Climate control is a system that automatically maintains a desired temperature within a car’s cabin by continuously adjusting the air conditioning and heater settings. If your car has climate control technology, it can significantly contribute towards the comfort value of a drive, but do you need it over manual air-con?
On this page we’ll explore how climate control works, how it differs to manual air-con and whether you really need it.
How does climate control work?
With a number of temperature sensors, climate control systems constantly measure cabin air temperature. From this, they can monitor how much cold or hot air is required to maintain the desired temperature of the driver, then adjust automatically if need be.
Other parameters which the system may adjust are fan speed and recirculation settings (whether fresh air from outside or recirculated air is pumped into the cabin).
A lot of cars now have dual-or-tri-zone (sometimes called multi-zone) climate control where the car is able to maintain two or three separate temperature zones. For example, the driver could have their climate control zone set to 23 degrees, the passenger’s at 18 degrees and those in the back of the car at 25 degrees.
What’s the difference between manual air-con and climate control?
Manual air-con is capable of blowing hot and cold air into the cabin at a temperature and ferocity desired by the occupants.
However, unlike climate control, it cannot maintain a set cabin temperature automatically. Instead, the vehicle’s occupants must manually adjust air temperature and fan settings to keep the cabin at a specific temperature. Air conditioning will keep you comfortable, at least for extended periods of time, but climate control takes convenience one step further by doing the work for you.
Do I need it?
It’s a very useful piece of technology and you may find that once you’ve used it, you won’t want to go back to conventional manual air-con. The latter will suffice, but if you appreciate the value of comfort, climate control can help you navigate frosty mornings and humid afternoons with ease.
Can I retrofit climate control on an old car?
It is possible to install a climate control system in lieu of conventional air condition on an old car, but be advised that it would require a new automatic control unit that could be difficult to fit harmoniously depending on the layout of your vehicle. The unit would require additional wiring and power from the battery, so consult a mechanic or manufacturer specialist before attempting a conversion.
Where can it be found?
Single-or-dual-zone climate control is available on just about every car on sale, while tri-zone climate control is the reserve of larger or more luxurious premium vehicles.
