{"id":93982,"date":"2023-10-06T20:28:04","date_gmt":"2023-10-07T03:28:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=93982"},"modified":"2025-05-20T04:19:04","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T11:19:04","slug":"how-does-the-heat-in-a-car-work-and-how-to-make-the-most-of-your-car-heater","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-does-the-heat-in-a-car-work-and-how-to-make-the-most-of-your-car-heater\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does the Heat in a Car Work and How To Make the Most of Your Car Heater"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 7<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column93982_5bfd14-f8 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column93982_5bfd14-f8 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column93982_5bfd14-f8 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column93982_5bfd14-f8 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column93982_5bfd14-f8 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column93982_5bfd14-f8 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column93982_5bfd14-f8{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column93982_5bfd14-f8 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column93982_5bfd14-f8 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column93982_5bfd14-f8 inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-bdc9b2  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-c838af\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading93982_ef07c3-71, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading93982_ef07c3-71[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading93982_ef07c3-71\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading93982_ef07c3-71 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading93982_ef07c3-71[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading93982_ef07c3-71\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading93982_ef07c3-71 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading93982_ef07c3-71[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading93982_ef07c3-71\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading93982_ef07c3-71 summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading93982_ef07c3-71\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Heaters are used to warm up the interior of your vehicle, keeping you and your passengers warm.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When coolant absorbs the heat from your vehicle&rsquo;s engine, it passes through the radiator where the heat is distributed through the heater core to warm the cabin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One of the best ways to power up the heater is to drive and keep your vehicle moving. This is because the engine will warm up faster with your foot on the pedal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>When people think of their car heater, they often only think about how useful it is during the cold winter days. However, you&rsquo;d be surprised by just how useful car heaters are throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a part of your vehicle&rsquo;s cooling system, your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-comprehensive-overview-of-air-conditioning-and-heating-in-vehicles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"vehicle&rsquo;s heater\">vehicle&rsquo;s heater<\/a> actually does so much more than just keep you and your passengers warm in the cabin, if only you knew how to make the most of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Does a Car Heater Work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your vehicle&rsquo;s cooling system&rsquo;s primary function is to keep your engine from overheating, but how exactly does it do that? Well, this is where your car heater comes in. Your car heater is made up of key components, namely the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/heater-core\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Heater Core\">Heater Core<\/a> (it&rsquo;s like a small radiator)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/heater-hose\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Heater Hoses\">Heater Hoses<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/heater-valve\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Heater Control Valve\">Heater Control Valve<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Engine thermostat<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blower-motor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Blower Motor\">Blower Motor<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Control Panel<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Your engine generates heat as soon as it starts running. While most of that heat goes out through the exhaust system, some of it gets picked up by the coolant in your car&rsquo;s HVAC system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the engine is first started, the cooling system thermostat is closed on modern engines so that the coolant is typically sent directly through the heater core rather than through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/radiator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"radiator\">radiator<\/a> to provide cabin heat as soon as possible. On these platforms, the heater control valve will bypass the heater core when closed (like on hot days when the A\/C is used).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The heater fan blows air through the heater core, pushing warm air into the cabin. The heater core, like the radiator, is basically a heat exchanger that transfers heat from the coolant passing through it into the fins around the heater core tubes and into the air passing through the fins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"746\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/car-heater-diagram-1024x746.jpg\" alt=\"diagram of a car heater\" class=\"wp-image-98577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/car-heater-diagram-1024x746.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/car-heater-diagram-300x219.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/car-heater-diagram-768x560.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/car-heater-diagram-150x109.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/car-heater-diagram.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Car heater diagram | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Make the Most Out of Your Car Heater<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The car heating system is one of the most important systems in any vehicle, but not a lot of owners actually know how to make the most out of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Move the Car<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It might seem tempting to sit in your car and wait for your heater to start blasting before driving off, but you&rsquo;ll actually feel warmer faster if you don&rsquo;t wait around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most modern cars typically don&rsquo;t need to warm up before being driven, but it can take a while to warm up the cabin if you don&rsquo;t immediately start driving.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column93982_02d5d1-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column93982_02d5d1-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column93982_02d5d1-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column93982_02d5d1-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column93982_02d5d1-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column93982_02d5d1-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column93982_02d5d1-a2{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column93982_02d5d1-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column93982_02d5d1-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column93982_02d5d1-a2 kb-section-dir-vertical kb-section-sm-dir-vertical inner-column-1 pro-tip-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:20px;padding-right:32px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, calc(10% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)))minmax(0, calc(90% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)));}.kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 .kt-row-layout-top-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:28px;padding-right:16px;padding-bottom:25px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id93982_b87dc5-53 alignnone pro-tip-wrap wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-right-golden kt-mobile-layout-right-golden kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col{min-height:45px;}.kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col{row-gap:0px;column-gap:0px;}.kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}.kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;}.kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column93982_ee21ed-0d kb-section-dir-horizontal kb-section-md-dir-horizontal inner-column-1 pro-tip-item1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image93982_ae3125-ef.