Here’s What the Air Recirculation Button Really Does in Your Car

Most drivers have pressed it at some point—that small button on the dashboard with a symbol of a car and a looping arrow inside. It’s the air recirculation button, and while it seems simple, it plays a much bigger role in your comfort and your car’s efficiency than you might think.

What the Air Recirculation Button Actually Does

When you turn on your car’s air conditioning or ventilation system, air can enter the cabin in one of two ways: from outside the vehicle or from the air already inside it.