How Am I Just Learning this Famous New York Gas Station Hack?

I don't know if I should be happy or mad... how did it take me so long to learn one of the easiest and most useful everyday lifehacks in the Hudson Valley?

Stopping by the gas station to fuel up your vehicle is part of nearly every New York's weekly to-do list, and as technology has evolved, so have the gas pumps. Some advancements, like paying with a credit card to avoid walking into the station, are helpful. Others are just plain annoying.

Secret Hack for New York Gas Stations

In 2024, it's hard to go anywhere without being bombarded with advertisements, and unfortunately, an advertisers favorite target is a captive audience. That's why the screens showing "infotainment" on newer gas pumps are so annoying: ads can blare while you're tethered to your vehicle. That's where the hack comes in...

Muting the Volume of Gas Station TV

I'm embarrassed to admit that it took me years to learn that there was a way to avoid the obnoxious ads from "Gas Station TV" during my weekly fill ups. While drivers are welcome to watch snippets of lifestyle podcasts or advertisements from fast food restaurants, there's a secret button on your gas pump that will mute the commercials.

How to Mute Your Gas Pump Television in New York

I only learned about this trick because a nameless hero has written "MUTE" in marker with an arrow pointing to a button on the right hand side of the screen. The button is unmarked, but it will mute the audio of the video being played when you press it (above).

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So go forth, brave traveler, with the knowledge that you won't be forced to learn about the latest bundle deal at your local big box store while you're fueling up for your next road trip... and make sure to pass the information along to your fellow driver.