In the middle of a heat wave, one of the most repeated doubts in homes is whether it is advisable to turn off the air conditioning when it is not in use or if having to turn it on again a while later can increase electricity consumption. The belief that “turning it on from scratch costs more” has become a widespread myth, repeated for years on social networks and domestic conversations. However, several experts, such as air conditioning installers and consumer organizations, agree that this idea is not entirely correct. Consumption does not depend so much on turning the device on or off, but on the total time of use and how the temperature in the home is managed. The real answer is more nuanced than it seems.
The myth of turning the air conditioning on and off several times a day
The belief that turning the air conditioning on and off increases consumption has an intuitive basis: when a device starts, the compressor works more intensely to reach the desired temperature. This leads one to think that this “initial effort” implies a significant extra expense. From there, the idea spread that it is more efficient to keep the device on constantly.
However, this interpretation oversimplifies the actual operation of the system. The air conditioning does not operate at maximum power continuously, but rather regulates its consumption once it reaches the set temperature. Therefore, the supposed “spike peak” when turning it on is much lower than is believed.
Even in technical debates and specialized forums a key idea is repeated: the problem is not turning it on, but using it incorrectly or keeping it on unnecessarily for hours.
What HVAC experts really say
Most energy efficiency specialists and air conditioning technicians agree that the myth is generally false. As installers in the sector, such as Miguel Ángel Rojas, explain, “it is false to say that more is spent turning it on and off,” but consumption depends on the overall use of the device and not on the specific fact of turning it on or off. Consumption is determined by the operating time and the selected temperature.
Along the same lines, they point out that the important thing is to avoid extreme temperatures and maintain rational use of the equipment, instead of worrying about starting the system.
The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) also qualifies this debate: consumption does not depend only on the hours on, but on how the equipment is used, the outside temperature and the insulation of the home. That is, two households can have very different bills even if they use the air conditioning for the same amount of time.
Furthermore, starting the equipment does not represent a relevant overconsumption compared to the total expense of continuous use. Turning it off during prolonged absences is usually more efficient than leaving it running all day without need.
The key is to balance comfort and consumption, not to maintain a logic of “permanent on” or “absolute off”.
When should you turn off the air conditioning and when should you not?
Although the myth that turning it on costs more is false, that does not mean that it is always better to turn it off without judgment. Efficiency depends on the context.
If the absence from home is short—for example, less than an hour or two—it may be more practical to leave the air running at a stable temperature. In these cases, the equipment does not need to cool down again from a very high temperature, which maintains comfort without major variations.
On the other hand, if you are going to be away for several hours, the most efficient thing is to turn it off. In that time, zero consumption more than compensates for the subsequent effort to cool the home again. In fact, energy simulations have shown that in certain cases turning off for several hours can significantly reduce annual consumption.
The technology of the equipment also has a lot of influence. Inverter systems, for example, are designed to maintain stable temperatures with fewer consumption peaks, which slightly changes the logic of use compared to older models.
The factors that most influence the electricity bill
Beyond the debate about turning on or off, experts insist that the true impact on the electricity bill lies in other, much more determining factors.
- The first is the selected temperature. Each degree that the thermostat is lowered can increase consumption significantly. That is why it is recommended to maintain moderate values, generally between 24 and 26 degrees.
- The second factor is the insulation of the home. A house with poorly sealed windows or direct exposure to the sun can multiply air conditioning consumption, regardless of how it is used.
- The third is the total operating time. Here there is a direct relationship: the more hours of use, the greater the consumption.
- Lastly, maintenance also plays a key role. Dirty filters or unserviced equipment force the system to work harder to achieve the same result.
The myth that turning the air conditioning on and off uses more electricity is not generally supported according to experts and consumer organizations. Actual consumption depends on the time of use, the chosen temperature and the conditions of the home. In practice, turning off the equipment when it is not needed for long periods is usually more efficient, while in short absences there may not be much difference. The key is not in the switch, but in the intelligent use of the air conditioning system.
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