12 Car Hacks That Can Help You Steer Clear of Any Trouble

3. Parking Strategically: Facing East for Natural Defrosting

Advertisement

Parking your car east can be a surprisingly good way to help naturally defrost your windshield in chilly weather. This basic but clever method uses solar electricity to simplify your daily ritual and maybe increase the safety factor. Aligning your car with the rising sun will help you to start the defrosting process using the inherent solar radiation before you even leave your house. This approach's science is simple. The sun rises in the east, and first its rays strikes the front of your car, progressively warming the windshield. When you're ready to leave, this warmth facilitates the clearing of any ice or frost that could have developed overnight. The degree of the frost, the angle of your windshield, and the strength of sunshine will all affect the success of this method; even a little bit of melting will greatly save the time and work needed to manually clear your windshield. Using this approach calls both some planning and foresight. Try to arrange your automobile so that it faces as near to east as you can from your driveway or designated parking area. In public parking lots or apartment buildings, you may have to hunt for locations with the finest eastern view. This method is most successful on clear mornings; thick clouds will naturally lower the sun's defrosting power. Although this approach can be useful, it is not a replacement for appropriate winter vehicle care. You should still pack winter-specific tools for your car such a snow brush, de-icing spray, and ice scraper. Safe winter driving also depends on you making sure the defrosting system in your car is in good operating condition. This parking approach offers advantages beyond only simpler early departures. Reducing the need for extended idling to defrost your windshield will help you save fuel and cut pointless emissions. In places with tight idling rules meant to reduce air pollution, this is especially pertinent. Furthermore, depending less on the defrosting system of your automobile will help to relieve some strain on the battery and electrical system, which can be especially taxed in cold conditions. One should keep in mind that this method can be modified for several seasons and climates. For very hot summer months, for example, you might want to park facing west so that your car stays in shade longer in the morning, therefore maintaining a cooler inside. This form of planned parking shows how little environmental knowledge may help to ensure year-round more comfortable and effective car usage. Using this east-facing parking approach also helps you to become more conscious of your surroundings and how they impact your daily life. It makes you consider the sun's path, the way your parking lot is laid, and how these elements interact with your car. This increased awareness can result in other good behaviors like picking shady areas in summer to stop the inside of your car from warming. To simplify your morning ritual, parking your car facing east during chilly weather is a basic yet efficient approach that uses natural processes. This is a perfect illustration of how knowing and interacting with our surroundings could result in useful, daily gains. Although it might not totally replace the necessity for hand defrosting, it will greatly save the time and effort needed, so making those cold mornings somewhat easier. Like many facets of car ownership and maintenance, your driving experience and vehicle care schedule can be much improved with a little foresight and preparation.