A power converting apparatus includes: a reactor including a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to an alternating-current power supply; a rectifier circuit connected to the second end of the reactor and including at least one switching element, the rectifier circuit converting an alternating-current voltage output from the alternating-current power supply into a direct-current voltage; and a detecting unit that detects a physical quantity indicating an operation state of the rectifier circuit, wherein the number of times of switching of the switching element is changed depending on the operation of the rectifier circuit.