While catching some sun is something that many people enjoy, it is not something that has many benefits for their cars. In fact, it can be very harmful. It can take just 20 minutes for the internal temperature of a car parked in an unshaded spot to exceed 42 degrees Celsius. The sun’s radiation is able to pass straight through the windows, heating up the interior.
Such high temperatures can damage materials like plastic and leather inside, as well as making the steering wheel burning hot to touch. But if you are out and you do not have a shaded spot in which to park your car, what can you do to help keep things cool? This short article has a few handy tips.
Use sunshades
If you cannot park in the shade, you can create some inside the car. Sunshades are probably the easiest way to do this in terms of how much time and effort they take to set up. All they really require is just unfolding them and sticking them to the window.
You can get these for every window, but at the very least you will want to make sure that the windscreen is covered. As the vehicle’s biggest window, it is the entry point of the most heat, which is why your steering wheel often feels boiling hot compared to everything else. Blocking this makes a significant difference.
The most effective solution is to get custom car shades which are specifically designed for the window dimensions of your vehicle. That way you can ensure that there is as much shade inside as possible.
Use a car cover
These can be more effective than sunshades, but they require a bit more effort to set up when you park. As the name suggests, a car cover covers the entire car from the outside. They are opaque, which means the vehicle is completely shaded, but their thickness and reflectiveness further prevents the sun’s heat from getting inside.
In a sense, they work similarly to how our clothes stop us from getting sunburned. They also protect your car from scratches, dirt such as bird droppings, and thieves peering inside. When you remove the cover, you should have a nice clean vehicle to hop into, and it should be cool enough that you reach your next destination sweat-free.
Tinted windows
As well as providing privacy, tinted windows do a good job of keeping harmful UV rays and heat from the sun out of your vehicle. They are also the only option that continues working while you are driving, although they can be pricier than the others. An additional benefit is that the film that darkens them can prevent the glass from shattering in the event of an accident. Conversely, very dark ones can make it harder to see at night.
Conclusion
Hot cars can be dangerous, which is why children and animals should never be left inside them. But the heat is harmful not only to them, but to the car itself and other valuables inside it. With these tips, you can help protect your vehicle throughout the summer no matter where you go.
