How to use the recirculation button effectively

Let’s face it: Does anyone actually know what the recirculation button does? Many drivers are puzzled by the array of symbols and buttons on their car's air conditioning system. You’re in luck, because we’re decoding these AC symbols for you to take control of your car's climate with ease, and finally learn how to recirculate with confidence.

What do the AC buttons on my car mean?

Before diving into the specifics, let's cover some fundamental concepts about automotive air conditioning systems. Most modern cars come equipped with a variety of features to regulate cabin temperature, including air conditioning (AC), heating, fan speed control, and airflow direction. These features are typically controlled through a panel located on the dash or centre console. Let’s take a look:

Air conditioning

We all know this one, it’s what turns the AC on! It’s typically a button or dial that you can turn for cool or warm air.

Automatic temperature

If you see the word ‘Auto’ on the AC dial, your car has automatic temperature control. By pressing this button, your car will automatically adjust the temperature and strength of the air pumping through the vents so the cabin reaches an optimal temperature.

Synchronise

If your car has dual-zone (or tri-zone for bigger cars) temperature control, this button allows you to sync or separate the target temperatures and climate control of each zone.

Fan

This fan button controls the force that air will be blown through the vents. If you see two fan icons with one bigger than the other, this is where you can set a lower or higher fan speed.

Recirculation

This symbol of an arrow looping within a car icon is the air intake control button. Press this button to recirculate air already inside the cabin, rather than drawing from outside the car. You’d use this when it’s hot, humid, or even smelly outside. We’ll cover more about this below.

Front / rear windshield defrost

If your windshield ever fogs up, these buttons will do the trick. It activates the vents at the base of the windshield to warm up the glass and eliminate any condensation and frost. The front windshield one will look like a curved shape, while the rear will look like a rectangle.

What’s the best way to use the recirculation button on my AC?