Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Topics: Cars, Technology, Weather
Ella Scott
Only drivers understand how difficult it can be to prevent your windscreen from fogging up.
As temperatures plummet in the UK, any moisture in your car is likely to transform into condensation immediately.
While a steamed-up windshield is undeniably annoying, it can easily become dangerous if it begins to impair your vision.
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A quick social media search and you’ll pull up tons of tips and hacks for rapid de-fogging.
However, experts have now revealed the one thing that is having an adverse effect on your attempts.
The team from Eden Tires & Maintenance has revealed that drivers often make their lives harder while trying to clean their windshields.
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To combat this, they’ve warned travellers not to press a certain button on their dashboard during the winter months.
The button in question is called the ‘air-recirculation button’, and it works by controlling the flow of air within the car’s HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system.
As it says on the tin, the button works to recirculate the air inside the vehicle, instead of sucking in new air from outside.
You can identify it via its icon, which features the outline of a car with a horizontal ‘U’-shaped arrow inside of it.
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The Derby-based experts 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 in turn can have a detrimental effect on your front screen.
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“Your windows fog up much quicker and stay that way while you drive,” they explained.
So by keeping this button off, moist and cold air is less likely to condense and blur your vision.
Furthermore, the team also suggested that by pressing this button you could be putting your health at risk.
They say that increased humidity from recirculated air use could cause the car cabin to become stuffy.
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In turn, this would cause drowsiness in the driver and put their safety at risk.
Instead, the company recommends that you turn off the button and allow the car to draw air from the outside through the heater core.
Not only will this warm up the windshield, but it will work to dehumidify it too.