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.
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!.
How do you hide a wall mounted air conditioner?
Inside the House Arrange potted plants around the unit to cover and disguise it. Hang curtains over it. Find a cardboard box that fits over the cabinet, or custom-make a box yourself out of foam panels and glue. Place dressing panels in front of your AC unit.
Is covering an AC unit bad?
Problems Caused by AC Covers In addition to its components, your outdoor unit also has notches built into it that allow airflow in, which blows out some of the debris and dries out any moisture. Covers are bad because they hold all this moisture in. This encourages everything from mold spores to corrosion.
How do you screen an AC unit?
21 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.
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.
Does shading your 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 cover an AC unit with a deck?
Building A Deck Over An Air Conditioner Your best option is to move the unit to another location out of the way. Most AC manufacturers recommend maintaining a minimum 60″ uninterrupted clearance above the compressor to allow for hot air to exhaust from the top of the unit.
Can I run my AC with the cover on?
Never run an air conditioner with its cover on. Air conditioners need to exchange heat and condensation in order to function efficiently, and when an air conditioner runs in a condition where airflow is not optimal, the appliance’s components get compromised.
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.
Should I put rocks around my AC unit?
Here’s my big gardening tip for this post: landscape the area around your AC’s condenser with rocks and gravel rather than grass and mulch. A nice rock garden around the AC not only stops mulch problems, but it can also look beautiful as well.
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.
Is it better to leave AC fan on or auto?
Keeping your fan on AUTO is the most energy-efficient option. The fan only runs when the system is on and not continuously. If your fan runs continuously, moisture does not have a chance to drip outside. It blows back into your home and your AC works hard to remove extra moisture from the air.
How cool should my house be if it’s 100 outside?
How cool should my house be if it’s 100° outside? The majority of air conditioning units are designed to only cool the air about 20 degrees from the outside temperature. If the temperatures outside are approaching triple digits, you should set your thermostat at about 78°.
Should I protect my AC unit from Sun?
Protecting your AC condenser from the sun can help it last longer and run more efficiently. Regular sun exposure can damage a condenser due to heat. Plant trees and shrubs around your air conditioner. Ensure the cover is designed to prevent heat buildup since a regular tarp will trap heat from the sun.
How much clearance does a AC unit need?
The general rule of thumb is to have at least one foot (or 12 inches) of clearance on each side of your air conditioner. Your air conditioner’s manufacturer may have specific clearance recommendations, but they’ll generally recommend between 12 and 24 inches.
Do I need to cover my AC?
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 much does it cost to move an AC unit?
Typically, the cost of relocating an air conditioner runs around $1,000, but pricing varies depending on the specifics of the unit and the location. This is why it’s important to budget for this cost if this is part of a larger remodeling or new addition project.
