Can you have the AC on in your car with the temp setting on hot?

Question

My girlfriend does this and says that she was told that the air conditioner can be run whether you have the temp set on cold or hot because on hot it helps to clear the windows. An air conditioner cools your car so wouldn't it hurt it to be set on warm?

Answer 1

It cools the air flowing through it & so also removes some of the moisture in the air. This in turn helps demist the windscreen.

but if its not a hot day that requires the AC on

or

The windows are not misting up then you are just using more energy ( less mile to the gallon) than needed

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you may find when you turn the AC off the windows will mist up for a short time. This is some of the water already collected that is now evaporating as it warms up again. It will stop after a short time and is not an excuse that the AC needs to be on all the time.

you may also find your car leaves little puddles of water behind after you park, this again is the water already collected that is now draining out the bottom of the car

Answer 2

an a/c unit in a car is like an a/c unit in a house you can heat the house up using the a/c unit or you can cool the house down and in colder states and countries where your windows fog up it defrosts it so you can drive better and see better in like snow.

Answer 3

Yes, Air Conditioning "Conditions" the air in your car by removing moisture from the air - not by cooling it.

Therefore it dehumidifies the air quicker so that your windows don`t steam up.