You may be wondering whether or not window tinting affects the temperature inside of your vehicle, and the answer is a resounding yes! Getting your car windows tinted isn’t just for privacy or looking cool. Believe it or not, that thin layer of window tint does an amazing job of blocking sunrays, lowering the overall temperature inside your vehicle. As temperatures outside soar next summer, tinted windows will keep your interior much cooler. Here’s the science behind it.
How Window Tint Keeps the Heat Out
Window tint serves as a barrier between the sun and a vehicle’s interior. Tinting films are made from polyester and varying combinations of other materials. These films are designed to block thermal energy from the sun while still allowing an adequate amount of light to shine through. This filtering affect is measured in visible light transmission unit’s aka VLTs. Window tinting specialists like the ones at Capital Mobile Tint & Customs will be familiar with the legal VLT percentages in your state. Getting your tints professionally installed will allow you to maximize cooling potential while still staying in compliance with local laws.
Why Reducing Interior Heat is Beneficial
The Effects of Extreme Temperatures on Your Body
You’re probably familiar with the skin cancer risk associated with harmful UV rays, but it’s not just excessive sunlight that’s bad for you. Getting into an extremely hot car is not only uncomfortable–it’s unhealthy. Even though you may not notice the affects right away, excessive temperatures in your vehicle can cause mild dehydration and cellular damage. This is why you sometimes feel run down while running errands in the summertime.
The Possibility of Inhaling Dangerous Toxins
Another hidden danger of being in a hot car is exposure to toxins that are released when the plastic components of your interior are overheated. In light of this health risk, it’s surprising that more stock model vehicles don’t come pre-equipped with window tinting.
The Damage to Your Vehicle’s Interior Over Time
It’s not just the light that causes your interior to dry out and crack; it’s the heat. Tinted windows will reduce sunrays which include both light and heat. Both contribute to interior damage.
How Much Does Window Tinting Affect Interior Temperatures?
A car without tint will let in about 90% of visible light including harmful UV rays. For this reason, sitting in the car with the sun shining directly on your skin is not much different than sitting outside. This is why getting a “trucker’s tan” on one of your arms is a thing. Tinted windows, on the other hand, can reduce the light coming into your vehicle by up to 56% which will lower the temperature substantially.
Scientific Study
In 2012, F.M. Nasir and M.A. Jasni conducted an experiment that demonstrated how window tinting plays a major role in reducing the ambient temperature inside of a vehicle. They used a very weak tint in that study, but even with that weaker than average tint, the temperature was reduced by an average of 8 degrees Celsius. Higher quality tints will have better infrared rejection rates resulting in a more drastic impact.
So yes, window tinting does affect the temperature in the car–and quite substantially. Less sunlight coming through equals less heat–plain and simple. If you are in the Las Vegas, Nevada area, and ready to cool down your interior, contact us to set up an appointment for window tinting.