How to make your car’s air conditioning colder

It’s no secret the Australian sun is the enemy of vehicle interiors, but can you do anything to boost your car’s aircon? We find out.

Summer in Australia is generally regarded by most as the best time of the year – swapping school uniforms and office attire for bathing suits and towels, there’s nothing quite like enjoying the sunshine and the warm weather.

However, for a vast majority of drivers, leaving their vehicles under the relentless sun can leave motorists with an uncomfortable feeling of humidity and the occasional seatbelt burn when returning to their cars.

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While air conditioning units in most cars are normally the first thing that’s turned on to combat the blistering heat accumulated in vehicles during summer, left unchecked it can produce unwanted car problems.

To find out how to keep your air conditioning colder during the warmer seasons, Drive spoke to a range of professionals to find out the best method to give car aircon units a fighting chance against the heat.

Look for these red flags

There are a few general warning signs that your AC unit needs a service and/or repair.

The first and most obvious indication the AC is losing cooling is it continuously blows hot air for a couple of minutes after being turned on.

Drivers may also hear strange noises coming from the vents, as well as notice a bad smell in the air.

Signs of leakage under the vehicle might also be an indication there is a problem with the refrigerant fluid, while weak airflow could be caused by a build-up of dust and mildew in the air conditioning.

If any of these car problems apply to you, it might be time to get the AC checked.

Use the air recirculation function

Though car enthusiasts know all the functions in their vehicles, general drivers tend to avoid toggles and switches they might be unfamiliar with.

In July 2022, an Australian parenting group named Mum Central went viral on the social media platform Facebook after sharing information relating to the air recirculation feature available in most cars.

“Most vehicles have a recirculation button with the AC controls in their cars. But many of us are unsure when to use it. Well, the easy answer is to use it in the summer and turn it off in the winter,” the post read.

The post garnered a lot of positive comments, mainly from mothers who thanked the group for providing the useful advice in helping their cars stay cool during warm weather.

At its simplest, the air recirculation button ­– symbolised by an arrow forming a ‘C’ shape inside of a car outline ­– takes the air inside of a vehicle and redistributes it instead of drawing in outside air.

“On hot days, if you do not recirculate the cooler air in the cabin, then your AC system is pulling hot air from outside and trying to cool it. Using the recirculation feature will get your car cooler and will decrease the wear and tear on your AC system,” the Facebook post explained.

Professionals also advise waiting a couple of minutes when inside a car with the windows down to get rid of the hot air before using the air conditioning.

“Any time you are stuck in traffic (summer or winter) be sure to use the recirculate. If you are pulling air from outside, then you are pulling in all the pollutants and carbon monoxide from all the traffic,” the post stated.

“Studies show that recirculating your AC can cut down on the pollutants entering your vehicle by 20 per cent when stuck in traffic.”

Service your air conditioning unit every one to two years

When speaking to mechanics and air conditioning specialists, Drive was told the best method to guarantee an air conditioning is performing at peak levels is to get it serviced and assessed by professionals.

Though some car accessories and general vehicle functions could help your air conditioning system in summer, it’s recommended to get the system checked at service every one to two years to prevent any further and/or potential damage as well as refilling any relevant fluids and gases.

Don’t try to DIY

Car owners thinking about fixing their AC unit by themselves should avoid doing so, as there could be a plethora of underlying car issues that drivers might not be aware of.

In Australia, regassing an air conditioning system without a licence to do so is illegal as it poses a direct safety and environmental risk.

Utilise shade methods and accessories

Though drivers generally can’t do much more than get the AC system checked and serviced, as well as using the recirculate function in summer – keeping the car in the shade during warm weather can not only help the air conditioning system, but also lessen the heat build-up in the car.

Professionals have advised tinting windows within a legal limit can also aid in decreasing the temperature of a vehicle’s cabin during warm weather.

Those looking for non-cosmetic alternatives can look to car shade accessories, such as windscreen sun shields and window socks/covers that are available in the market at different price points.

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