In a Fog (Fogged Windows in Cold Weather)
November 19, 2023
It's bad enough in cold weather when ice and snow block your visibility. Add to that fog on the inside of your windows and you could be driving blind. So here are a few tips on how to keep your windows from fogging up when there's a chill in the air.
You probably know fog is really condensation, when moist, warm air meets a cold surface and turns to liquid. If your windshield fogs up, you probably turn on your windshield defroster. Most defrosters blow heated air on the windshield glass to warm it up so it won't condense the moisture. Many also turn on the air conditioning to reduce the moisture.
That same strategy can work on the rest of the windows. First, turn up your heater's temperature setting. The hotter the air, the more moisture it will hold. Also, turn off the "recirculating" setting since you want all outside air to come in. Then switch on the air conditioning. It will remove the moisture from the outside air that it's blowing inside the cabin. Try cracking a couple of windows to make it easier for the air to flow. This should do the trick pretty quickly.
There's one other thing to try. Many vehicles have electric heater elements embedded in the rear window glass (the rear window defroster) and in the outside rearview mirror glass. Make sure to turn those on, too; sometimes they're on the same switch.
For all of these things to work, of course, your vehicle's components have to be maintained so they'll do the things they're designed to do. And you didn't think it was important to have your air conditioning working in the cold weather months!
One final tip. Keep the insides of your windows CLEAN. Oil and dirt on the glass give the water molecules something to latch on to. That ought to clear up this problem.
Perfect Tune Auto Repair
5434 S. Old US Highway 23
Brighton, Michigan 48116
810.227.9903
https://www.perfecttuneautorepair.com
Need Service?
More articles from Perfect Tune Auto Repair
Your Vehicle's Other Power Plant (Alternator Replacement)
January 19, 2025
Your vehicle's engine is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a power plant. But it has another power source that is vital as well: the alternator. The alternator is what puts out the electricity that powers such things as your lights, power windows, sound system, and na... More
A Clean Sweep (Fuel Injector Cleaning)
January 12, 2025
Your vehicle gets its power from burning fuel, usually gasoline, and it counts on something called fuel injectors to send gas to the engine in a spray that is easy to ignite. Its a precise operation, and when its working well, you have plenty of power and an efficient engine. But after time, con... More
Plugging Away (Spark Plug Replacement)
January 5, 2025
If you drive a vehicle with a gasoline engine, thank the spark plugs for igniting the gasoline/air mixture in each cylinder that keeps your vehicle traveling smoothly down the road every day. Your spark plugs work hard, firing thousands of times in a well-choreographed order, and you usually don... More