What is the Recirculation Button in a Car?
The recirculation button (usually shown as a car with a circular arrow inside) lets you control where your car’s air conditioning (A/C) system gets air from.

When ON: The system reuses the air already inside the car.
When OFF: The system pulls in fresh air from outside the car.
When to Use Recirculation Mode

1. When It’s Hot Outside
Turning on recirculation helps your A/C cool the cabin faster because it keeps re-cooling the already cooled air, instead of pulling in hot air from outside.
This also makes your A/C more efficient and saves fuel.
Example: You’ve just entered a car that was parked in the sun all day — turn on recirculation to cool it down quickly.

2. When You’re in Traffic or Bad Air
If you’re stuck in traffic, behind a smoky truck, or driving through an area with pollution, dust, or bad smells, recirculation keeps dirty air outside.

Example: You’re in a traffic jam and can smell exhaust fumes — turning on recirculation prevents that air from entering the cabin.

3. In Tunnels, Construction Zones, or Near Garbage Areas
These places often have strong odors or harmful particles. Recirculation keeps the air inside clean and more breathable.