Table of Contents
22 Ways You Can Hide Your Air Conditioner Unit Outside Build a Wooden Cover. Get Creative With an AC House. Hide It Behind the Bushes. Make a Box With a Door. Stack Planter Boxes in Front of the Unit. Place the Outdoor Unit Inside Aluminum Slats. Grow Vines Around Outdoor AC Unit. Create a Shed.
Does shading an outside AC unit help?
Energy.gov confidently states that “shading the outside unit can increase its efficiency by up to 10%.” Even house-savvy BobVila.com proclaims, “Shading your air conditioner can reduce energy costs by as much as 50 percent.” AC condensers have a harder time blowing heat from their coolant when it’s hot outside.
Can you enclose AC units?
Allow Sufficient Airflow The most popular way we’ve seen homeowners hide their air conditioner condenser is to enclose the unit behind a fence, screen or latticework. Never box in your unit with a solid structure—you must allow ventilation through large lattices or screens!.
Is it OK to spray water on your air conditioner?
The good news is that you absolutely can spray water on your air conditioner if it needs a cleaning, and nothing bad will happen. Spraying water on your AC’s condenser also helps it run more efficiently. In fact, your condenser needs a regular spritzing in order to keep doing a good job.
Can I shade my AC unit in the summer?
Shading your air conditioner’s outdoor condenser unit is an accepted way to increase its efficiency and lower your cooling costs. Shrubs and bushes can also cool the air around your air conditioner; just make sure you don’t block the unit’s air flow.
What should I put around my air conditioner?
How To Landscape Around My AC Unit Keep Plants 2-3 Feet Away. There should always be 2-3 feet of clear space when you landscape around your AC unit. Make Sure There’s Plenty of Shade. Create a Windbreak with Evergreen Plants. Stay Mobile with Large Potted Plants. Use a Trellis, Screen, or Lattice Cover. Try a Gravel Garden.
Should outside air conditioners be covered?
Outdoor cooling units are built to endure these harsh winter weather conditions, which eliminates the need for a cover. Moisture (water) can freeze the air conditioner’s condenser coils, which can cause damage over time. However, there is no way to keep moisture out 100% of the time.
How do I cover my air conditioner?
How to cover an air conditioner for winter (the RIGHT way) Use a cover made of breathable material. Put plywood over the top of the unit only to shield from snow and ice, weighing it down with bricks or rocks to keep in place. Install a wood awning or shelter attached to the building that covers the top of the unit.
How often should you clean your outside AC unit?
How Often Should You Clean the Outside Unit of AC System? For most homeowners twice yearly is sufficient, once before the summer season sets in and you’ll be cooling your home, and once during fall before cold temperatures set in and it’s time to switch to heat mode.
Can I pressure wash my outside AC unit?
Never power wash your air conditioner. Although there are ways you can clean your air conditioner, a power washer should never be one of them. These can cause damage to your coil and result in a system breakdown. Schedule a condenser cleaning appointment with your local HVAC guy.
Can I clean my AC unit with a hose?
Use the water hose spray to clean off loose debris (grass, leaves, etc) on the outside unit. Spray the outside unit with the coil cleaner. Wait 10-15 minutes as the cleaner foams and bonds with the dirt on the coils. Rinse the coil cleaner off with the hose.
Can I put a roof over my air conditioner?
The simple answer is anything you would put over the top of that condenser/compressor unit to lower the noise level and placed so as to not restrict airflow would be at such a height that it would be useless for the purposes intended.
How do I protect my outdoor air conditioner from sunlight?
How to Protect an AC Condenser From the Sun Plant trees and shrubs around your air conditioner. Place a protective cover over the air conditioning unit. Position an awning over the AC unit to further prevent the sun from hitting the unit for any length of time.
How can I decorate my air conditioner?
This information will help you design your space around your AC and determine the best way to cover it up. Make It Part of a Bookcase. A bookcase is a smart little trick you can use to cover up your AC. Make It into a Functional Space. Paint Your Air Conditioning Unit. Cover It with a Curtain. Use a Decorative Wall Panel.
What is a good plant to hide an air conditioner?
Best Plants to Hide Your Air Conditioner Flowering bushes like hydrangeas, roses, and rose of Sharons are all tall enough for great coverage. Vine type plants work well if you build a trellis or something they can climb on. Try roses, clematis, sweet pea, morning glory, and trumpet vine.
Should I cover my AC unit from rain?
In most cases, the condenser unit should never be covered. Rain cannot harm the condenser, as long as the moisture can evaporate freely, and neither can the cooler weather of a Florida winter. Otherwise, simply keep the condenser free of debris, and rinse the dirt out periodically.
What are the symptoms of a dirty condenser coil?
If a condenser coil is dirty or fouled, its ability to reject heat is severely affected.The three causes for high discharge temperatures are: High condensing temp; Low evaporator temps; and. High compression ratios.
How do I know if my AC coil is dirty?
Symptoms of a Dirty Coil Air Conditioning Loses Cooling Capacity. One thing that will be noticeable when the evaporator coil is dirty is that your AC won’t produce air that’s as cold as it should be. Air Conditioning Runs Longer. Coil Develops Frost During Operation. Have an HVAC Professional Clean Your Coils.
