In the hot summer days of Dubai, many people turn off the air conditioner completely when leaving home to pay less for electricity. However, this is not always the best choice.

When the indoor temperature rises significantly for several hours, the cooling system must work at maximum capacity upon return to cool the environment again. This not only increases the strain on the unit but can also raise electricity consumption.

Experts recommend that if you are only leaving the house for a few hours, instead of turning off the air conditioner completely, set it to around 24 to 26 degrees Celsius and on Auto mode. This method keeps the home's temperature within a suitable range and allows the air conditioner to operate with more balanced consumption.

If you are traveling for a few days, it is better to set the air conditioner to 26 to 27 degrees to prevent increased humidity inside the house, unpleasant odors, and the possibility of mold formation.

A few simple tips to reduce air conditioner electricity consumption

• Do not set the air conditioner to very low numbers unnecessarily.
• Close the curtains when leaving to reduce the amount of heat entering the house.
• Keep doors and windows completely closed.
• Clean or replace the air conditioner filters periodically.
• If possible, use a ceiling fan or standing fan alongside the air conditioner to avoid needing to lower the temperature further.

With a few simple changes in how you use the cooling system, you can both reduce electricity costs and increase the lifespan of the air conditioner.