Keep your Car cool during the Summer

Have you ever had a long burdensome day? You get in your car and the seats are burning hot, the steering wheel burns your hands, and the air conditioner unit is blowing heat because it's so hot outside?

You are not alone, getting in your car can be a major struggle for nearly anyone that travels during daylight hours in the summer days. In Texas, temperatures during the summer range from the high 90's to low 100's (°F). Temperatures inside a parked car increase steadily over time, every minute makes a difference. If you park your car and the outside temperature is 95°F, on average the temperature inside the car can rise up to 120/125°F within 30 minutes. Getting in your car with temperatures that high can be dangerous, but more than anything uncomfortable.

The following list includes several steps to help keep your car cool during the summer:

• Service the AC on your vehicle: Make sure you schedule an appointment with your mechanic on a regular basis or do it yourself. Keeping up with the maintenance of your AC on your vehicle will reduce the risks of having it break down on you.
• Crack windows: Leaving your windows cracked for about 1/2 inch helps reduce the heat within your vehicle. Be cautious and only leave the windows cracked when you are parked in a safe location during daylight hours. Also, be sure to park within a location where you can get to fast enough on days with a rainy forecast.
• Park under shades, trees, inside garage: Parking in shaded areas, large trees or a garage reduces the temperature within your vehicle.
• Cover the seats: Use specialized cloth fitted seat covers, or simply use towels to cover your seats, this will protect your seats from the sunlight and will keep them cooler. The same goes for steering wheels. Driving on a hot seat or managing a hot steering wheel can be distracting and become dangerous.
• Turn the car on and stand by for a few minutes: It is recommended to start your vehicle and have the ac unit flow for a few minutes with the windows rolled down or the doors open. You may opt to stand by or sit inside your vehicle, but NEVER leave your vehicle unattended while on.
• Use a dash cover: Be traditional, and use a dash cover to protect your vehicle's interior, this will reduce the heat on the front seats as well as the steering wheel.