You can turn your air conditioner on and off repeatedly, installer says, and it may use less energy

There is no need to leave a household air conditioner running for hours simply to avoid the next start-up, says installer Miguel Ángel Rojas. If someone cools the home, switches the unit off and turns it on again when the heat returns, Rojas says they are not misusing the appliance.

Rojas, a member of Barcelona’s Metropolitan Guild, says refrigerant-based systems respond quickly and allow flexible use. “The refrigerant system gives you that ability to turn it on and off when you need it,” he explains. His advice is to operate the unit according to actual need, because leaving it on for fear of higher consumption later makes little sense.

The same rule does not apply to every heating or cooling system. Rojas contrasts air conditioning with some water-based heating systems, which have greater thermal inertia. In those systems, he says, it can be better to lower the temperature rather than switch the system off completely, especially in winter.

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The refrigerant system gives you that ability to turn it on and off when you need it.

The practical point is simple: an air conditioner does not save energy when it keeps working in an empty room. If a room feels comfortable at night, the unit can be switched off or programmed. If the heat returns, it can be turned on again.

Many newer systems also offer timers, Wi-Fi connections and mobile applications. Rojas says users can schedule cooling before arriving home, set overnight operation or disconnect the unit once the room is cool, without worrying that pressing the off button is bad for the appliance.

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because it uses less