As the dog days of summer approach, it’s time to pull your air conditioners out of storage, clean them up, and make sure they’re in good working condition for the hot weather. If you’re in the market for a new model, you’ll find that many of the best air conditioners available today are “inverter” models—a relatively new technology with several benefits, including improved energy efficiency.

What is an inverter air conditioner, and how can it save you money on cooling costs? Here’s what you need to know about these models, how they work, and whether they’re worth buying for your home.

Inverter vs. regular air conditioners

When using a regular air conditioner, you’ve probably noticed that the unit kicks on and off throughout the day. This is because of the way standard compressors work.

The compressor is a key component in any air conditioner that pumps refrigerant through the system. When you turn on an AC, the compressor cranks up to full power, cooling the air in your home to the desired temperature. When that temperature is reached, the compressor turns off. This cycle continues throughout the day, with the compressor returning to max power whenever the temperature gets too warm.

Inverter air conditioners work a bit differently. Instead of having the compressor running at full speed then shutting off repeatedly, an inverter AC adjusts its compressor’s speed based on the room temperature. In other words, while a regular air conditioner’s compressor alternates between 100% and 0% power, an inverter air conditioner can run its compressor at 50% or whatever level is needed to maintain the set temperature. (If you’ve ever heard of inverter microwaves, the concept of inverter air conditioners is similar.)

Because of its adjustable speed, the compressor in an inverter AC runs consistently throughout the day instead of turning on and off, and there are a few benefits to doing so.

What are the benefits of inverter AC?

While both regular and inverter air conditioners will cool your home on hot days, inverter ACs have a few benefits that make them more appealing for specific applications.

The main benefit of inverter ACs is that they’re more energy efficient than standard models, as they don’t waste energy by repeatedly turning on and shutting off. While your exact savings will vary depending on model and use.

With the rising energy cost, these savings can add up quickly if you like to run your air conditioner constantly or live in a hot and humid climate.