Enhance Landscaping Around Your AC System with These Seven Tips

Lots of homeowners are looking for the best central air conditioning these days, but the outdoor AC isn’t exactly the decorative centerpiece people enjoy having in their yard. Do you need a better sense of comfort indoors without spoiling the backyard with a big metal eyesore? Effective landscaping should do the trick.

With the right visual barriers, you can tuck away your AC unit and enhance your yard’s curb appeal. Just be aware that there’s a right way and a wrong way to approach AC unit landscaping. Recognizing the special considerations is crucial to keep your air conditioner running smoothly and efficiently.

1. Maintain Proper Plant Spacing

You’ll first want to ensure adequate spacing from the unit itself. Keeping plants at least 2 to 3 feet away from your unit is particularly important. Don’t forget, plants grow larger each year, so you should arrange shrubs 2 to 3 feet away once they reach maturity.

This spacing ensures your AC system has adequate airflow to “breathe”, a requirement for efficient heat exchange and efficient operation. Ample clearance also avoids the risk of stressing your AC, which could lead to more failures and a shorter service life.

2. Provide Shade

Even the high summer temperatures feel tolerable when you step into the shade. You’re not the only one who appreciates the relief—your air conditioner also performs better in the shade.

Whenever possible, position the unit on the north side of your home so it’s in consistent 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 restricting airflow. Then, remember to regularly clear debris to keep debris from clogging the condenser.

3. Shield Your AC with Windbreaks

Placing windbreaks into your AC unit landscaping strategy protects the air conditioner from severe weather. Evergreens are ideal because they keep their leaves even in winter. Some excellent choices for evergreen windbreaks include boxwood, junipers and Arborvitae.

If planted the right distance apart, your shrubs create a dense barrier that shields your AC unit from strong winds and blowing debris. Just double check that your windbreak is planted far enough away to preserve that 2 to 3 feet of clearance as the plants grow.

4. Use Large Potted Plants for Adaptability

If you’re worried about shrubs overgrowing around the air conditioner as they mature, try an alternative approach with large plants in containers. As long as they’re large enough, the pots and plants can easily cover the AC while contributing to a cooler yard. These decorative, movable elements help you to modify the surroundings based on the time of year or as you try new looks. It’s also easy to move the pots a bit if the plants are getting especially full or keep them out of the way during servicing.

5. Use a Trellis, Screen or Lattice Cover

Not all solutions for covering your AC system need to be entirely made from nature itself. If you are short on space or worry about plants dying, try these alternatives:

• Set up a portable screen to conceal it while ensuring the necessary ventilation. Check it has a gate or detachable section for convenient access.
• Build a trellis around the outdoor cabinet and grow climbing plants for a ‘green’ screen that adds beauty and shade. Just make sure the vegetation doesn’t block airflow.
• Add a decorative lattice for a stylish cover that combines the aesthetics of a trellis with the functionality of a screen. Refrain from adding a top cover, or that will impede airflow.

6. Create a Gravel Garden

For a low-maintenance landscape solution, a gravel garden could be ideal. A gravel garden involves keeping the AC unit on a raised concrete platform surrounded by gravel interspersed with gardens of hardy plants for extra color and life. The rewards are clear: less lawn to mow, fewer weeds to pull and an attractive finished look that reduces maintenance all year.

7. Remember to Maintain Access

No matter the landscaping choices you make, access to your AC unit must remain unobstructed. After all, preventive maintenance and repairs foster HVAC longevity and efficiency. Design your landscaping so maintenance technicians can easily get to the air conditioner, which means not planting anything on one or two sides. This thoughtful detail will help your air conditioner function at its peak for years to come.

Request Fast, Expert AC Services

With your landscaping plans figured out, you can get back to the air conditioner itself. If the unit is not performing well or it’s been a while since your last maintenance visit, call Olympic Aire. Our ACE-certified technicians provide prompt, effective and lasting results to all your climate control problems. For Expert service that matches our reputation, please contact us today.