Will turning your aircon off really help you save on electricity?

When the day is hot and you're home all day, the only thing keeping you from leaving your aircon on is a sky-rocketing electric bill.

However, is it true that turning it off and on again will actually cost you a lot more money?

According to Meralco power lab manager Engr. Alfred Iporac, the "patay-sindi" habit is not always an effective way to save on electricity.

This is especially true if the consumer would only be switching it off for a short while.

In an interview on Unang Hirit, Iporac said starting up an air conditioner would actually take up more power.

Moreover, turning the aircon off would also allow the temperature in the room to rise, which would mean the appliance would have to work harder to bring it down again.

"Dahil umiinit uli 'yung room mo, hahabulin na naman ni aircon 'yung temperature difference na kinakailangan para palamigin ito so, in effect, hindi siya makakatipid kung sandali ka lang aalis at papatayin tas bubuhayin mo (Since your room is hot, the aircon would have to make up for the temperature difference in order to cool it. So, in effect, it's not very cost-effective for you to turn it off if you'll only be gone for a short while)," he said.

Nevertheless, the Meralco rep reminded consumers that power consumption is still a matter of time, and how long you use an appliance is still a big factor.

“So 'yun pong gumagamit ng say, 8 to 12 hours per day versus dun sa nag-24 hours, definitely mas makakatipid po 'yung mas lesser time (So those who use it for let's say 8 to 12 hours per day versus those who use it for 24 hours, the ones who use it less will definitely save more),” he said.

But what about inverter-type air conditioners?

According to Iporac, inverter-type air conditioners can "help provide you around 25 to 62 percent in savings compared [to] non-inverter units."

"If you're using your air conditioners at least four hours per day or more, mas mahaba mas maganda pa siya, mas beneficial talaga ang paggamit ng inverter aircon (It's more beneficial and better to use for longer periods of time)," he said.

Finally, consumers were also reminded that proper aircon maintenance, such as cleaning or replacing their filters regularly, can also help them save on the electric bill.

“All you have to do is clean your air filters, savings na kaagad yon (you'll already be saving a lot),” he said. —Margaret Claire Layug/JCB, GMA News