As temperatures continue to soar to uncomfortable levels across the UK, many drivers will be suffering in their blistering car seats.
Apart from immense discomfort when driving, the safety of a vehicle itself could be jeopardised when left in the sun all day. The sun and hot weather can melt plastics and damage the interior of car by burning the fabrics.
Fortunately, the experts from Scrap Car Comparison have provided their top tips on how to mitigate all these risks by parking your car safely in the heat. David Kottaun, Operations Manager at Scrap Car Comparison, comments: “The hot weather is something that many of us look forward to in the summer, but it isn’t always the most pleasant when it comes to driving.
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"Getting into a hot, sticky car isn’t a pleasant experience, and I’m sure many people can relate to scorching their thighs on a car seat or having a steering wheel that’s too hot to handle.
"However, aside from the uncomfortable temperatures that can occur inside our cars, the sun can also cause damage to our upholstery and interiors, and even cause fires and explosions within our vehicles if we aren’t careful about what we leave inside them, or where we park."
"Hopefully, that’s motivation enough to make sure to keep our cars clean and tidy, without drinks bottles and products lying about, and to walk that little bit further to the shady parking spot too.”
How to park your car safely in hot weather
Use a windscreen reflector
Though they may not be the most stylish, windscreen reflectors are one of the best ways to keep the sun out of your car whilst it’s parked. Fitting a reflector will not only block the rays from the vehicle, avoiding any damage being caused to the upholstery, but it will also help to keep it a little cooler.
Make sure bottles of water are out of the sun
Though carrying bottles of water is always recommended in the summer, make sure not to leave them in view of any windows and direct sunlight while parked. The bottles can pose a fire risk, by concentrating the sun’s rays into beams which can result in burns to upholstery in your vehicle.
Remove any aerosols
Aerosols pose a significant risk in the summer months, as the contents are likely to expand in the heat, which can cause explosions that are both dangerous and potentially deadly. Hairspray, dry shampoo, deodorant, and sun cream are some of the most popular aerosols that are likely to be kept in a car but be sure to take them with you when parking - removing them from the shade to store them in the glove box or centre console isn’t enough to prevent accidents.
Park in the shade where possible
The best place to park in hot weather will always be in the shade. Though the coolest parking spaces aren’t always the most convenient - such as at the back of a car park, or under a pigeon-filled tree - it’s worth walking the extra distance or giving your car a quick wipe down once home to help keep the temperature down.
Use your garage
Most of us use our garages as extra storage for our belongings, rather than for their true purpose, but it’s wise to make some room for your car in the summer months. Keeping your car in the shady surroundings of your garage will be worth it when you don’t have to sit on a piping-hot seat!
Invest in seat covers
Extreme heat magnifying into your car can do some damage to the interiors, such as warping and cracking the plastic on your dashboard or causing upholstery and fabrics to fade over time. If the car is likely to be exposed to bright sun for long periods of time, it may be worth purchasing seat and steering wheel covers to reduce the impacts of the rays.
Crack the windows (if safe to do so)
If you can’t get parked in a shady spot, leaving the windows cracked open slightly will allow air to circulate around the car once parked. It’s important to assess the safety of the area you’re in before doing this and be sure to remove any valuables from the vehicle too.
Maintain your cooling system
Cars are most likely to overheat when running, particularly during lengthy journeys, so it’s important to make sure your car is well-maintained to help avoid this. As well as keeping your air conditioning in good working order, ensuring the car’s coolant levels are adequately topped up and the system doesn’t have any leaks is important to make sure that things running smoothly. If your car does happen to overheat, lift the bonnet to allow any heat to escape - but don’t touch the coolant cap, as you may be met with a face full of scalding hot steam!
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