|
 Q: My neighbor
told me that I should cut back the trees and bushes around my central
air unit because they could damage it. I have always heard that AC units
should be well-shaded from the sun to prevent damage, and trees are the
best natural shade. What do you say? - Tracy D.
A: I say you're both right - but the devil is in the details.
Your outside cooling unit - typical for central air conditioning - works
best when it doesn't have to labor against the direct heat of a hot
summer sun. Putting walls and a roof around the unit is impractical and
can cause the it to overheat (in addition to other venting issues), so
sitting outside is optimum.
Because of this, you're right - trees and shrubbery can create the best
shade, allowing air to flow around the unit while blocking the direct
rays of the sun.
However, an air conditioning unit has several vents and intakes built
into it. Outdoor units can handle temporary issues like rain. But when
solid objects get through the vents, big problems can occur. The most
common problem with outdoor units is caused by leaves, twigs or related
debris getting inside the unit and damaging moving parts. So, with that
in mind, your neighbor is right.
How can you compromise between these two opposites? Keep the trees and
shrubs, but prune the shrubs well back from the air conditioning unit -
about 6 inches to a foot - and have a tree-trimming service thin out the
branches of the surrounding shade trees (normal tree maintenance should
be fine).
Three to four times a year - or once a month if you're using the air
conditioning every day for a prolonged period - check the outside unit
and clear away fallen leaves, cobwebs and other debris from the top and
sides (turn the unit off before doing this).
HOME TIP: Central air conditioning units need good airflow to work
properly, but also need to be shaded from the sun.
|
