Pros and Cons of Running the Car’s AC in Winter

By Ursula Nizalowski

Though we are currently in the midst of autumn, winter is just around the corner. And with that
comes a variety of concerns for one’s car. In particular, whether to run a car’s air-conditioning
system, or AC, during the winter season or not. At first, it seems like a bad idea considering it’ll
just add cool air making one feel colder inside the car. But there are actually some benefits to
running the AC in wintertime that are outlined below along with the downsides.

Pros

Keeps Moisture in Check – During winter, it’s more common for a car to
experience condensation where “The mixture of cold outside air, your damp clothes and shoes,
and your warm breath causes the inside of your car to get very humid” says AAMCO Minnesota.
When this happens, the condensation can fog up the car windows and make it difficult to see the
road ahead. On top of that, the added moisture encourages the growth of mold inside the car’s
AC which could lead to health problems for the car’s occupants overtime. So running the AC
will actually reduce the moisture inside the car thus decreasing the buildup of mold and fog.
Prevents Deterioration – For a car’s AC unit to run properly, there are two kinds of
liquid that need to flow through it. Namely, oil and refrigerant which help keep the car’s
temperature under control. But if the AC unit isn’t running for long periods of time, “The rubber
hoses and seals” in the car “become dry and brittle without the lubrication from the fluids” that
could cause leaks and deterioration in the AC’s effectiveness according to Euromotive
Performance . And since the cold air of winter causes things to dry up quicker anyway, it
arguably justifies running the car’s AC to keep the AC from deteriorating.

Cons

Shouldn’t Be Used Often – While there are benefits to running a car’s AC in winter,
it’s not something that should be overdone. Because even though the AC helps to reduce the
moisture inside the car, cold air is still being blown which becomes unpleasant for the car’s
occupants—especially during a frigid day. For this reason, some garages recommend running
the AC 30 minutes once a week while others like Roxby Road suggest “ten to fifteen minutes
every two weeks.” Now regardless of the recommended time, the point is the AC should only be
run temporarily but not all the time.
Doesn’t Prevent Complete Breakdown – As said earlier, running the AC keeps
the liquids flowing inside to keep parts from breaking down. Though like any mechanical
device, air conditioners in cars will eventually break down completely no matter if they’re
running during the wintertime or not due to age or faultiness. On top of that, the refrigerant gas
inside the AC depletes by 10 and 20% each year naturally which can be replenished at some garages. But if the AC is acting faulty even after being replenished with gas, then it has to be replaced entirely.

For more information on car parts and wintertime preparations, then feel free to contact attorney
Rick Wagner.