Conquering the cold – How to heat your car properly

With falling outside temperatures, driving is also becoming more and more uncomfortable. If you fear jitters and icy fingers behind the wheel, you can relax: With a few simple tips, you can survive the cold season without any frostbite.

Do not allow to warm up while stationary

Cold-sensitive drivers have a particularly hard time in autumn and winter - in the first period after the cold start, they have to freeze properly until the car has heated up. Warming up while stationary is still a popular method of providing cosy warmth in the car even before the journey begins. However, because of the exhaust gases produced, this is not only quite harmful to the environment, but also prohibited. Anyone caught pays a fine of 10 euros. In addition, the engine oil and internal temperature heat up very slowly in this way; according to tests, this already consumes about 0.15 liters of gasoline.

Setting the heating correctly

You can quickly ensure cosy warmth in the car with the right heating setting. Set this to the highest setting. In the case of fogged windows, the blower should first be directed at the windshield. Only after the view is completely clear can you turn back to medium and direct the air into the footwell. From there, the warm air rises into the entire vehicle interior. A switched on air conditioning system also accelerates the drying of the air.

If you have automatic climate control in your car, you don't need to increase the set temperature. The car always heats up at the same speed, regardless of whether a temperature of 22 or 30 degrees is set.

Extra equipment for cosy warmth

With the necessary change, you can add some nice extras to your car to ensure extra comfort even in winter. Seat heating, for example, warms the back and seat flesh in no time at all – ideal for bridging the gap until bearable temperatures have set in in the car. Alternatively, you can also use heated seat cushions as a cheaper option. They are powered by the cigarette lighter. But regardless of whether it's built-in seat heating or seat cushions – both put an enormous strain on your car's battery. To prevent it from being overloaded and your car suddenly not starting one morning, you should therefore use the seat heating sparingly, especially if you mainly drive short distances. You don't want to spend money on electric seat heating, but still don't want to miss out on a warm butt while driving? Try this simple trick: Simply place a thin pillow on the heater a while before you start your journey and later on the car seat.

As a useful extra against frozen fingers, you can opt for a steering wheel heater when buying a car. It costs around 300 euros and consumes about half as much electricity as a seat heater.

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