Buying an inverter aircon is a smart investment, but you need to use it right to save on your energy bills. We’re Teko.ph, the largest aircon, appliance, and computer services provider in the Philippines, with practical tips on how to use inverter aircon to save electricity.
4 Simple Tips on How to Use Inverter Aircon to Save Electricity
1. Stop the On-Off Cycle Habit
This is probably the biggest mistake people make with inverter aircons. For most people, we grew up with non-inverter units where turning off the AC when leaving the room made sense. But inverter technology works differently. Inverter aircons can run continuously at variable speeds, and they’re most efficient when they reach and maintain your desired temperature. So every time you turn your unit off and on again, it has to work at maximum capacity to cool the room from scratch. That’s when it consumes the most energy.
If you’re leaving for less than four hours, just increase the temperature by 2-3 degrees instead of turning it off completely. Only turn it off if you’ll be gone for half a day or more.
2. Try the Two-Hour Power Rule
Do you usually set your aircon to your target temperature and simply forget about it during the rest of the day? There’s a smarter way to use your inverter AC that takes advantage of how our bodies adapt to temperature while we sleep
Start your inverter aircon at 24°C for the first two hours before bedtime. This quickly cools your room and helps you fall asleep comfortably. After two hours, gradually increase it to 26-27°C. Your body is already asleep and won’t notice the slight change, but your electricity meter definitely will. Many modern inverter units have sleep modes that do this automatically, but if yours doesn’t, just set a reminder.
3. Create Temperature Zones in Your Home
Are you using your inverter aircon in a multi-room home? Don’t try to cool every space equally. Instead, focus your inverter aircon’s power on where you actually spend time.
Close your bedroom doors during the day and only cool the living areas. In the evening, shift your focus to the bedrooms while letting the common areas warm up. However, if you have multiple units, run only one unit at a time when possible, or stagger their operation so that each room gets cooled at a time. This prevents multiple compressors from using power simultaneously, which can increase your energy consumption.
4. Use the Dry Mode Before Cooling
One of the biggest burdens on your inverter aircon is not the heat but the humidity. Wet, humid air feels warmer than dry air at the same temperature, forcing you to set your unit lower than necessary. When you first turn on the aircon, run it on the dehumidify or dry mode for about 15 minutes. You’ll notice the air suddenly feels lighter and fresher. Then, switch it to cool mode.
How to Use Inverter Aircon to Save Electricity
You’ve already spent good money on an inverter aircon, so make sure to make the most out of it with smart usage habits. Inverter aircons are adaptable, and with the tips listed above, you’ll surely see the difference in the long run.
