Coping with the heat

However, these days, it is hot no matter which month it is, and only rarely does the weather become cold enough for you to grab your jacket.

With the earth suffering from global warming, the weather today is hotter than when I was a kid. Those who can afford it spend a lot of money on electricity bills as they can keep their air-cons at home running for 24 hours. Those who want to save money, go for window shopping to air-conditioned malls or stay at home and use the fan instead.

This year is expected to be very hot. In March, the temperature in Bangkok has already reached 32 degrees. Apart from affecting humans and animals, the heat can also affect automobiles.

Parking the car under direct heat can cause damage to the plastic interior parts that could be warped out of shape. The most common damage is to the CDs and DVDs left in the car, plastic and upholstery that can dry up and start cracking, as well as the steering-wheel cover.

Some car owners cover the vehicle when parked under sunlight, but this is the wrong way and can cause damage. By covering the car, the heat is kept inside and it becomes hotter.

Sometimes the canvas does not properly fit the vehicle and has loose ends, it could slap against the body when the wind blows and scratch the paint.

If the parking spot is safe from theft, then you should roll down the windows slightly to let hot air escape the cabin. And if the rear seat backrest of your vehicle can be folded, slightly opening it can help lower the temperature as there is more space (luggage area).

When having to park under the heat for a long time, avoid leaving flammable objects in the cabin or where the sunlight can reach it. In the past, soft-drink cans have been known to burst when left in a hot car before.

Smokers who leave the lighter, especially the cheap plastic ones, on the console are taking a risk as they could catch fire. This has happened many times before.

Even leaving a pair of glasses on the console can cause damage as the lens condenses the sunlight into a little heat spot.

So, when parking under sunlight in this kind of weather, the owner should be aware of these hazards.

When you enter a hot car, opening all doors for a few seconds can quickly remove much of the heat from the cabin, and when you start the engine and drive off, keep the windows open for a short time. This will lower the workload of the air-conditioner as well as fuel consumption. Once you feel that the cabin has cooled down slightly, close the windows and drive on normally.

A small tip here is that as you approach your destination, switch off the air-compressor and leave only the fan running. There is still enough coolness in the system to keep you comfortable, and the fan will help drive away moisture from the system. In this case, the difference in temperature of the cabin and the exterior will also be less, and the chances of catching a cold would be lower as well.