Protecting AC outdoor unit from sunlight is one of the most frequently asked questions by the air conditioner user. Most people realize that their air conditioner begins to work less and offers poor performance in the hot summer months.
No doubt, the performance and the cooling quality of the air conditioner are affected by many factors, but sunlight is considered the primary factor in the summer days, that is why people need to know efficient methods to protect the unit.
Different people suggest different solutions to resolve this issue, but we have concluded some of the best and experts’ choice methods to help the user deal with the sunlight in the best way possible. Try to implement the solutions while installing the air conditioner unit, but if you have an installed unit, take extra precautions to protect them from sunlight.
Things to consider before installing the air conditioner
Before installing the air conditioner in your home or office, considering the safety precautions is necessary. Taking the services of a specialist will give you all the necessary information about the installation process and better protection of the unit. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner can cause many issues if not installed or protected properly. Most of the problems that occur in AC’s performance are just because of its outdoor unit.
Usually, people install their outdoor unit on a roof or a wall directly under the sunlight, this should be avoided at all costs. Place the unit at a shady or covered place and a balcony is one of the best places for it. Recently we published a full guide in regards to how to hide air conditioner unit on balcony. Please read it and thanks us later.
Air conditioner’s condenser covers have shown a lot of decrease in prices which is a great thing for the people who are considering the protection of their AC.
There are plenty of methods that can be applied to protect the air conditioner from sunlight and other weather condition but some of the best options are described below, including:
- Shading the Air Conditioner Unit
- Cover the Air Conditioner with an Awning
- Install a Wood Lattice around the Air Conditioner
- Pick a Location near the Plants or Trees
Shading the air conditioner unit
Covering the air conditioner unit is the easiest, common, and efficient solution to protect the outdoor unit from sunlight that can lead to lowering down the cooling efficiency. The best thing about this solution is that it can be implemented anywhere regardless of the unit’s location. Putting a shade on the unit will not only protect the air conditioner from direct sunlight but help in keeping it less warm and allowing the compressor to cool up a place in the minimum time.
The shading above the outdoor unit will keep the fresh air around the compressor, this air will play a vital role in cooling during the summer days. As a bonus, shading will also protect the air conditioner during heavy rain or storm preventing the water from entering the unit and causing damages. In a nutshell, covering the unit is an essential factor and should be included in the installation procedure to have an amazing experience with better results.
Cover the air conditioner with an awning
An awning is one of the widely used things in summers for different types of locations. This could also be a great solution to protect your AC unit from sunlight. The awning may be a bit expensive but it can bring long-lasting and efficient results.
Placing an awning above the air conditioner unit means that you will not have to worry about anything no matter if it is raining outside or the sun is slapping the heat down on the earth. You can enjoy a cooling environment inside your room without any stress or effort.
Install a wood lattice around the air conditioner
Installing the timber lattice around the AC unit is a beneficial technique. You will only have to buy lattice from the market and install it with the ground. It should be installed at a minimum distance of 3-5 feet from the unit so that it doesn’t block the air because blockage of the air can result in heating the compressor to a great extent.
For better results, it is recommended to attach some pants to the lattice because they will add charm to the place and provide the air conditioner with fresh and cool air. Make sure that you buy the lattice of quality material, this could be expensive but its easy installation and amazing benefits make it one of the best-recommended options.
Pick a location near the plants or trees
Everyone knows that plants and trees are the best solutions that can beat the heat of summer days and provide the environment with a much cooler atmosphere. Just like trees can fight the environmental heat, they can help you to protect your air conditioner as well. Planting the trees near the air conditioner will block the direct sunlight and their shade will keep the place cooler.
The cool air around the air conditioner unit will allow the compressor to work more efficiently and provide the best cooling results. The trees should be tall enough that they can block the sunlight for the whole day. No doubt this solution cannot be implemented in days, therefore you should consider plating a few trees whenever you start the construction work.
The Bottom Lines
We have included all the best methods that can be used to protect the air conditioner from sunlight. You can pick any of the above-mentioned options that suit you the most and bring you the best results. Make sure that you consider the factor of protecting the air conditioner unit before installing it because it will allow you to implement the solution in a much better way.
Make sure that you take help from an experienced and highly skilled technician to pick the best location in your house for installing an air conditioning unit. In this way, you can get extra benefits from the air conditioner and can enjoy its amazing performance for a relatively long time.
