and remove.
Advantages:
- Budget friendly
- Available at most stores that carry automotive products
- Works well
Disadvantages:
- Painful to install
- Aesthetically not appealing
Foldable sun visor
Collapsible sun visors are a step up from the standard models. Most of them come in a small storage bag that makes them easy to store in the car. They fold up quickly and look better than the accordion models. They also stay in place better than standard sun visors and are slightly more attractive. It is usually attached using suction cups that are attached to the side window, front or rear window.
Advantages:
- Easy to assemble
- Packs quickly and easily into a small travel bag
- Looks good
Disadvantages:
- A little more expensive
- Not all of them are universally applicable
Retractable sun visor
Retractable sun visors are the least cumbersome once installed. Most have two brackets that attach to either side of the window pane with suction cups. Once the brackets are in place, attach the sun visor to the passenger side bracket. Next, slide the sunshade down the length of the windshield and attach it to the second bracket. That's it, you're done. When you want to drive off, simply unhook the umbrella from the holder on the driver's side and it will automatically move back to the other side. This is by far the most convenient option available, but it also tends to be a bit more expensive.
Advantages:
- One-handed operation
- Can be trimmed to perfect fit
Disadvantages:
- Most expensive option
- The initial setup takes longer than other options
Sun protection film
The sun protection film is another possible variant that keeps the heat outcar during summerto reduce. This is a tint film that can be both light-tight and perforated. Because of static charges, it sticks to the window without wrinkles and can be reused as often as you like. These films prevent the sun's rays from entering the car through the windows and the inside stays pleasantly cool even in summer.
Advantages:
- Can be cut to size
- Use as often as you like
- Good against thieves as it blocks the view into the car
Disadvantages:
- Unsuitable for windscreen while driving
- The light-tight film darkens the passenger area
Acrylic glass panels against heat in the car
Acrylic glass panels are often used as car sun protection for babies and children. They can be easily attached to the side windows from the inside, thereby keeping both the sun's rays and prying eyes away. They are similar to sun protection films, but are thicker and somewhat more effective because of the material used.
What are sun visors made of?
The material from which sun visors are made largely depends on the type of sun visor. Most car sun visors are made of some form or combination of different materials such as foam, polyester, mesh and aluminum foil. This combination of materials effectively prevents harmful UV rays from entering the vehicle and reduces the overall heat that would otherwise build up in the car.
Install sun protection for your car correctly: This is how it works!
In order for a sun visor to help against heat in the car, it must be installed correctly. When using a traditional reflective sun visor, always mount it with the reflective side facing outward and the black side facing the interior of the vehicle. The side with the reflective film reflects sunlight from the windshield before it can enter your vehicle.
Other models that absorb sunlight are also mounted with the black side towards the interior of the vehicle. So no matter what type of sun visor you purchase, always mount it with the black side inward unless there are instructions that say otherwise.
What to do when it's hot in the car? These tips help!
Find a shady parking space
If possible, always park your car in the shade. However, you have to keep in mind that the sun moves and a shady spot can be in the blazing sun after a few hours. It is therefore best to find an area with several parksTrees to provide shade. Underground parking would be another good idea for the summer months.
If you cannot find a shady parking space, it is better to park the car with the rear facing the sun. This way, it takes several hours for the sun to hit the front of the car directly.
Attach sun protection to the window panes
If you use one of the above options for sun protection for your car, you cannot completely prevent the heat, but you can reduce it. Whether you choose sun visors, sun protection film or even a car cover is up to you.
Cool the car properly
In very hot weather, even the best sun protection cannot completely prevent heat build-up in the car. In such a situation it is important that you...Cool your vehicle properly. The first thing you need to do is open the windows or even the doors to allow as much of the hot air to escape as possible. Then turn up the air conditioning fully and drive briefly with the windows open. If the temperature inside is already comfortable, you can close the windows again and set the air conditioning to a suitable temperature. The rule of thumb here is that the interior should be no more than five degrees cooler than the outside temperature. In this way you prevent circulatory problems and colds.