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image93982_ae3125-ef .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:45px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image93982_ae3125-ef.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image93982_ae3125-ef .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image93982_ae3125-ef figure{max-width:45px;}.kb-image93982_ae3125-ef .image-is-svg, .kb-image93982_ae3125-ef .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image93982_ae3125-ef .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image93982_ae3125-ef\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/f_auto,dpr_auto,q_auto,c_pad\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/protip\/services-icon\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img\"><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column93982_7d6e16-eb > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column93982_7d6e16-eb > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column93982_7d6e16-eb > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column93982_7d6e16-eb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column93982_7d6e16-eb > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column93982_7d6e16-eb > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column93982_7d6e16-eb{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column93982_7d6e16-eb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column93982_7d6e16-eb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column93982_7d6e16-eb inner-column-2 pro-tip-item2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"protip-desc\">\n\t<div class=\"help-tip\">\n\t\t<p><strong>Pro Tips<\/strong> are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n    <div class=\"help-caption\">\n        <p>\n            <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong>\n           To prevent the engine from making sludge in the oil pan, avoid starting the engine if you aren&rsquo;t going to warm it up completely.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don&rsquo;t Turn the Heat up Too High<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cars with automatic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-climate-control\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"climate control\">climate control<\/a> should be easy enough to use. All you have to do is set the system to the temperature you like and your car should warm up in just a few minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, cranking the temperature and fan too high just to speed up the process doesn&rsquo;t really work. Your car will warm up just as fast as if you cranked the dial to maximum. The only difference is you end up force-feeding a lot of warm air to your passengers.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column93982_673c97-5a > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column93982_673c97-5a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column93982_673c97-5a > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column93982_673c97-5a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column93982_673c97-5a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column93982_673c97-5a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column93982_673c97-5a{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column93982_673c97-5a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column93982_673c97-5a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column93982_673c97-5a kb-section-dir-vertical kb-section-sm-dir-vertical inner-column-1 pro-tip-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:20px;padding-right:32px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, calc(10% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)))minmax(0, calc(90% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)));}.kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 .kt-row-layout-top-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:28px;padding-right:16px;padding-bottom:25px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id93982_f1c213-11 alignnone pro-tip-wrap wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-right-golden kt-mobile-layout-right-golden kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{min-height:45px;}.kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{row-gap:0px;column-gap:0px;}.kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}.kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column93982_e86116-e6{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;}.kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column93982_e86116-e6 kb-section-dir-horizontal kb-section-md-dir-horizontal inner-column-1 pro-tip-item1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image93982_062054-38.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image93982_062054-38 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:45px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image93982_062054-38.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image93982_062054-38 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image93982_062054-38 figure{max-width:45px;}.kb-image93982_062054-38 .image-is-svg, .kb-image93982_062054-38 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image93982_062054-38 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image93982_062054-38\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/f_auto,dpr_auto,q_auto,c_pad\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/protip\/services-icon\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img\"><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column93982_f6b04d-ab > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column93982_f6b04d-ab > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column93982_f6b04d-ab > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column93982_f6b04d-ab > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column93982_f6b04d-ab > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column93982_f6b04d-ab > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column93982_f6b04d-ab{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column93982_f6b04d-ab > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column93982_f6b04d-ab > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column93982_f6b04d-ab inner-column-2 pro-tip-item2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"protip-desc\">\n\t<div class=\"help-tip\">\n\t\t<p><strong>Pro Tips<\/strong> are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n    <div class=\"help-caption\">\n        <p>\n            <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong>\n            If you started the vehicle but forgot to turn on the heater\/defroster to melt the ice off the windshield, don&rsquo;t turn it on as an afterthought. The really hot air could break the windshield if the glass is frozen.