05/10/2023
🚨5 Ways to Protect Your Central AC Unit🚨
🌬1. Let it breathe. The compressor needs adequate airflow to operate correctly, so make sure to keep at least 2 to 3 feet of space between the unit and any plants or structures. “Check the owner’s manual to confirm the proper amount of space." Keep in mind that you'll want to leave enough space for you or a technician to access and service the unit. And there should also be 5 feet of clearance between the top of the unit and any trees above.
🌳2. Put it in the shade. Installing the unit where it will be out of the hot sun will help it run more efficiently. In fact, shading both your house and the compressor is the most cost-effective way to reduce solar heat gain in your house and reduce air-conditioning costs, according to the DOE.
🌿3. Plan your plants. A hedge is a good way to conceal a unit as long as you keep it trimmed. To keep the unit free of falling leaves, which can impede the fan, select trees that retain their leaves during the winter, like evergreens or some oak and beech trees. (Check with a local nursery or arborist to make sure.)
If you don’t have room for a hedge, don't give up. "A lattice with greenery and colorful vines could also make for a beautiful screening option."
🔨4. Build a border. A dirty condenser coil can force your compressor to work harder than it needs to, increasing energy consumption by 30 percent. So you want to keep grass from your mower and mud from a rainstorm from spraying into the unit. The best way to do that is to surround the pad on which it sits with a stone border filled with crushed rock. That way, rainwater drains away and foliage is kept at bay.
🍃5. Keep lawn gear clear. Your AC unit can be damaged by rocks kicked up by the mower or by being bumped by a string trimmer or mower.