Finally summer – sunshine, warmth, good mood and off to the beach by car! When you open the car door, the heat comes for you as if from an oven. Heat in the car can become uncomfortable for the driver and front passenger not only when getting in but also while driving.
Driving in summer can cause the inside temperature of the car to rise sharply. The summer heat is not only felt outside, but also in the car. How dangerous the heat in the car can be, what to consider for children and dogs when driving in summer, how the car windows can be tinted or darkened with a heat protection film, what should be considered when using air conditioning and much more about driving in summer, find out in this thorough article.
Heat in the car: when will it be dangerous?
Just waiting 15 minutes in the car without leaving the air conditioning on can cause the inside temperature in a car to rise from 24° to 30°. After half an hour it will be 40° and after an hour it will be 50° in the car. At these temperatures, there is extreme danger for people sitting in the car under the blazing sun. The heat builds up and the inside temperature of the car rises rapidly.
Why do children cope with heat worse than adults?
While adults sweat a lot to cool off at high outside temperatures, this regulation system in children is not yet as pronounced until puberty. From the age of five, children can sweat so much that optimal heat regulation can take place.
What to do if children or dogs are trapped in the overheated car?
If you notice a dog in hot weather in the vehicle, you should immediately try to find the dog owner or the driver. This means that if the car is in front of a supermarket, it should be called for the owner of the vehicle as soon as possible in the supermarket. If this option is not possible, the police or fire department should be notified so that the vehicle door can be opened. If neither the owner of the car nor the police can be there in time to rescue the animal from need, an attempt can be made to rescue the animal itself. However, this is only recommended if the animal is recognizable in acute danger to life, because breaking a window pane can be considered material damage.
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If the vehicle in question is an electric car that can be fully air-conditioned without a combustion engine so that a slight whirring can be heard, you can assume that the inside temperature in the car is low and pleasant.
When children are sitting in the car, it should be determined whether they are just sleeping or are already passed out. By knocking on the car window, you can try to elicit responses from the kids to make sure they’re okay. If the child is in danger and you cannot notify the owner of the car or the police in good time, you can break a car window. However, be careful not to inflict additional injury to the child from broken glass.
Do tinted windows help against heat in the car?
Tinted windows provide protection against sunlight and UV protection, which means that the heat in the car does not rise as quickly and strongly as without tinted car windows. In addition to the sun protection that the car windows offer with a sun protection film or tinted windows, they have the advantage that they provide privacy. However, tinting all car windows may not be allowed. Check your local regulation.
Tinted windows or window film: which is better?
When tinting a car window, the window can be metallized. There are different metals that are used for vapor deposition: these include titanium, chrome, silver and silicon. The tint ensures a longer durability of car windows and UV protection for the drivers.
Another method of tinting the car window is to have it steamed with a mixture of water and plastic – a colored polyurethane dispersion.
To obtain sun protection for the car window, a heat protection film can also be stuck on. The adhesive film also offers UV protection, but is difficult to apply. In order to wrap car windows correctly and properly, not only the necessary tools are required, but also patience and fine motor skills. The application of the sun protection film is complicated for inexperienced people. If an inexperienced hand is at work, the film can cause many bubbles on the pane. This can be seen both from the inside and the outside and looks ugly. Therefore, it is advisable to have a professionally trained specialist stick the sun protection film on the car.
What do tinted windows cost?
How much a tinted window costs depends on several factors. The tinted windows can be bought yourself, but should be installed by a professional. Or the tinted glass can be ordered and installed right away in the auto repair shop. If the windows need to be retrofitted with sun protection, the car windows must be completely replaced
What does window film cost?
The cost of a window film depends on several factors. The type and quality of the film, i.e. how much a sun protection film is darkened for the car, whether it is metallized or has other special properties, affects the price. The size of the vehicle or the car windows to be foiled and their curvature affects the cost of a heat protection film. The more windows to be tinted, the higher the price.
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To apply the tinting film, you should be in a low-dust environment and have at least one other person help you stick it on.
Depending on the degree of tint and quality, the cost of a tint film is between $15 and $150. However, this price does not include the installation of the adhesive film. The cost of foiling the car windows is between $200 and $500. This guideline value is an estimate that varies greatly from car model to car model.
How do you apply window film correctly?
In order to guarantee heat protection in the car during the summer, it makes sense to apply the sun protection film before the first hot days. Before the sun protection film is stuck to the car window, the window must be cleaned thoroughly from the inside and outside. After the tint film has been cut to fit the window, the film can be sprayed with the assembly mixture to attach it to the window. The film should be placed in the middle of the pane so that working from the inside out is made easier. To get rid of smaller wrinkles, you can work with the hair dryer. The film now needs about three weeks for the drying process.
Driving a car in summer: how do I behave correctly?
When driving a car in summer it is important to think and plan ahead. For example, when driving a car, the midday sun – between 12 noon and 3 p.m. – should be avoided. If the car has been parked in the sun for too long, all windows and doors should be opened first to let the heat escape. If necessary, a blanket can be placed on the seat so as not to burn yourself when you sit down.
If the car is to be parked, a shady parking space should be found. However, this is not always possible, which is why tinting films and tinted windows on the car can counteract the heat.
Cool Info:
A car’s windshield has grown by more than 60 percent since 1980. Since then, the number of window areas has increased by an average of 24 percent.
The driver should drink plenty of water on a regular basis during long car journeys. The heat in the car can be overwhelming – especially with closed shoes, driving barefoot is a great temptation. The road traffic regulations do not stipulate which footwear must be worn when driving. Flip-flops can provide the necessary cooling, but can possibly get tangled with jerky movements. Driving completely barefoot doesn’t always seem easy, because the feeling of pressure and stability is unusual due to the lack of a shoe profile. If the barefoot driver gets involved in an accident, the driver can be partially blamed for the lack of care.
Remote engine starter system
A lot of modern vehicles are equipped with remote engine starter system that allows the driver to remotely start the engine of the vehicle with a press of button on the key fob in order to precool or preheat the interior before the passengers get to it. Some latest vehicles even support remote engine start from a mobile device – but typically require some kind of paid subscription.
If your vehicles is equipped with a remote start system, you don’t ever have to sit in a hot car. Just precool the interior before getting into your vehicle.
Note: Remote start feature is mostly common in North American vehicles. Most European vehicles don’t have this feature due to regulation.
Can the tires be damaged in summer heat?
The tires and engines could take some damage in the summer heat. The tires age faster due to the UV rays and become porous. But at high outside temperatures, there is no danger to the tire. A safe journey can be guaranteed despite the increasing air pressure in the tires.
CONCLUSION:
Driving in summer can make the summer heat in the car unbearable if the outside temperature causes the inside temperature in the car to rise rapidly. To cool the driver and fellow passengers in the car, windows can be tinted at night or covered with a sun protection film. Darkened car windows offer sun protection and UV protection. In summer heat, children and dogs should never be left in the car – even if the windows are slightly open.
