The car stays cool in the summer
Sunshine and high temperatures can be pleasant. But heat is not a good companion in the car. With these tips, you will keep the interior cool.
The sun shines, the sky is blue - off to the pool or the lake for cooling down! A great idea, but sometimes you can get quite sweaty on the way there or back in the car. This can also be dangerous. With these tips, you will stay safe on hot days.
It can already be hot before you even start driving. For instance, when the car is parked in the scorching sun. The interior can heat up to 60 degrees or more, warns the testing organization GTU. But it doesn't have to be that hot for it to be dangerous. Already 27 degrees in the interior can be overwhelming at the wheel. Your pulse races, your concentration and reaction time decrease. When the temperature rises from 25 to 35 degrees, the risk of accidents increases by 20 percent, according to ADAC. The effect of high temperatures is roughly comparable to driving under the influence of 0.5 percent alcohol.
Never leave children or pets in the car
The interior can also become dangerous for the passengers in a short time. Therefore, children and animals should never be left alone in the car, not even "just for a moment." A test by ADAC showed that the temperature inside the car can rise to up to 42 degrees within 20 minutes with the windows closed, and up to 45 degrees with the windows open.
But even at an outdoor temperature of 20 degrees and sunshine, the temperature inside the car can rise so much that it can be harmful to health, especially for babies and toddlers. They cannot dissipate heat as effectively due to their small body surface area, according to GTU.
Keeping the car cool while parking
In general, it's best to keep the car as cool as possible. For example, by parking it ideally on a shady parking spot. You can also consider that the sun moves counterclockwise in the sky.
The accessories market also offers some help to prevent the car from heating up in the summer. For instance, there are nightshade tint films, canopies (often called "half garages"), or reflective sunshade films for the exterior. White fabric covers for the dashboard can also help keep it a few degrees cooler.
The most effective method, according to ADAC, is the canopy. In a practical test, the interior temperature of a car without this cover was about ten degrees higher than with the canopy. The second best method was an exterior sunshade film placed on the windshield. It prevents the seats and dashboard from heating up - the car was eight degrees cooler inside with this sunshade film.
A light cloth over the steering wheel, child seat, or seats with smooth surfaces can prevent burns when sitting down or grabbing the steering wheel, as dark surfaces heat up particularly strongly. ADAC measured temperatures of over 70 degrees on the steering wheel and dashboard without sunshade covers.
Properly using the air conditioning
To effectively remove accumulated heat from the car, ADAC and GTU recommend opening all doors, the trunk lid, and, if available, the sunroof. This allows for ventilation and should result in more pleasant temperatures inside the car within a few minutes.
Modern cars are usually factory-fitted with climate control systems - but setting the system to maximum cooling with just a full blast of ice-cold air is not sensible and can make you ill. However, it is effective to briefly set the climate control system to maximum cooling after starting and press the recirculation button. This cools down the interior air first, rather than drawing in more warm outside air into the car.
After the short-term cooling, it is important not to set the temperature too low and not to direct the vents directly at your body or face. It is better if the airflow flows over the shoulders of the front seat occupants. The comfortable temperature lies between approximately 22 and 25 degrees.
Whoever drives for less than ten minutes, the ADAC recommends not to switch on the climate control system at all. Short-term operation brings little benefit and loads the compressor and drive belt through frequent switching on and off. Without climate control, one can open the windows instead for shorter journeys at lower speeds.
Children in particular should be protected from the sun's UV rays during longer journeys. For this, the GTÜ recommends accessories for the rear side windows, especially sunblinds or approved shading films. Every system has advantages and disadvantages, a thorough consultation before purchasing is advisable. Travelers should ideally start longer car journeys in the early morning hours, evenings or at night.
- To ensure a comfortable vacation journey, follow the tips to keep your car's interior cool during a heat wave.
- When planning a family vacation, consider the effects of high temperatures on children's health and remember never to leave them alone in the car, even for a moment.
- To provide additional protection for children on long car journeys, consider purchasing UV-protective accessories for the rear side windows, such as sunblinds or approved shading films.
- To keep your car cool while parking, consider investing in products like nightshade tint films, canopies, or reflective sunshade films for the exterior.
- When traveling during a heat wave, remember that using the air conditioning effectively is crucial for removing accumulated heat from the car.
- As a consumer, be mindful of the recommendations provided by organizations like ADAC and GTU when selecting products to keep your car and family comfortable during hot-weather travels.
