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Gas prices are currently soaring, with the national average for a gallon of gas hitting $4.483 on Tuesday, according to data from AAA. This marks an increase of over 30 cents in just the past month.
While some drivers may have the option to switch to a less expensive fuel type or find specific gas stations offering savings of up to 25 cents per gallon, many are still searching for additional strategies to maximize fuel efficiency.
One often-overlooked feature in your vehicle could offer some relief. It’s a simple button that frequently goes unnoticed.
Located in the upper left-hand corner in the photo below, this is the air recirculation button. Its function is straightforward: instead of drawing in outside air, it recirculates the air already inside your car’s cabin.
It’s known as the air recirculation button, and it does exactly what you think. Instead of pulling air in for the climate control system, it instructs your car to reuse the air that’s already inside.
This can help keep you cooler in the summer, as your car relies on air that has already been cooled rather than having to condition hot air from outside. If you’re in an area plagued with wildfire smoke or some other unpleasant odor, the button can similarly prevent your vehicle from pulling in the outside air and bringing in those smells and particles.
By using the air recirculation button, you can also help your car save on gas usage. It’s easier for your vehicle to reuse the air already inside than to pull in and cool outside air, auto center manager Tabitha Ruhl previously told Nexstar’s KODE. Not having to work so hard helps your car cut back on fuel usage.
Recirculating the air may also help keep you cooler even when the air conditioning system is off, experts at the Valley Automall say.
It’s not a perfect science. Ruhl notes that the air recirculation button doesn’t work well when you are heating your vehicle or using the defrost button.