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Let Your A\/C Dehumidify the Air<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When people think of their air conditioning (A\/C) systems, they often only think of cold air. While your A\/C is certainly responsible for keeping your cabin cool, it isn&rsquo;t the only thing it&rsquo;s capable of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your A\/C also acts as a dehumidifier by removing moisture from the air to keep your windows from fogging up. Notice in the previous diagram that the air passes through the A\/C evaporator before ever going to the heater core. This is by design so the evaporator can dehumidify the air. Typically, the A\/C will automatically engage when you select &ldquo;Defrost&rdquo; for that reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don&rsquo;t Use the Recirculation Mode<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As tempting as it might be to keep all that warm air inside, it actually isn&rsquo;t a good idea to turn on your A\/C system&rsquo;s recirculation mode. Your breath releases water vapor back into the cabin, and with enough passengers in the cabin, this can cause your windows to fog. This, however, usually won&rsquo;t happen unless there are many people in the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use the Defrost Mode<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Are your windows fogging up? You can always use your A\/C system&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-car-defroster-and-how-does-it-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"defrost mode\">defrost mode<\/a> to fix that. This feature automatically engages your A\/C at a high fan speed, directing warm, dry air to get rid of the fog on your windshields and front side windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make Sure the Heat Reaches the Backseat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You might be making the most of your heater in the driver&rsquo;s seat, but how much of that warm air is actually reaching your passengers in the backseat? Consider cranking up the fan so it&rsquo;s strong enough to reach them, even if it means you&rsquo;ll have to turn the temperature down a little to relieve the ones in the front seats.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column93982_a7a11e-02 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column93982_a7a11e-02 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column93982_a7a11e-02 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column93982_a7a11e-02 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column93982_a7a11e-02 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column93982_a7a11e-02 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column93982_a7a11e-02{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column93982_a7a11e-02 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column93982_a7a11e-02 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column93982_a7a11e-02 kb-section-dir-vertical kb-section-sm-dir-vertical inner-column-1 pro-tip-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:20px;padding-right:32px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, calc(10% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)))minmax(0, calc(90% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)));}.kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 .kt-row-layout-top-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:28px;padding-right:16px;padding-bottom:25px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}.kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id93982_0b5104-e8 alignnone pro-tip-wrap wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-right-golden kt-mobile-layout-right-golden kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col{min-height:45px;}.kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col{row-gap:0px;column-gap:0px;}.kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}.kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;}.kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column93982_ba05c0-38 kb-section-dir-horizontal kb-section-md-dir-horizontal inner-column-1 pro-tip-item1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image93982_413ed6-f7.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image93982_413ed6-f7 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:45px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image93982_413ed6-f7.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image93982_413ed6-f7 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image93982_413ed6-f7 figure{max-width:45px;}.kb-image93982_413ed6-f7 .image-is-svg, .kb-image93982_413ed6-f7 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image93982_413ed6-f7 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image93982_413ed6-f7\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/f_auto,dpr_auto,q_auto,c_pad\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/protip\/services-icon\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img\"><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column93982_ec9bde-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column93982_ec9bde-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column93982_ec9bde-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column93982_ec9bde-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column93982_ec9bde-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column93982_ec9bde-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column93982_ec9bde-65{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column93982_ec9bde-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column93982_ec9bde-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column93982_ec9bde-65 inner-column-2 pro-tip-item2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"protip-desc\">\n\t<div class=\"help-tip\">\n\t\t<p><strong>Pro Tips<\/strong> are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n    <div class=\"help-caption\">\n        <p>\n            <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong>\n            SUVs will typically have heater ducts that direct heat through the console to the back seat area.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Just Use the Heater<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In the summer, some people tend to skip on the A\/C to save on fuel and money. However, you don&rsquo;t have to worry about that when you want to use your heater during cold winter days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your engine generates heat as soon as it starts running, which means you&rsquo;re free to use your heater without using up too much fuel. In fact, leaving your heater turned off would be kind of a waste since all that unused heat ends up dumped through the radiator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does a Car Heater Use Gas?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There&rsquo;s no denying the importance of having a warm and comfortable car interior, but does running the heater use gas?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The simple answer is yes. Car heaters do use gas, but they don&rsquo;t do so directly. Your engine naturally generates heat whenever it&rsquo;s running, and this heat is sent to the coolant, where the car heater draws heat from to blow warm air into the cabin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Note, however, that the car doesn&rsquo;t burn any more gas while using the heater except for a slight load on the alternator while the blower is running. But this is such a small amount as to be inconsequential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So just because your car heater doesn&rsquo;t use gas to produce heat doesn&rsquo;t mean it doesn&rsquo;t need gas. Car heaters need some electricity to power the system&rsquo;s internal fan, but it really only needs a small amount of fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Signs Your Car Heater Needs Replacement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It&rsquo;s important to recognize the signs that a car heater is inoperative. Such signs include foggy windshields, a cold interior, low coolant levels, and a sweet smell in the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Foggy Windshield<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the biggest indicators that there&rsquo;s something wrong with the car heater is if the windshields and other windows in your vehicle fog up. This occurs when there&rsquo;s a coolant leak in the cabin. When the coolant reacts with the air in the cabin, it can evaporate and cover your windows with condensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Interior is Cold<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don&rsquo;t feel any warmth even while the heater is on, it&rsquo;s a good idea to inspect the car heater and the coolant level to make sure there&rsquo;s nothing wrong with the heating system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Low Coolant Levels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Coolant isn&rsquo;t just used to cool down the vehicle &mdash; it also plays an important role in warming it up. After the coolant has absorbed heat, the heater uses it to raise the temperature of the vehicle&rsquo;s interior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sweet Smell in Car<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you smell something sweet in your car when the heater is on, there&rsquo;s likely a coolant leak. Coolant has a telltale sickly sweet smell, so it&rsquo;s a good idea to check your vehicle&rsquo;s heater core.