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The length of an AC cycle depends on the settings in your thermostat and the unit you have. Central AC doesn't constantly run at full blast the way that a window unit does. A cooling cycle in most homes is 15 to 20 minutes. Then, the unit stays off for seven to 10 minutes to circulate the cold air in the house before the cycle repeats. It should repeat two or three times per hour. A short cycle lasts less than 10 minutes and then turns off.

Yes, you can build a deck over your outdoor HVAC unit, but you need to leave at least 5 feet of vertical clearance above the unit. If you don’t want your deck to be that high off the ground, you could build a floating deck in another part of your yard—again, as long as you leave at least 4 feet of horizontal space between the deck and your AC unit.

It’s never a good idea to run your AC without a filter, even just for a night. The filter defends your HVAC system from the dust, dirt, debris, and other grime in your home. Without a filter, those contaminants are more likely to get inside your system and potentially damage it. 

Running a window air conditioner unit costs about $0.06 to $0.88 per hour. Choosing the correct size air conditioner can help it run more efficiently.