Hidden button keeps your car warmer for longer without using extra fuel

If you're freezing on your morning commute it turns out there’s a button that keeps your car warmer for longer – without using extra fuel.

As temperatures continue to drop and fuel costs remain stubbornly high, drivers are desperately seeking ways to stay warm without breaking the bank at the petrol pump.

But according to automotive experts, most motorists are overlooking a simple dashboard feature that could cut their winter heating bills while keeping them cosier for longer. The secret lies in the air recirculation button – a small symbol showing a car with a circular arrow inside, typically found on your climate control panel.

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Neil Atkinson, owner of car restoration company Carrosserie, reveals that this overlooked feature is one of winter's best-kept secrets for efficient driving.

He explains: "Most drivers have no idea what this button actually does. They see it, maybe press it accidentally, but never understand how it can dramatically improve their car's heating efficiency."

The button works by preventing your car from constantly pulling in freezing outside air. Instead, it recirculates the already-warmed inside air, meaning your heater doesn't have to work overtime warming cold air from outside.

"Think about it logically," Neil says. "Your engine is working harder to heat air that's potentially minus five degrees outside, rather than air that's already been warmed to 15 or 20 degrees inside your cabin. It's like constantly leaving your front door open while trying to heat your house."

For the average driver covering typical winter journeys, this efficiency boost could significantly reduce fuel consumption during cold months – potentially saving families money this winter.

The fuel-saving benefits are particularly effective during stop-start traffic and short trips, when engines struggle with heating efficiency.

Although, drivers need to take care not to use the feature incorrectly. Neil says: "Once your cabin reaches a comfortable temperature, that's when you switch on recirculation. Don't use it from the moment you start the car, and definitely turn it off if your windows start fogging up."

Your windows may start to fog as recirculated air becomes more humid over time. When this happens, Neil advises to briefly switch back to outside air as this will bring in drier air to clear the windows.

He adds that this technique is most effective during morning commutes, school runs, or any journey under 30 minutes where you want maximum warmth with minimum fuel consumption.