It’s quitting time and just past the hottest part of the day. You’re headed to your parked car and you open the door to a virtual heat wave. Your car, which has been parked in the sun all day, is sweltering. Here’s to several uncomfortable minutes between getting in and getting the AC fired up. Is there any way to keep your car cooler while it’s parked this summer? The answer is “yes.” Here are some helpful ideas to help you avoid feeling like you’ve entered a dry sauna when you climb into your car on a hot sunny day.
Reflect Light and Reflect Heat
Those sunshades may not be the most attractive things on your dashboard, and they do take a few extra minutes to deploy, but they really can help. Sunshades made of reflective material can shield your car from the brunt of the sun’s powerful rays by minimizing how much light and heat get into your car. By reflecting sunlight, you can reduce the interior temperature of a parked car by as much as 50%. One tip: get sunshades for both the front and rear windshields; most people only put shades in the front, but doing both will make the biggest difference. Also, choose shades with a reflective backing and put them in your window with the reflective surface facing out.
Park Strategically
The best way to keep your car cool is to minimize the time and intensity of exposure in the sun. There are several tips for minimizing direct sunlight coming into your parked car. First, try to park so that the afternoon sun – when the angle and heat are most intense – is coming through the rear window. This will keep the heat from the front dash, steering wheel and seats during the hottest times of the day. Also, if there are trees in the parking lot, take note of how and where they cast a shadow in the afternoon. Those shaded parking spots are the best ones for keeping your car cool.
Consider Window Tinting
People often wonder if tinting windows really can make a vehicle cooler. Some studies have shown that tinting does in fact make a difference. In some cases, temperatures inside of vehicles with tinted windows were up to 60% cooler than vehicles with no tinting. Keep local and state regulations regarding window tinting in mind when you look into it; most glass shops are well-versed in the regulations and can recommend the appropriate tinting to meet your needs and remain in compliance with legal requirements. Many window tinting films contain a substance to block UV rays. This will decrease the temperature inside your vehicle, but also offers another benefit: blocking UV rays will reduce sun fading and deterioration of plastic, vinyl or other surfaces in your vehicle.
Jack’s Glass excels in glass repair, replacement and design. Jack’s Glass provides repair and replacement for auto glass, and custom solutions forshower and tub enclosures as well as many other residential glass items. We also do custom glasswork for businesses, and proudly serve Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with locations in Elsmere, Covington, Alexandria and Dry Ridge.
