Your outdoor HVAC unit needs to have an ample amount of air space around it in order to operate properly. If you want to improve the view of your backyard or the surrounding landscape, it’s possible to hide your unit relatively inexpensively, but you still need to consider how to cover it without impeding its airflow. Otherwise, your system will run inefficiently, and you’ll end up paying more for your monthly energy bill.
To help you out, our air conditioning replacement team at Air Products & Services has shared below some useful tips for hiding your HVAC unit:
By anchoring a screen around the most visible parts of your unit, you’ll be able to hide most of it from view while providing ample airflow over and around it. Of course, the screens will have to be anchored properly into the ground using footings that will hold up to heavy rains and strong winds.
As professionals in AC repair and maintenance, we also suggest using privacy gates to conceal your outdoor HVAC unit. These also have the benefit of drawing less attention. They’re available in a variety of styles and materials, so you can leave the gate as it is or have it painted the color of your choice. They also provide a great barrier against unwanted wildlife and theft.
Instead of vegetation, crushed rock makes a much better ground cover around your outdoor unit since it never needs to be mowed. You can also use weed-blocking materials that will help prevent excessive weed growth throughout the year, which also helps eliminate invasive plants that may otherwise slow airflow through the condenser.
If you insist on using vegetation as a cover, it’s still a great idea to add some landscaping around your unit. Make sure to clear the ground around it before spreading the landscaping gravel. We suggest using bushes that won’t grow tall enough to drop leaves inside your unit as well as litter the ground with dead leaves, berries or fruit. When it’s time to prune the plants, be sure to clean up the debris afterwards to prevent it from collecting near your unit.
With Air Products & Services, we have a great AC troubleshooting system in the area, so you can be sure that your HVAC system is safely secured from the elements. Reach us at (818) 989-2030 or submit an online form. We serve Tarzana and surrounding areas in CA, so contact us today!