YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS WRONG! HOW TO USE YOUR AIR CIRCULATION BUTTONS!
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- In this short video I explain what, why, and when to use your air recirculation and fresh air intake buttons in your vehicle! These are buttons you've likely seen many times, but you may not know exactly when to use them!
The air recirculation button in a car is designed to recycle the air inside the vehicle rather than pulling in fresh air from outside. There are some situations when using this feature can be useful, such as:
When driving in heavy traffic: In bumper-to-bumper traffic, the air outside the vehicle can be polluted and dusty. By using the recirculation button, you can keep the inside air clean and fresh.
When driving through a dusty area: If you're driving on a dirt road or through a dusty area, the air recirculation button can help keep the dust from entering the cabin of your car.
When driving in extreme weather conditions: If it's very hot or very cold outside, the recirculation button can help maintain a comfortable temperature inside the car without relying on the outside air.
However, it's important to note that using the recirculation button for long periods can lead to a buildup of carbon dioxide inside the car, which can be harmful to your health. So, it's best to use this feature only when necessary and remember to switch back to fresh air mode after a while.
Running your air conditioning (AC) in your car can affect the use of the air recirculation button in a few ways:
AC works better with fresh air: Air conditioning is most effective when it's used with fresh air from outside. When you turn on the AC, the system automatically switches to fresh air mode, even if the recirculation button is already on. This is because AC works by removing heat and moisture from the air, and it's easier to do this with fresh air than with recirculated air.
Recirculation can make the air feel stale: When you use the recirculation button for too long, the air inside the car can start to feel stale and stuffy. This is because the recirculated air is not being replaced with fresh air from outside. Using the AC in recirculation mode can exacerbate this problem, as the moisture from your breath and body can't escape, making the air even more humid.
Recirculation can save energy: On the other hand, using the recirculation button can be more energy-efficient than using fresh air mode, as the AC doesn't have to work as hard to cool down the air that's already inside the car. This can be especially useful in hot weather, where the AC may struggle to keep up with the heat outside.
In general, it's a good idea to use the recirculation button sparingly and switch back to fresh air mode periodically to maintain good air quality inside the car. Using the AC in fresh air mode is usually the most effective way to cool down the car quickly and maintain a comfortable temperature.
From my understanding, you should use recirculation mode when you have AC on so your ac compressor isnt always working hard to cool down hot air from outside all the time but instead taking the already cool air from inside the car and recirculating it into cold air more efficiently. But I'm not sure how much difference it truly makes to the longevity of the AC compressor in real life
That would definitely make it so your compressor doesn't have to work nearly as hard, which would probably make it last longer.
Which is exactly why recirculate comes on automatically when you're on Max AC. His advice about recirculate isn't entirely accurate and wouldn't stand up to a mechanic's knowledge.
I have a funny smell coming through my car when the intake button is on anybody now what that might be!?
When the intake button is on? Do you mean pulling air in from outside? If so, you may need to change your cabin air filter
My take is this . For max cool when it is hot I first open all windows and drive maybe up to 100ft just to get the hot air out , close windows , then turn on the ac to max cool. Some cars when max cool is selected ,the system automatically goes to the recirc mode. This is the fastest way to cool the car as the air that is circulating in the car is precooled once it passes through the system. I keep the the recirc mode most times as the cool temperature is easily maintained this way. Every now and again, especially on highways I will select outside air mode , turn fan on high , crack a rear window for the venturi effect to suck the stale air out faster , and with the outside air mode selected fresh air is drawn into the car faster as well. I usually open the windows for about 20 seconds or so. I then revert to the recirc mode.
Great strategy!
a/c has to work overtime to cool the fresh air vs the recirculated air inside the cabin...the air blowing in off that engine is hot...so run recirc during A/C use and run fresh during the heater use
You've got it exactly
I love how everyone in the comments is letting this fool know he literally posted countercoaching on AC systems, which operate identically in cars (sealed compartment) as they do in homes and other structures.
Thank you for this video. I don’t know what happened, but my brain permanently deleted all information on these buttons and now I feel like a 1st Grader trying to understand the concept. When running the heater on a cold day wouldn’t you want heat from inside the car/engine rather than the single digit temp air?
Exactly! When its really hot or really cold you will want to use the recirculate mode.
If I pull in the outside air it takes a lot longer for the car to heat up, and the air is a lot colder. If I recirculate the air it's a lot warmer on the way to work. If I leave the recirculation off I am half way to work freezing the whole way.
Yeah it can make a big difference!
works both ways, for heating or cooling, just basic laws of physics
I drive an older Lincoln and I have the same experience. I have my circulation on and then switch over once my cars warm.
Nice!
My issue is that when I use the circulate air the car change it automatically to fresh air and most of the time I get smoke from trucks in my car why it keep doing that?
Great question! Whenever you turn on the A/C it automatically goes to outside air. Does it happen while you are driving or just when you start your car?
Max AC is in recirculation. It will reach lower temperature faster. He has it backward.
I should have explained it more clearly. I said if you are in extreme heat or extreme cold you should have the recirc button on. I think I confused my audience by talking about the AC system. Is is definitely more effective to recirc air for the AC, especially if it is very hot outside. The point I was trying to make was that running the AC also impacts the humidity in the air. If you run your system in recirc for too long it can create a stuffy and uncomfortable environment in the car
How do you close both vents for each button?
