Upgrade Landscaping Around Your AC System with These Seven Tips

Lots of homeowners prefer central air conditioning for their HVAC system, but the AC’s outdoor cabinet isn’t exactly the decorative centerpiece people like having in their yard. Are you looking for a cool, comfortable interior without spoiling the backyard with a big metal eyesore? Thoughtful landscaping makes a big difference.

With the right visual barriers, you can tuck away your AC unit and boost your yard’s aesthetic. But try and remember that there’s a right way and a wrong way to approach AC unit landscaping. Understanding the difference is crucial to ensure efficient AC operation.

Using Windbreaks to Protect Your AC Unit

Incorporating windbreaks into your AC unit landscaping strategy protects the air conditioner from severe weather. Evergreens work best as they keep their leaves through the winter. A few popular choices for evergreen windbreaks include boxwood, junipers and Arborvitae.

If planted the right distance apart, these plants create a dense barrier that protects the AC from high winds and flying debris. Just make sure your windbreak sits far enough back to maintain the 2 to 3 feet of clearance as the shrubs grow.

Ensure Shade

Even the hottest summer weather feels tolerable when you step into the shade. You’re not the only one who feels the change—your air conditioner also performs better in the shade.

When doable, position the unit on the north side of your home so it’s in perpetual shade. If that’s not an option, use privacy hedges to your advantage. Just avoid placing plants directly over the unit. Maintaining vertical clearance of 5 to 6 feet prevents blocking air circulation. Then, remember to regularly clear debris to keep debris from clogging the condenser.

Space Plants Properly

It’s a good start to keep enough distance from the unit itself. Moving the plants at least 2 to 3 feet away from the AC is essential. Remember, plants continue to grow every summer, so you should place shrubs 2 to 3 feet away as soon as they mature.

Spacing plants 2 to 3 feet away ensures your AC system has sufficient clearance for air circulation, a requirement for efficient heat exchange and efficient operation. Sufficient spacing also prevents straining your system, which could lead to more failures and a shorter life span.

Use Large Potted Plants for Adaptability

If you don’t want the bushes and shrubs overgrowing around the air conditioner as get bigger, opt for large potted plants. As long as the pot is big enough, the pots and plants will easily hide your AC unit while contributing to a cooler yard. These attractive, movable elements enable you to change the landscaping according to the season or as your aesthetic changes. It’s also easy to adjust the placement if the plants are getting big or relocate them while maintenance is being done.

Implement a Gravel Garden

For a more manageable landscape solution, a gravel garden is another great choice. This kind of garden involves keeping the AC unit on a concrete pad surrounded by gravel interspersed with mulched beds of hardy, drought-tolerant plants for even more color and life. The benefits for your yard are clear: less lawn to mow, fewer weeds to pull and an enhanced look that simplifies your gardening chores all year.

Ensure Easy Access

No matter the landscaping choices you make, easy access to your outdoor AC cabinet must remain clear. After all, routine maintenance and repairs foster HVAC longevity and efficiency. Design your landscaping so technicians can easily get to the air conditioner, which means not planting anything on either side. Keeping this in mind will help your air conditioner function at its peak for as long as possible.

Incorporate a Trellis, Screen or Lattice

Not all solutions for covering your AC system need to be entirely made from nature itself. If you are short on space or don’t want to deal with plant upkeep, try these alternatives:

• Install a portable screen to hide your AC while preserving necessary ventilation. Make sure it has a door or removable panel for convenient access.

• Install a trellis around the unit and grow climbing plants for a natural screen that offers visual appeal and natural shade. Just make sure the vegetation doesn’t restrict airflow.

• Add a decorative lattice for a decorative solution that can blend the aesthetics of a trellis with the functionality of a screen. Refrain from adding a top cover, or that will restrict circulation.

Request Fast, Expert AC Services

With your landscaping plans in place, you can focus on the air conditioner itself. If the unit is malfunctioning or it’s been a while since your last maintenance visit, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. Our ACE-certified technicians provide fast, effective and long-lasting solutions to all your comfort challenges. For Expert service that lives up to our name, please contact us today.