While you can learn a lot on social media, inevitably every summer content creators recommend that home owners find new creative ways to try and disguise their outdoor central air conditioning unit.
While we’ll explain all the reasons this is a bad idea, always remember: Your air conditioner unit needs space, often multiple feet of space in order to properly pull in and exhaust enough air to keep up with your home’s needs.
Anything else, a facebook post, a tiktok video, anything that suggests you should fence in or worse, place an awning over your air conditioner to give it shade or help it run more efficiently is wrong.
It’s not going to help your unit, and in some cases it may even hurt it.
Every Air Conditioner Has Installation Guidelines
Every AC Unit is sold with installation guidelines that put recommended clearances for the unit.
The truth is that these guidelines are often treated more like suggestions than they are hard rules and so your AC unit may already be closer to your home than the manufacturer recommended.
If that’s the case, while you don’t necessarily need to relocate your AC unit you are going to have to be intentional about not overcrowding it.
No Plants Around the AC Unit
You might think that plants and shrubs offer a nice natural sound and space buffer around an outdoor air conditioner, but the truth is plants growing around an AC unit can both limit the machine’s ability to properly cycle air and invite debris into the unit which is even worse long term than the unit operating in the sun.
Avoid any type of seasonal shrub or plant that may shed directly into the unit, and in general you want the area around the unit to be regular lawn.
Avoid Blowing Glass Clippings Directly Onto the Unit
While keeping the lawn around your unit short is helpful, you want to make sure that your maintenance isn’t inviting more problems.
If you don’t bag your lawn trimmings, make sure you aren’t unnecessarily blowing grass clippings onto your AC Unit. Adjusting so that your mower doesn’t blow grass directly onto your air conditioner unit will help to ensure it remains debris free over the long term.
Never Put An Awning or Shade Over Your AC
Your AC Unit needs 20 to 30 feet of free air space above it to properly exhaust. There is genuinely never a good reason to place any type of awning or shade tent over or around your AC unit.
It doesn’t need shade, in fact, it’s genuinely designed to run in the heat; what it needs is the easiest access to air flow possible.
Make Space, Keep Clear, and Maintain Regularly
When it comes to AC efficiency, the rules are simple:
- Make space around your unit, at least 1 foot on each side, but more is better
- No aerial shades, above the unit air flow obstructions, fallen leaves, grass clippings or other debris.
- Keep it clear in season, and covered out of season.
Get in Touch Today
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