You have to either pull air in from outside or inside the car. You can't shut both off. You can also just turn off the fan. Does that answer your question?
@@elibaier it does thank you very much
Great!
I use the recirculation button on to keep outside air from mixing w my cleaner inside air..
Nice!
I guess here in the Middle East you need recirc mode on always during 40-50 C summer😂
Will it damage my car cooling system?
Wow that's warm! No it will not damage your cooling system. In fact, it will actually make it last longer because it won't have to work as hard! Thanks for the comment!
The cooling radiator of the AC condenses moisture out of the air whether it comes from outside or is recirculated and whether the heater is on or not..
Moisture from your breath does not build up in a car with AC on - recirculating or not.
Thanks for the comment!
Yeah....... right
Yeah…. right!
THANK YOU
Thanks Mr. Peanut! Glad you found it helpful!
@@elibaier I've been wondering for a long time, and I've found I've been using them incorrectly.
You and me both haha 😂
God bless you ✝️
Now you know!
I live in Hawaii and u thier already humility is okay to use that cuz my ac thing work but the last few days now the leaking coming out from thier and my bf cousin who work with ac told us to use that other butten the one that air don’t come from outside
Interesting. Yeah sometimes it is beneficial to use recirc mode and AC
Why do I still smell exhaust when I have recirulate button on?
Hopefully it just takes some time for the air to circulate and go through your filter.
@@elibaier sorry for delayed response but I have an issue Ive enquired about to the dealership but havent gotten any answer yet, but when I have the recirculate button on, which should stop outside odours from coming in, I still get a ton of smells from exhaust or smoke from homes. Its like theres not even a filter or I have a defective system. Its a brand new vehicle too, 2024 Buick encore GX.
Sorry to hear about that issue. Hopefully the dealership can figure it out. It sounds like air is still getting in somewhere
Thanks! I didn’t know this 🙏🏾😊
Now you know!
From my understanding ac drops the temp like 20°f. Theirfore anything above 85 requires recirculating.
Very interesting! Where did you hear that?
Will there any complaint for ac parts since i have been using AC in fresh airmode whole the time for 500 km is there any problem for either engine or ac parts
No I don’t think so. Thanks for asking
I generally speaking I usually only use it when it’s needed. But sometimes I have to use it near my house cause there’s some places where smells really bad outside so I have to I know you’re in a really r not supposed to use it for that reason but I do it anyways
Sometimes we all need some fresh air haha
how to turn it off?
What exactly are you trying to turn off?
just keep recirc going unless your outside temps are same as inside temps in which case... don't run the compressor and crack the windows if its a nice 72* day
Thanks
What does the star button used for a/c or heater?
There is a button typically with a snowflake that turns the AC on or off
@@elibaier and do I keep that on or turn it off?
If you want cold air, turn it on
What are you talking about? I don’t have those two buttons, just one?
Interesting… is it the outside air one?
"moisture CAN'T escape" with ac on. Nope. That's the 'conditioning' part of AC. Reduced temp AND reduced moisture. Water is constantly condensing on the cold evaporator fins and drips out beneath the car-- making for cool temps with low humidity in the car even on a very hot and humid day, and high comfort levels.
Thanks for the explanation!
So some people say when you switch the recirculation button off it helps your engine to not overheat. Drawing that heat from your engine and letting it out. Any trueness in this myth
I could see this being true only in certain circumstances. Basically as long as there is not an issue with your thermostat, this should never happen. Have you tried it before?
Fresh air is worst 99.99% of the time, especially in city. All I smell is pollution after pollution. Infact, I only use recycled air 100% of the time.
Nicely done!
Pulling in outside air with the ac on is better as stated here. The compressor is not working harder. Trying to maintain cabin temp makes the ac work harder. Letting in fresh air is helping to cool the cabin. Idling in hot weather is not helping.
Exactly! Thanks for adding that info
what cars be having the pulling outside air in option , bcuz i see a lot don’t have it so i’m curious on what cars have that ac system
I believe all cars have the ability to pull air from outside or to recirculate the air inside. Most cars have the option to manually select which one. What cars have you seen without it?
Exasperate lmaooooo ok
What?
So when I rip nasty Beef Wellington fart, I probably want to switch to fresh air. Got it.
😂😂😅
literally the only time that you want to use fresh air mode
Haha
Wrong information. Wtf?
very wrong, what a piece of shit, should delete his channel
Which piece is wrong information?
Recirculating air is turning off after 5 mins. Tired to press on and on again. Hate Ford for this
Interesting. What’s the year/make/model?
U are backwards
backwards you are
This is horrible advice, HVAC is under less load in recirc mode as its cooling cooler temps. Humidity plays a major factor in this as well, if you continue to try to strip humidity with your HVAC fresh air when your internal air is already being reduced, you're overloading your system. Source - HVAC tech, this is actually awful. There is not planet where recirc is the lesser option.
I agree that humidity plays an important role and it impacted by running the AC. Running the AC lowers the humidity. If you run the AC and recirc mode for too long, you can lower the humidity to uncomfortable levels. However it can be very beneficial to run the the AC and recirc mode at first to help bring down the temperature in the car quickly. Agree or disagree?