Sun exposure also raises the surface temperature of your condenser unit (the outdoor portion of AC), which makes the inside of the unit hotter. In return, the condenser has difficulty releasing heat from the building or providing cool refrigerant to the air handler inside the building.
Plant at least two or three trees on the side of your house where your AC is located. For example, a six- to the eight-foot-tall deciduous tree will provide shade for your unit within a year of planting it. Plant a series of low-growing bushes and shrubs around the condenser, but not too close.
The fact that sunlight also forces the condenser unit to work harder also means that it leads to increased wear and tear on the unit. This can result in more frequent repairs and also shorten the lifespan of your AC system.
No, the outdoor units don't need to be covered up with the possible exception of if you have a dog that has made a habit of taking a leak on it, which will cause greatly accelerated corrosion of the coils, reducing capacity and efficiency and leading to tubing leaks in some cases.
Impact Of Sunlight On Your AC
Due to that strain, your system has to work twice as hard to maintain indoor cooling efficiency, affecting your home's temperature. Sun exposure also raises the surface temperature of your condenser unit (the outdoor portion of AC), which makes the inside of the unit hotter.
You should never cover your outdoor air conditioning unit during the summer when it's in peak use. While some think this will help protect the unit or lead to energy savings, it will do neither. The outdoor condenser is designed to endure elements like water and heat.
Scientists have long known that when common pollutants from traffic exhaust get cooked by the sun, they get transformed into ozone and particulates, two “secondary” pollutants that are harmful to human health.
When temperatures outside become higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the air conditioning system can consume more energy and begin to malfunction or fail. Most air conditioning systems are designed to function with outside temperatures of 100 degrees or less.
Extend the Life of Your AC
Shading your unit helps protect it from heat, light, and moisture and can even help reduce your energy bill by allowing the unit to run less frequently. Plus, the dust and debris that can get into an unprotected outdoor AC unit can cause frequent breakdowns and increased wear and tear.
Heating mode, often indicated by a sun symbol, reverses the cooling process to warm your room. This hot air conditioner symbol extracts heat from the outside air and transfers it indoors, making it ideal for cold weather. Set your desired temperature, usually between 20-24°C, to maintain a comfortable environment.
Cooling your home to 78 degrees rather than 72 degrees can cut your electricity bill by more than 25% in summer.
In short, you should never cover your outdoor AC unit. It invites further problems, and it does nothing to protect a unit that already does a good job of protecting itself.
So how do you clean your outside AC unit? The good news is that you absolutely can spray water on your air conditioner if it needs a cleaning, and nothing bad will happen. Spraying water on your AC's condenser also helps it run more efficiently.
Use Preventive Shading Over Your Outdoor Unit
The outdoor unit of an AC is sturdily built to withstand extreme temperature variations. Still, a protective shade over the outdoor unit can prevent it from bird droppings, stains, and other effects of heat.
Most of Earth's energy comes from the Sun. Shortwave solar radiation that's absorbed by Earth's surface or atmosphere is re-radiated it as longwave, infrared radiation, also known as heat. The more solar radiation is absorbed, the more heat is re-radiated and the temperature of the atmosphere goes up.
The sun's ultraviolet C wave is the one that produces the light that is nature's own sterilizer – perfect for cleansing the air.
But artificial light at night (ALAN) also interacts with the air itself, changing its chemistry. Those changes can reduce air quality and impact public health.
Plant shrubs or trees
Wondering how to protect AC outdoor units from sunlight? Plant trees or shrubs around your air conditioner to provide more natural shade. Choose trees or shrubs with thick, broad leaves that can withstand the climate in your area.
COVERS HOLD MOISTURE AND CAUSE MOLD
With a cover on you will trap what moisture is in your unit and over time this will mold. This moisture can also cause rust in your air conditioner.
Instead, look for breathable, weather-resistant fabrics and covers with mesh ventilation to ensure optimum airflow. For air conditioner privacy screens, choose weather-resistant materials such as PVC or rot-resistant woods like cedar and acacia.
Direct sunlight can have a profound impact on the performance and efficiency of your AC unit, leading to higher energy bills, accelerated wear and tear, and even potential breakdowns.
According to researcher Danny Parker from the Florida Solar Energy Center, who performed a two-year energy study, shading the unit provides “minuscule results at best” with efficiency being increased less than half a percent. While you may wish to cover your condenser since let's face it – they aren't very stylish!
Ideally, the AC unit should cool your home when the temperatures get high. However, when the outdoor temperature reaches 95 F to 100 F, the unit starts getting overworked, and this can cause problems. Your air conditioner might also start malfunctioning, as it is overworking and consuming a lot of energy.