Q: How often should my air conditioner run? A: Always, if it's efficient.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T-RFsQKcgw

Traditional air conditioners are constantly turning on and off which i) isn't energy efficient, since their one-speed motors need 4-6 times more startup current than running current ii) wears down the motors, so they need more maintenance iii) create a larger temperature operating range, so users are less comfortable. Variable-speed motor, variable refrigerant flow (VRF) now efficient units run faster or slower depending on the heat load. Thus, they run slower, more efficiently with less motor wear and tear and with a tighter comfort range (deadband).