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Get a New Heater for Your Vehicle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Driving in the cold is one of the most unbearable things you&rsquo;re bound to experience when you&rsquo;ve got a damaged heater on your hands. It can get even more annoying when you&rsquo;re stuck in traffic, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure to replace your vehicle&rsquo;s damaged heater as soon as possible. For an OE-grade replacement that won&rsquo;t break the bank, shop here at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a>. We have a great selection of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/heating-air-conditioning-and-components\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"A\/C and heater parts\">A\/C and heater parts<\/a> that come as direct-fit replacements for your vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Made from only the finest materials available, our A\/C and heater parts passed the highest quality control standards from industry professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enter your vehicle&rsquo;s year, make, and model into our vehicle selector to find top-notch components for your ride in a matter of minutes. Check out securely with a few clicks, and get your order delivered straight to your doorstep in as fast as two business days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Can&rsquo;t shop online? We&rsquo;ve got you covered. Call us using our toll-free hotline anytime, and our round-the-clock customer service representatives will be ready to assist you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don&rsquo;t miss out on the best deals on the market, and shop for what you need today!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 7<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>When people think of their car heater, they often only think about how useful it is during the cold winter&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-does-the-heat-in-a-car-work-and-how-to-make-the-most-of-your-car-heater\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1651,"featured_media":94085,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3754,52,4044,4038],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[2607,2985],"class_list":{"0":"post-93982","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-air-conditioning-and-heating","8":"category-diy","9":"category-feel-finer","10":"category-performance-articles","11":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Does the Heat in a Car Work and How To Make the Most of Your Car Heater - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wondering how the heat in your car works? 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Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust."},{"term_id":2985,"user_id":1646,"is_guest":0,"slug":"richardmccuistian","display_name":"Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/richard-mccuistian.png","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/richard-mccuistian.png"},"author_category":"","user_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/richardmccuistian\/","last_name":"McCuistian","first_name":"Richard","job_title":"ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","description":"<div class=\"auth-social-links\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/richard-mccuistian-2681891b\/\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"linkedin\" aria-labelledby=\"linkedin\">LinkedIn<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/McCuistian\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"instagram\" aria-labelledby=\"instagram\">Youtube<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\nRichard McCuistian grew up in Alabama learning from his father who ran an automotive repair shop. Richard has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others (published every year since May 2000). He has developed training courses and written or edited training material for companies in the U.S. Canada, and the Netherlands, and even Bulgaria. He maintained an \u201cask a mechanic\u201d website for 10 years answering questions emailed to him from all over the world.\r\n\r\nRichard has an instructional automotive YouTube channel \u201cMcCuistian\u201d with 13,500 subscribers and over 1,300 videos. Much of his professional work requires photography and videography in shop environments, but Richard also enjoys taking pictures of landscapes, skyscapes, old barns and houses, small towns. He has produced a coffee table book of digital watercolors called \u201cMemories of South Alabama\u201d created from his personal photos, along with a dozen Christian fiction short original novels and a collection of short stories, all available in Kindle or softcover format. Richard has written a 2,500-word Bible study every week for the past 20 years and uses it to teach a small group at his church every Sunday morning.\r\n\r\n<strong>Credentials:<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"author-list\">\r\n<li><p>ASE Certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Professional Mechanic\/Technician for 25 years with experience on diesel and gasoline engines, vehicles and equipment (including hydraulics).<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Spent 5 years in fleet maintenance, 20 years in independent shops and dealerships (VW, Mazda, Renault, Jeep, Ford, Lincoln), specializing in driveability and electronics for the last 14 years of his career at the same dealership.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Senior Contributing Editor at Motor Age Magazine, first published in Motor Age in May of 2000 and every year since. He has won two International Automotive Media Awards for technical articles published in trade magazines.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Has attended hundreds of hours of automotive training from OEMs including GM, Volkswagen, Mazda, Renault, Jeep, Chrysler, as well as additional training at events like KC Vision and MACS (Mobile Air Climate Systems Association).<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Taught college level auto mechanics for 19 years.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Has written for automotive training companies (including course development work for training companies in Canada and the Netherlands) and has been hired to teach professional trade show technician courses at multiple training events in Texas and Alabama.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>While still teaching at the college level, Richard launched a new automotive program in Geneva, Alabama, setting up a dual enrollment department in a new building, organizing the shop and classroom, teaching morning classes to high school students for 2 years while still teaching at the college in the afternoon.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Richard\u2019s college program at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College worked at professional shop speed during his tenure to prepare graduates for production level work in the real world.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93982"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93982\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/94085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93982"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=93982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}