Winter months can be brutal. The chilly air and frigid temperatures are more than enough to make most of us want to stay indoors.
But what happens if you have to travel and the heat in your car isn’t working? Or you find yourself wanting to go car camping but the lack of heat in your car makes it impossible. Or, god forbid, if you live in your car during the winter months and the heat stops working?
In this article we’re going to give you 13 cold car hacks that you can use to stay warm anytime you find yourself with no heat in you car. Keep reading to learn more!
Tip #1 – Purchase a Small Car Heater
A small car heater is a great way to provide some supplemental heat until you can get your cars heater repaired. This 12V portable car heater, is a great, budget friendly way to keep you and your passengers warm. It also works great to defrost or defog you windows. And when summer hits you can turn off the heat and use it as a fan providing you with a blast of cool air to help beat the summer heat. Definitely check this product out if you need a quick fix for your heating issues that wont cost you a fortune.
Tip #2 – Park in a Covered Area
Keeping your car untouched from snow and ice will go a long way in reducing the amount of time it takes for it to warm up. If you have a garage, park in it. Even if your garage isn’t heated it’ll definitely be warmer than it is outside, which means your car will be warmer as well. Not to mention you wont have to scrape snow or ice off your vehicle prior to driving it.
Tip #3 – Start Your Vehicle as Early as Possible
The longer your vehicle runs prior to you getting in it the better. Even though your vehicle may be without heat, you can still warm it up some by using the heat off your engine. Let your car warm up and then turn the heat/fan on. This will pull the heat off the engine and blow it into your car. While this may not be as efficient as standard heat, it will definitely help.
If you have remote start be sure to use it. If your vehicle isn’t equipped with remote start you can buy a universal remote start kit like this one on Amazon.
Tip #4 – Bring Something Warm to Drink
Drinking a warm cup of coffee or tea can go a long way towards keeping your body warm. Fire up the Keurig and drink a cup prior to leaving the house and be sure to bring some for the road as well.
A great way to keep your coffee hot while on the road is with a heated travel mug. This 16oz heated travel mug plugs right into your 12V cigarette outlet and keeps your beverage at a perfect 145°. Even after its unplugged it will remain at that temperature for up to 2 hours! It comes with a heat resistant handle and a spill proof lid, making it perfect for traveling.
Tip #5 – Cover Your Windshield
If you’re not able to park in a garage or carport of some kind, the next best thing you can do is to cover you windshield. This will prevent snow and ice build up from accumulating. And we all know that scraping off snow and ice is the last thing we want to do when 22° F outside.
A good option for this is the OxGord Windshield Snow Shade. It attaches to your mirrors and covers your entire windshield, providing excellent protection from snow, ice, rain, hail, sleet, etc. It’s quick and easy to install and will save you a lot of time is discomfort this winter. It also has built in “side-tabs” that you can close inside the front doors to keep people from stealing it.
Tip #6 – Use a Heated Steering Wheel Cover
Heated steering wheel covers are a great way to keep your hands nice and toasty even when its freezing outside. Let your hands get too cold and they can become stiff and rigid. By using a heated steering wheel cover you can avoid this problem all together.
If you’re interested in trying one out for yourself, check out this one on Amazon. It fits most standard steering wheels and is made of premium quality materials, meaning it will last for years to come. To use it simply plug it into your 12V cigarette outlet and turn it on. In about 10 seconds it will heat up to about 100° F. Once its warmed up, unplug it and your ready to go.
Tip #7 – Try Some Hand & Feet Warmers
Hand and feet warmers like these by HotHands are a great way to provide almost instant heat to your hands and feet. The warmers are small and you can easily put them inside a glove, your shoes, or even your pant or coat pocket. The best thing about these warmers is that they wont activate until you remove them from the package. This means you can store them in your vehicle for as long as you need to and they’ll be good to go at a moments notice.
Tip #8 – Electric Seat Warmers
Electric seat warmers are a great way to keep a large portion of your body warm when the heat in your vehicle is lacking. They simply plug into your 12V outlet and provide almost immediate relief from the cold. Most of them are a universal fit which means they’ll fit pretty much any car seat out there and they’re really easy to install.
One of the best electric seat warmers available is this one by Sunny Color. Its a universal fit and plugs into your 12V outlet. It comes with a built in 45 minute timer and the heat is variable with a low, medium, and high setting. It only takes 3 minutes to warm up and its made of a thick, soft polyester fabric for added warmth and comfort. I was amazed at how affordable it was on Amazon!
Tip #9 – Wrap up With a Heated Blanket
If you’re vehicle is lacking heat and you’re in need of some full body warmth, a heated blanket is a great way to go.
This heated blanket by Car Cozy is made specifically to be used in conjunction with your 12V outlet. It has a built in safety timer and auto shut off, making it super safe and reliable. Its large enough for two people and its made of a high-quality, super-soft polyester fleece. Its currently available in color options, red plaid and camouflage. This is a great option if you are a big camper and need to stay warm in your car overnight.
Tip #10 – Install a Block Heater
A block heater is a device that, as the name implies, heats up the engine block of a car. They plug into a standard house outlet and provide heat to your vehicles engine while its parked. This helps to prevent any fluids from freezing and also helps ensure your vehicle will start even in the coldest of temperatures. These heaters are not universal, however, so you have to make sure that the one you buy will work with your particular vehicle.
Tip #11 – Buy a Heated Cap
No matter what we do in an attempt to get warm, if our head is cold the rest of our bodies will be cold. If your standard beanie or other cold weather head gear just isn’t cutting it, consider upgrading to a heated version.
The Autocastle Winter Beanie, pictured above, is a battery powered heated beanie that’s great for keeping your head warm in the car or elsewhere. The battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 hours depending on which heat setting you use; low, medium, or high. Its lightweight, made of cozy material, and is designed to help keep heat trapped inside. Definitely a great buy for anyone looking to upgrade from a standard beanie.
Tip #12 – Eat a Hot Meal
As mentioned earlier, consuming a hot beverage can help keep your body warm. The same can be said for eating a hot meal. Be sure to eat something warm before you leave the house. If you’re going to be traveling a long distance, its best if you can bring some hot food with you if you don’t plan on stopping much. This can be done with the help of a portable food warmer.
A portable food warmer, like this one on Amazon, is a great way to keep your food warm while on the go. It plugs into your vehicles 12V outlet and is perfect for keeping pre-cooked food warm up to 300° F. It also works for cooking certain dishes such as rice, stews or any other dish that can be cooked at 300°.
Tip #13 – Bring Some Extra Wool Blankets
Wool is one of the best, natural insulators on the planet. It has an excellent warmth to weight ratio and helps to regulate body temperature and provide thermal warmth even when wet.
If the heat in your car isn’t working, its a good idea to keep a spare wool blanket handy. Some of the best around are made by Ektos. These premium, 100% wool blankets are perfect for keeping you warm even on the coldest of days. They’re comfortable, naturally fire resistant, and heavy (5.5lbs). The extra weight is great for keeping you warm and insulated. Definitely check out the Ektos wool blanket on Amazon. You’d be surprised at how affordable a quality blanket like this would be.
In Conclusion
I hope by now you have a few tools at your disposal when it comes to keeping your car warm with no heat. Remember, keeping warm is vital to your health and especially important when driving. Definitely check out some of the products shown above to help make your winter driving a bit more comfortable. You and your passengers will be glad you did. Thanks for reading!