Don’t Miss This: Experts Reveal the Hidden Car Button That Could Transform Your Driving Experience—Know When to Use It

April 12, 2025
car button

In a move that could help millions of people save money, experts have recently uncovered a hidden car button on your dashboard. Usually, the air recirculation car button is located next to the other heat and air conditioning controls. Moreover, it is shown as the silhouette of an automobile with an arrow looping inside. Most likely, you’ve seen it—and perhaps even pushed it—but are you aware of its true function? When it is turned on, the car will circulate its air rather than bringing in clean air from the outside. It works best in hot weather when you’re trying to cool down your car quickly, according to Christian Brothers Automotive.

Experts reveal how to use this hidden car button that could transform your driving experience

This will help your air conditioning system chill the car’s interior more quickly. Instead of constantly bringing in warm air from the outside and working hard to cool it, the climate control system will find it easier to cool a smaller volume of air. When it’s hot outside and you want to cool down your car quickly, auto experts recommend pressing the recirculated air button, shown above. Fuel efficiency is another benefit of the recirculation button, according to Tabitha Ruhl, manager of the Joplin Transmission and Auto Center in Missouri. Setting the air conditioner to circulate the air within the car usually results in a more fuel-efficient vehicle.

The reason for this, Ruhl told Nexstar, is that it uses less energy to keep the air temperature constant than it does to continuously cool hot air from outside. It can also keep contaminants or pollen out of the car’s interior because it recirculates air that is already inside.  Because of this, you might wish to activate it while stuck in traffic to lessen the quantity of exhaust entering through the car’s vents. In the summer, it may be useful to turn it on, but in the cold, you may want to avoid pressing the car button. According to Ruhl, it is ineffective when attempting to defrost windows because you will require outside air to lower the humidity inside.

This other car button will help you reduce fuel consumption in hot weather

Owners of gasoline and diesel vehicles can reduce fuel consumption in any car on the road by flipping a switch. According to EdenTyres and Servicing experts, the air recirculation car button can help drivers reduce their consumption as it supports the air conditioning system. When the mode is activated, the air within the car will be cooled instead of being drawn from the outside.  The air conditioner will be less stressed as a result, utilizing less power and consuming less fuel.  The experts claim that the recirculation car button is an excellent choice for the spring and summer because it works better during hot temperatures.

It is important to highlight that during heatwaves, Eden Tyres encourages drivers to turn on their air conditioning (AC) and enable air recirculation to swiftly cool the air. Without this option, the AC would continuously chill warm air from outside the car, putting additional strain on the blower and air compressor. When you first turn on your air conditioner, the cool air it produces is circulated.  Your car will get colder the longer you leave it on! Keep in mind that when you’re not using it, the car will use the much warmer outside air, and your air conditioner will have to work harder and longer to cool the hot air.

Furthermore, when the weather gets warmer, RAC breakdown professionals have also advised drivers to turn on recirculated air and close their windows. As they outlined several strategies for drivers to cool their sweltering vehicles throughout the summer, they gave advice.