If your air conditioner uses more electricity than expected, the cause is usually your usage and maintenance habits rather than the unit itself: a temperature set lower than necessary, doors and windows left open, filters clogged with dust, a capacity unsuited to the room and maintenance that has not been done for a long time. You can correct some of these yourself at home; problems such as a gas leak or a fan or sensor fault, however, need an on-site technical check. Below we go through the mistakes that increase consumption and their practical solutions one by one.
Temperature setting: a lower number does not cool the room faster
A common mistake is thinking that selecting the lowest temperature on the remote control will cool the room more quickly. An air conditioner cools at a similar rate whatever temperature you choose; a low setting just makes the unit run at high power for longer. The bigger the difference between the outdoor and indoor temperature, the greater the load on the compressor.
- Choose a temperature that is comfortable but not excessively low; as your body adjusts, try raising it by a degree or two.
- On humid days, dehumidifying mode can give a feeling of coolness with less load.
- Use sleep mode and the timer at night; do not leave the air conditioner running in an empty room.
- Keeping the fan speed permanently on its lowest setting can make the room slow to cool and the unit run for longer; auto fan is a balanced choice in most cases.
The position of the air direction louvres also matters. Cold air is heavy and sinks, so when cooling, keeping the louvres horizontal or angled slightly upwards helps the air spread more evenly around the room. Computers, televisions and lamps that give off heat, left on all day in the room, also add to the heat load; switching off those not in use makes the air conditioner's job easier.
Using inverter and on/off air conditioners differently
In on/off air conditioners, the compressor stops when the set temperature is reached and starts again at full power when the room warms up. In inverter air conditioners, the compressor keeps running at a reduced speed. For this reason, it is usually more efficient to run an inverter unit steadily at a sensible temperature rather than switching it off and on frequently. With on/off units too, the correct temperature setting and use of the timer give better results than constantly switching on and off.
Doors, windows and sun: do not let the cooled air escape
An air conditioner is designed to cool an enclosed space. When a window is left ajar, the balcony door is opened often or the door of the air-conditioned room is left open to other rooms, the unit tries to cool an area beyond its capacity and runs almost without a break.
- Keep doors and windows closed while the air conditioner is running; air the room briefly while it is off.
- Use curtains, roller blinds or Venetian blinds on windows that get the midday sun.
- Close doors to the kitchen when heat sources such as the oven or hob are in use.
- If there is a noticeable draught through door and window seals, consider having them repaired.
Especially in coastal areas, on sun-facing sides of the building and in homes with large areas of glass, these simple measures make a clear difference to how long the air conditioner runs.
Dirty filters and the outdoor unit: less airflow means more load
When the indoor unit filter fills with dust, less air passes through the unit. The air conditioner runs for longer to provide the same coolness, and problems such as icing and water dripping from the indoor unit can also appear. Cleaning the filters is the most effective maintenance step that users can safely carry out:
- Switch the air conditioner off with the remote control and unplug it or switch off its circuit breaker.
- Open the indoor unit's front cover as shown in the manual and remove the filters.
- Gently wash the filters in lukewarm water; do not use a hard brush or chemicals.
- Let them dry completely in the shade, then refit them.
Checking the filters every few weeks during periods of heavy use is a good habit. Cleaning the coil, fan and drain line behind the filter, however, requires dismantling and suitable equipment, so it is a job for a technical service.
The outdoor unit is at least as important as the indoor unit. If its fins are covered in dust, sand, leaves or pollen, it struggles to get rid of heat. Do not block the front of the outdoor unit with belongings, covers or plants; leave space around it for air to circulate. Do not try to clean the fins yourself with a pressure washer or hard tools, as they bend easily.
Choosing capacity: too small and too large both cause problems
An air conditioner that is too small for the room runs at high power constantly and still cannot cool the room enough on hot days. An oversized unit, on the other hand, cools quickly and cuts in and out frequently; this creates unnecessary load and can also mean moisture is not removed properly.
The right capacity is not determined by floor area alone. The size of the room, ceiling height, insulation, how long the façade is in the sun, the area of glass, the number of people in the room and what the unit will be used for all need to be considered together. Having a technician make this calculation during an on-site survey directly affects consumption for years to come. If you have doubts about the capacity of your current air conditioner, it is worth having the conditions of use examined before deciding to replace it.
How do lack of maintenance and faults affect consumption?
Air conditioning gas does not get used up in normal operation; if the gas has gone down, there is a leak in the system. An air conditioner running low on gas struggles to cool and runs for longer. We explain this in detail in our article does air conditioning gas need topping up every year. A gas recharge without fixing the leak does not provide a lasting solution.
Faults in the fan motor, temperature sensor or control board can also make the unit run for unnecessarily long periods. If you notice the following signs, it is advisable to have it checked:
- The air conditioner runs much longer than before, but the room is slow to cool.
- The air from the indoor unit is not cool enough or the airflow is weak.
- Ice forms on the indoor unit or the pipes.
- The outdoor unit makes unusual noises or its fan turns irregularly.
- There is a clear increase in your electricity bill even though your usage habits have not changed.
Regular periodic maintenance means the filter, coil, condensate drain and outdoor unit are all checked together. You can find what pre-season maintenance covers in our article on pre-summer air conditioning maintenance. With Evime Servis's private air conditioning service, faults are diagnosed on site, the price is given before work begins and the unit's operation is checked after the work.
| Mistake | Result | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature set too low | Long periods running at high power | Choose a sensible temperature |
| Doors and windows open | Cooled air is lost | Keep the room closed, use curtains |
| Dirty filter | Reduced airflow | Clean the filter regularly |
| Wrong capacity | Insufficient cooling or frequent cutting in | Have it calculated during an on-site survey |
| Lack of maintenance, gas leak | Lower efficiency, longer running time | Have a technical check carried out |
If your air conditioner is still running too much even after checking your settings and filters, an on-site technical check is the best way forward. You can submit a service request for your air conditioner in Didim, Söke, Kuşadası or Aydın city centre (Efeler), or contact us by phone or WhatsApp on +90 256 503 48 80.
Frequently asked questions
Does leaving the air conditioner on all day use less electricity than switching it on and off as needed?
It depends on the type of unit and how you use it. With inverter air conditioners, running steadily at a sensible temperature is usually more efficient than switching off and on frequently during the day; if nobody is at home, though, it makes sense to switch the air conditioner off or use the timer.
Does cleaning the filter affect electricity consumption?
Yes. A dirty filter reduces airflow and makes the air conditioner run for longer to provide the same coolness. Checking and cleaning the filter regularly during periods of heavy use is the easiest measure.
My air conditioner is new but uses a lot of electricity. What could be the reason?
With new units, the most common causes are a capacity unsuited to the room, faulty installation or usage habits. If the problem continues after reviewing your settings, the installation and capacity need to be checked on site.
Does low gas increase the bill?
An air conditioner running low on gas struggles to cool and runs for longer. If the gas has gone down, there is a leak; the leak must first be found and fixed, and then the gas work must be carried out by a trained technician.
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Published: 25.10.2026 · Last updated: