Constantly Turning the AC On and Off Drives Up Your Bills
Reddit users explain why inverter air conditioners should run continuously and how this can lower monthly electricity costs.
Reddit users explain why inverter air conditioners should run continuously and how this can lower monthly electricity costs.
Amid the heatwave that hit Croatia and the rest of Europe in July 2026, a Reddit user shared a familiar family dilemma with the online community. Under the username 'juraInfidel', he asked for help convincing his 70-year-old mother to change her air conditioning habits.
"How do I convince my mom (70) to leave the AC on all summer at a normal temperature, instead of turning it off after two or three hours because it 'uses too much electricity'?" asked the Reddit user 'juraInfidel', adding that he'll have his mom read all the comments because she no longer trusts him, as reported by Večernji list.
The community's response was quick and imaginative, with users competing to offer vivid examples to illustrate how modern air conditioners work. One of the most upvoted comments read: "Ask her if, when she's making soup and the water boils, she turns off the gas because the water is boiling? Then turns it back on after 15-20 minutes?"
Others drew parallels with appliances that older people already know well. "The water heater is the same thing; you don't turn it on and off every few hours," and "The AC is like a fridge; you don't turn it off because it's cooled the food," noted anonymous commenters on Reddit. A popular comparison was also made to driving a car, where maintaining a constant speed uses less fuel than constantly braking and accelerating.
Beyond everyday examples, many offered concrete technical arguments, according to Večernji list. The operation of modern inverter air conditioners was explained in detail: they run at full power until they reach the set temperature, then reduce consumption to just 10 to 20 percent of capacity to maintain it.
"At home, my AC runs from May 1 to November 1; I never turn it off, and my electricity bill has never exceeded 50 euros," shared an anonymous Reddit user. According to some calculations mentioned in the discussion, running the AC continuously for a month can cost only about twenty euros, which, as they pointed out, is "the price of two pizzas." Some also suggested a practical experiment: buying a power meter, or wattmeter, to prove to skeptical family members that the device consumes minimal energy in maintenance mode.
Several Reddit users also warned of the danger of temperature shocks for older people, noting that sudden changes from hot to cold and vice versa "put a strain on blood pressure." Achieving and maintaining a comfortable, stable indoor climate during extreme heat is crucial not only for comfort but also to avoid serious health issues, such as heatstroke, from which older individuals are particularly at risk.
The post also revealed how widespread this situation is among Croatian families. Comments like "I'm following this because my mom also needs extra convincing" and "Mine turn it off as soon as I leave, as if it's poison gas, not an AC" show that the Večernji list author is right to talk about the "battle over the remote" that takes place in many households.
