Your air-con needs to be set a certain way – it’ll save you fuel and a £5K fine

DRIVERS are being warned that their air-con needs to be set a certain way to save fuel and avoid hefty fines.

Everything from setting your air-con to the right temperature, how long you should use it and whether or not you should have it on in winter makes a difference.

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Air-con experts Aircowell have a few recommendations for getting the best from your car’s air-con system.

It recommends that you “do not set the air conditioning system too cold and do not direct the airflow directly at your head or neck, as you could easily catch a cold.

“The ideal temperature is between 22 and 25 degrees.”

However, before you’ve set off on a hot day, Aircowell has another tip that means your system won’t work as hard and use less fuel in the process.

It said: “If you have to get into the car on a hot summer’s day, it is best to open all doors and windows before setting off so that the accumulated hot air can escape first.

“In order to then cool down the interior as quickly as possible, you should briefly switch to recirculation mode at maximum cooling capacity.”

How often you use your air-con system throughout the year is also imporant.

According to Aicowell: “regular operation ensures its functionality and significantly increases its life.

“If the air conditioning system is idle for too long, moving parts and seals can become porous, the risk of losing refrigerant increases and the oil in the compressor can degrade.

“This can lead to costly repairs and shorter maintenance intervals.”

But perhaps the most important reason for air-con is to avoid massive fines as a result of an accident.

Rule 237 of the Highway Code says you must keep your vehicle well-ventilated to avoid drowsiness.

Not doing so could result in an accident and a fine of up to £5,000.

Aircowell said: “Even 27 degrees Celsius inside the vehicle cause the pulse rate and body temperature to rise and concentration and reaction times to drop.

“Studies show that a rise in temperature from 25 to 35 degrees Celsius increases the risk of accidents by around 20%.”