When the heat soars outside, finding comfort indoors often means cranking up the AC. But, the age-old debate remains: is it better to keep turning your AC on and off, or should you leave it running?
At Bill Howe, we understand the struggle. Homeowners are on a quest to stay comfortable without breaking the bank on energy bills. We’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to help you make the right choices for your home’s cooling system.
Turning the AC On and Off vs. Leaving It On
Constantly turning your air conditioner on and off is known as short cycling. Doing this instead of allowing it to be controlled with a thermostat only results in your AC having to work harder. Each time the unit is manually powered on, it has to run longer than when it’s programmed for a consistent temperature. Instead of turning your AC on and off vs. leaving it on, leave your unit on and follow these tips:
- Leave the air conditioner on and use the thermostat to program temperature settings for different times of the day.
- Invest in a smart thermostat that learns your preferences and adjusts the climate automatically.
- Ensure your property is sealed adequately to help it retain cool air more efficiently.
- Let a service technician keep your air conditioner clean and maintained to ensure peak performance.
- Have your air ducts cleaned periodically to maximize airflow and air quality.
If you find you need to turn it off and on because the AC won’t maintain a consistent temperature, the problem could be with the unit or the thermostat. The best way to find the issues is to schedule an AC tune-up with a professional HVAC company.
Does Turning the AC On and Off Cost More?
Yes. Turning your air conditioner on and off vs. leaving it on and using programmed settings can cost more. Why? Because the AC uses extra energy to start back up and cool the air to the desired temperature, energy usage and your power bills will increase.
Air conditioners and HVACs are most efficient when maintaining a consistent temperature when controlled by a thermostat. Turning an AC on and off vs. leaving it on makes an air conditioner’s components strain to cool the air, resulting in unnecessary wear and tear. An overworked air conditioner will typically require more frequent part replacement and potentially costly repairs than one working at normal levels. If the AC unit is short-cycled often enough, the unit can fail prematurely, requiring a new air conditioner to be installed.
For homeowners using the thermostat properly but still seeing high energy bills, it may be time to consider an upgrade, especially to a newer HVAC system with inverter technology. These advanced systems don’t operate at just 100% or 0%. Instead, they adjust dynamically to maintain the set temperature while using only the energy needed. Inverter units are significantly more efficient, quieter, and have a longer lifespan compared to traditional systems.
Understanding How Air Conditioners Work
Air conditioners pull warm air from the environment, which flows over cold, low-pressure evaporator coils filled with refrigerant. The refrigerant absorbs heat as it changes to a gas and is pumped to the condenser outside, where it releases the heat. The result is cooled air that is pumped into your home using air conditioner fans.
This heating and cooling process continues over and over as the refrigerant changes from liquid to gas and gas to liquid. To turn the refrigerant back into a liquid, the AC compressor puts high pressure on the gas. Condenser coils and fans pump the heat generated by the compressor to the outdoors, and the process begins again. When you consider the multiple processes and moving parts required to cool your home, it’s easy to understand why it’s bad to keep turning your AC on and off.
So, when should you turn your air conditioner off? Consider turning off your air conditioner when temperatures drop below 60 degrees, or you’re going to be away from home for long periods. It’s also recommended that you turn off your air conditioner during lightning storms to avoid damage.
Why Is It Bad to Keep Turning an AC On and Off?
When deciding to turn an AC on and off or just leave it on, it’s essential to understand how long an AC should last. Most homeowners can expect a well-maintained air conditioner to last from 10 to 15 years. However, turning your AC on and off puts additional stress on critical components like the fan motor and compressor. This extra stress accelerates wear and tear and can decrease performance, increase energy bills, and shorten an air conditioner’s lifespan significantly.
It’s also recommended to have an HVAC technician inspect and maintain your air conditioner annually. Professional technicians perform safety checks, clean components, and ensure maximum efficiency. Technicians can also identify issues and correct them, helping eliminate further damage and potentially costly repairs. Now that you know all the details, are you going to turn your AC on and off or just leave it on? We hope you make the obvious choice!
Why Choose Bill Howe for Air Conditioner Repair and Maintenance?
Bill Howe Plumbing, Heating & Air, Restoration & Flood has served the San Diego area since 1980 with the highest quality plumbing and HVAC services. Bill Howe is staffed with licensed and insured expert technicians and a support team second to none. We are a community partner that supports organizations involved with veterans, animal adoption, and other worthy causes. Most importantly, we are a family-owned business that delivers 5-star services with hometown customer care. Whether you’re ready to upgrade your old HVAC with a mini-split system or need emergency plumbing services ASAP, Bill Howe has your back.
