Seat heating: pros and cons
In modern cars, a function such as seat heating is often already included in the standard factory equipment. If it is not, then the drivers install the heating system on their own. This is one of the elements that is necessary to increase the comfort level of operating vehicles in the cold season. With heating in the winter, you do not have to wait long and warm up the interior, as the seats become warm in a matter of minutes. It is very convenient, therefore such systems are very popular among our drivers. However, the operation of heating has its advantages and disadvantages, which must be taken into account so that each trip in the car is comfortable and as safe as possible.
Pros of using heated car seats
With the onset of autumn, the installation of heating on car seats becomes a very urgent task. As soon as it gets cold outside, and especially when frost sets in, it is the heated driver's seat that becomes an indispensable assistant to ensure a comfortable temperature. Agree, it’s nice to sit in a heated chair from a cold street and not continue to freeze for some more time until the stove warms up the interior.
The following positive aspects of the use of seat heating can be distinguished:
- Rapid heating and maintaining optimal temperature in the vehicle compartment over time.
- Easy installation (systems are both external-capes and covers, and internal-built-in heating elements). The first ones are simply fixed on top of the chair with the help of special fasteners, the installation of the second is more difficult, since they need to be fixed under the upholstery, but still it does not take a lot of time.
- Protection against hypothermia. This is one of the main tasks of heated seats. Sitting in the cold is not the best health condition, especially in winter, when the temperature is very low outside, you need to warm up quickly in the car so as not to catch a cold and get sick.
- Back warming is also very useful in certain diseases, for example, sciatica. For drivers with such problems, the use of heating can be shown even in the warm season.
But, despite the many positive characteristics, heating systems of this type have some disadvantages.
Cons of installing a seat heater
By themselves, warm seats in the car can not do any harm to a healthy body. But still, some negative aspects are present during their operation. For example, if you do not follow the recommendations and go too far with the temperature, this can lead to a decrease in the driver’s attentiveness, cause fatigue and headaches, and also increase the risk of catching a cold due to a violation of the body’s temperature regime. To avoid these negative consequences, you should follow some recommendations:
- If you do not want to catch a cold, avoid sudden changes in temperature. For example, you built a sauna in the cabin and overheated the seats, and therefore your body, in this case, you can not immediately run out into the cold. Once on the street, you risk getting sick, because the body simply does not have time to cope with such a sharp change in temperature. Therefore, you can not allow strong heating of the cabin, and do not go out in the cold naked, even if you need to run out for a couple of minutes, wear a jacket and fasten it tightly.
- Do not let the heating work for a very long time, its function is to make the chairs warm so that they are comfortable to sit on, but the cabin should not be very hot. If the system works for a long time, then the air in the cabin becomes dry, a person experiences stuffiness and lack of oxygen. In such conditions, it is difficult for the driver to concentrate, he has a headache, drowsiness, etc. may appear. Therefore, on long trips, heating is not recommended to be used constantly. Turn off the system or transfer to minimum power. In addition, do not forget about the ventilation of the cabin, periodically letting fresh air in is very useful, this increases the activity of the brain.
It is also worth noting that there are some diseases with which heating is contraindicated, oncology belongs to them. There is evidence that excessive overheating can provoke the growth of benign or malignant neoplasms. Therefore, such patients can only use the seat heating system at the very beginning to raise the temperature a bit and not sit on cold chairs, then the function must be turned off.
Is seat heating harmful to men's health?
There is a very widespread belief that the use of car seat heaters causes men with sexual function because the driver heats up not only the buttocks and back, but also the temperature of the genitals rises sharply. As a result, due to prolonged sitting in a warm chair in men, blood circulation is disturbed and problems with potency and conception can begin.
In fact, there are some grounds for such allegations. The optimal temperature for the male genital organs is 34-35.5 degrees. When the heater is turned on at full power and long sitting in such a chair, it can reach a mark of 38 degrees or even higher. Which negatively affects fertility. However, at the same time, hypothermia has an equally negative effect, which should include the risk of prostatitis, cystitis and other unpleasant diseases that can cause hypothermia of the pelvic organs. If you observe the measure and do not overheat, but use the device according to the instructions, then heating will only be useful. As soon as the seats have warmed up, switch the heating to the minimum temperature mode or turn it off completely if the air temperature is not very low.
Terms of use for car seat heating
As mentioned above, so that there are no health problems, it is very important to follow the rules and recommendations that will make the operation of automatic heating safe and comfortable.
- Do not turn on heating at maximum power for a long time, usually it takes 15 minutes to warm up the system.
- Choose models with the ability to adjust the temperature, this will avoid overheating, since you can always lower the temperature. This is especially important for those who spend 5 hours or more driving daily.
- Do not forget about comfortable clothes. Try not to use synthetics, which when heated can create a greenhouse effect. Cloth and linen should keep heat well and let air through, it is best to use breathable materials. And of course, the clothes should be comfortable, not tighten anything and not restrict movements.
- Keep track of the technical condition of the heating, the surface must be intact, insulation must not be allowed and water should not be spilled on the seat if the system is not protected against water.
- When leaving the car, always turn off the seat heating system.
If you follow these simple rules, you can easily avoid any trouble. If the driver will remember this, then for him, traveling by car in any weather will be comfortable. Remember that both overheating and hypothermia are dangerous, so you need to know the measure in everything and find a middle ground. Our store 130.com.ua offers to buy seat heating for cars in Kiev, Odessa or Kharkov at competitive prices. All devices are reliable and functional, they will help you keep warm in the winter.