If your home is your “castle,” or “where your heart is”… [insert other cliche here]… you certainly want it to be comfortable—and that’s why you had a central A/C unit installed. But does comfort have to come at the cost of your curb appeal? You can incorporate your air conditioner into your landscaping theme and still get great performance (or even improve it) with a few simple tips.
Air… for Air Conditioning
Your central air conditioner must be able to take in and exhaust air for it to function properly, efficiently, and safely (especially preventing overheating). Be sure that all landscaping, including plants or shrubs and hardware, like trellises and screens, allow adequate breathing room and air circulation. Allow 2-3 feet of clearance on all sides of the air conditioning unit.
Gimme Shelter
The greatest benefit to landscaping around your air conditioner isn’t just aesthetic—it’s providing shade for the unit, which actually helps it perform better. Beautifying your property’s appearance is a bonus. When your air conditioner is shaded, it has a lower outside temperature to overcome than if it remained in full sun exposure, so it doesn’t work as hard to keep you cool and comfortable inside.
Choose Wisely
Make landscaping selections that will be easy to maintain and won’t cause their own problems down the road. Work with your landscaper or garden center to choose plants that don’t drop their leaves or other plant material, and avoid plants that creep horizontally (while vines that climb trellises installed as surrounds could be an effective and attractive option). Also choose pressure-treated or synthetic (plastic, vinyl) materials for fencing and lattice that will have a long lifespan and resist rot. And since water and electricity do not mix, provide adequate drainage around any plants to avoid pooling near the A/C unit.
Clean and Protect
Finally, just as you maintain all your home’s landscaping, keep greenery trimmed and screening cleaned (be careful with power washing around your A/C unit, though!). Use caution with shrubbery tools and grooming gear (you did give yourself that 2-3’ clearance, right?). Keep debris out the air conditioner itself, and add a professional maintenance schedule to your calendar.
Staying comfortable inside your home shouldn’t require an exterior eyesore. Simple, thoughtful landscaping is easy and effective—and might make others wonder just where all that refreshing cool air is even coming from!
Need some ideas? Check out the creative handiwork of Pinterest users!
