Most cars have this button, but few know when to use it
Apr 06, 2025
(NEXSTAR) - An often overlooked button on your car or truck's dashboard could be saving you some sweat and money.
The air recirculation button is usually found near the rest of your AC and heat options. It's typically depicted as the outline of a car with a looping arrow inside. You've probably
seen it, maybe even pushed it, but do you know what it actually does?
When activated, the vehicle will recirculate the air that's already inside of the car instead of pulling in fresh air from outside. It's most beneficial in hot weather when you're trying to cool down your car quickly, explains Christian Brothers Automotive.
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That will make it easier for your AC system to cool the vehicle's interior quickly. Instead of constantly pulling in warm air from outside and working to cool it, the climate control system will have an easier time cooling down a smaller quantity of air.
Auto experts recommend pushing the air recirculation button, shown here, when it's hot outside and you're trying to cool down the car quickly. (Getty Images)
Another benefit of the air recirculation button, according to Tabitha Ruhl, manager of Joplin Transmission and Auto Center in Missouri, is fuel efficiency.
"Cars are usually more fuel-efficient when the air conditioner is set to recirculate interior air. This is because keeping the same air cool takes less energy than continuously cooling hot air from outside," Ruhl told Nexstar's KSNF/KODE in 2022.
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Because it recirculates air that's already inside the car, it can also keep pollen or pollutants out of the vehicle's interior. For that reason, you may want to turn it on when you're sitting in heavy traffic to reduce the amount exhaust coming in through the car vents.
While it may be helpful to switch it on in the summer, you might want to avoid activating the button in the winter. Ruhl said it doesn't help when you're trying to defrost the windows because you'll need fresh air from outside to reduce humidity inside. ...read more read less
