Drivers only just realising button on dashboard cools car 'better than aircon'

It's summer, it's swelteringly hot again this weekend and driving has turned into a sticky, stuffy chore for many.

And given you're not even supposed to keep bottled water in your vehicle during heatwaves, it's especially difficult to keep your car cool in the direct sunlight at the moment.

That's why drivers are sharing a little known tip about a button on the dashboard that will cool down your car even more efficiently than aircon.

The button has a little arrow on it and a symbol representing the inside of your car. This 'recirculate air' button is a brilliant way to cool down your car even with the aircon off.

That's because it cuts off all outside air and will only, as the name suggests, recirculate the existing air inside the car.

As an aside, this is also great for hayfever sufferers because it stops fresh pollen from getting in through your vents.

The science behind it is that the air outside your car is hotter than inside, so with a quick blast of aircon, the air inside will be much colder. Then you can just continually recirculate this existing air instead of swapping it for new warm air, which means you don't even need to keep the aircon on necessarily as long as your windows are closed, saving fuel as well.

A spokesman for UK Car Discount said: "Picture this: a blazing summer day and a parked car soaking up the sun's rays. The air recirculation button comes to the rescue, offering an effective solution to expedite the cooling process. By recirculating the cool air within the cabin, this button helps create a refreshing environment almost instantly.

"This becomes especially invaluable during scorching weather, allowing you to enter a chilled car free from the heat. No more waiting for the air conditioning to kick in - the air recirculation button has your back, ensuring you experience a swift and soothing transition from the outside heat.

"It works by recirculating the cool air you get from your A/C when you first turn it on. The longer it's on for, the cooler your vehicle will get!

"If you don't use it, the car will use the air from the outside that is a lot warmer, and your A/C will work harder and continuously to cool the hot air."