You may have seen numerous pictures and ideas circulating around the internet with suggestions for “beautifying” and adding your own personal charm to your air conditioner.
While it may be tempting to consider one of these do-it-yourself projects, it’s not recommended to cover or fence-in your air conditioner as the unit won’t be able to breathe properly.
- Don’t fence me in. The outdoor component of your air conditioner is known as the condenser. In simple terms, it works by drawing outside air, cooling it off, and pushing it through your home via ductwork. Adding a fence around the unit will make it more difficult to draw in air. In turn, this can cause premature wear and tear on your system, leading to potentially expensive and more frequent breakdowns.
- Your condenser doesn’t need its own “home.” Leave at least 2 feet of open space around your condenser. This means that you shouldn’t cover the unit – not even during the winter months. You also shouldn’t try to build any type of roof over it. This will only obstruct proper air flow.
- The condenser doesn’t need to match the color of your siding. Never add a coat of paint to your condenser. There is a very good chance that you will accidentally get paint into the system and on the fan blades. While you may not be happy the unit doesn’t match the same shade as your siding, it’s really not worth the risk.
What can you do to make your condenser more aesthetically pleasing?
There is one thing that you can do to add some character to your outdoor unit, and that’s adding stepping stones around the system itself. This will make it easier for technicians who come to your home to maintain the unit. This way, they don’t need to step in or kneel on the muddy ground. Additionally, stonework around your AC will prevent mud splatter into the system when it rains.
So, while you may be “re-pinning” condenser-hiding and beautifying ideas on Pinterest, don’t try them! They can cause problems for your home’s comfort this spring and summer.