Many drivers are eager to clear their windscreen at this time of year as the temperatures plummet.
Any moisture in your car is likely to turn into condensation immediately – making it hard to see out of your motor's windscreen. And as well as being annoying, a steamed-up windshield can also easily become dangerous if it restricts your vision.
There are tons of tips and hacks around for de-fogging your windscreen, however one expert has shared why you shouldn't use a certain button to help.
READ MORE: Expert's simple hack heats your car quicker on cold winter days
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The button in question is called the ‘air-recirculation button’. It works by controlling the flow of air within the car’s HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system. As you can probably guess, the button recirculates the air inside the vehicle, instead of sucking in new air from outside.
The button can be found in your car via its icon, which features the outline of a car with a horizontal ‘U’-shaped arrow inside of it. Experts from Eden Tires & Maintenance claim that while you may be advised to press this button, it can actually end up doing more harm than good.
They told US Times Post: “Basically when it’s cold outside, make sure the recirculation button is turned off. The recirculation button is best used in warm weather in conjunction with the air conditioning.
"In cooler weather, it doesn’t have many benefits and can even be harmful.”
The experts also claim that the default ‘Fresh Air’ mode works to push air outside through your heater, which can have a negative effect on your front screen.
“Your windows fog up much quicker and stay that way while you drive,” they explained. So if you keep this button off, moist and cold air is less likely to condense and blur your vision.
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The team also suggested that by pressing this button you could be putting your health at risk, as they say the increased humidity from recirculated air use could cause the car cabin to become stuffy. This could cause drowsiness for the driver and put their safety at risk.
Instead, the experts suggest that you turn off the button and allow the car to draw air from the outside through the heater core. As well as warming up the windshield, it will work to dehumidify it too.
The warning comes after the RAC also shared a de-misting hack to keep your windscreen clear. Instead of the heating, they recommend going in with air con first and then gradually increasing the temperature. This is so the air dries out. They said you should also make sure the heaters are facing the windows to speed this process up.
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