Create Great Landscaping Around Your AC System with These Seven Tips

Lots of homeowners want efficient central air conditioning for their homes, but the AC’s outdoor cabinet isn’t exactly the decorative centerpiece people like having in their yard. Do you need a more comfortable home without spoiling the backyard with a big metal box? Effective landscaping should do the trick.

With the right plants or hardscaping, you can tuck away your AC unit and enhance your yard’s appeal. Just be aware that there’s a right way and a wrong way to approach AC unit landscaping. Understanding the difference is crucial to maintain optimal AC performance.

Implement Windbreaks for AC Protection

Using windbreaks into your AC unit landscaping strategy protects the air conditioner from severe weather. Evergreens are particularly effective since they keep their leaves even in winter. A few popular species for evergreen windbreaks include boxwood, junipers and Arborvitae.

When planted the proper distance apart, your shrubs 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.

Create Shaded Areas

Even the scorching summer heat feels bearable when you step into the shade. You’re not the only one who notices this difference—your air conditioner also performs better in the shade.

When doable, place the AC on the north side of your home so it’s in constant shadow. If that’s not an option, use tall trees 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.

Arrange Plants Correctly

You’ll first want to maintain proper clearance from the unit itself. Clearing plants at least 2 to 3 feet away from the cabinet is essential. As you know, plants grow larger every year, so you should arrange shrubs 2 to 3 feet away once they reach maturity.

Spacing plants 2 to 3 feet away ensures the AC has enough clearance for air circulation, a requirement for efficient heat exchange and optimal climate control. Adequate spacing also limits straining your system, which could lead to more malfunctions and a shorter life span.

Use Large Potted Plants for Adaptability

If you don’t want the bushes and shrubs encroaching on the AC unit as the years go by, try an alternative approach with large plants in containers. As long as they’re large enough, the pots and plants will easily conceal the air conditioner while contributing to a cooler yard. These attractive, easily rearranged elements allow you to modify the surroundings based on the time of year or as you try new looks. It’s just as simple to shift the pots slightly if the plants get too big or keep them out of the way during servicing.

Try a Gravel Garden

For a low-maintenance landscape solution, a gravel garden could be ideal. 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 extra 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.

Remember to Maintain Access

Whatever landscaping choices you make, easy access to your AC unit must remain clear. After all, preventive maintenance and repairs are vital for HVAC longevity and efficiency. Build up your home’s landscaping so service technicians can easily get to the air conditioner, which means not planting anything on either side. Taking this care will help your air conditioner function at its peak for years to come.

Use a Trellis, Screen or Lattice Cover

Not all solutions for covering your AC system need to be entirely from Mother Nature herself. If you don’t have much room to work with or don’t want to deal with plant upkeep, try these alternatives:

• Place a freestanding screen to hide your AC while maintaining necessary air circulation. Make sure it has a door or easily removed part for convenient access.

• Build a trellis around the outdoor cabinet and grow climbing or vining plants for a natural screen that offers visual appeal and natural shade. Just make sure the vegetation doesn’t restrict airflow.

• Install a lattice box 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 restrict circulation.

Schedule Your Professional Air Conditioning Services

With your landscaping plans figured out, you can focus on the air conditioner itself. If the unit is acting up or it’s been a while since your last maintenance visit, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. Our ACE-certified technicians provide prompt, effective and lasting results to all your comfort challenges. For Expert service that meets our high standards, please contact us today.