Outdoor Condenser Unit

AC Outdoor Condenser: Should You Cover It from Heat?


Your air conditioner’s external condenser unit is essential to cooling your house. Your AC’s settings determine its temperature. It takes warm air and cools it. So, many people might want to make the surroundings of their outdoor AC units as cool as possible.

The air around the outdoor unit can get quite warm, especially during the summer. Opinions differ on the value of shading the condenser unit.

Here are some reasons to cover your outdoor unit and to leave it uncovered.

Does your AC’s outdoor condenser unit need a cover?

As you might know, the outdoor unit’s condenser coils cool the air. The unit’s exterior is the only cover that these coils usually need. In other words, your outdoor unit already has its essential components covered. But many people might still shade the unit to keep the air around it cool.

Are you considering shading your AC’s outside unit? From what it seems, that would not be necessary, but you can still proceed. To shade the outdoor unit, you must do it a certain way. Otherwise, it might harm your AC’s performance instead of improving it.

How would shading your outdoor AC unit help you?

The main reason to shade the outdoor unit is to cool the air around it. This would help the condenser cool the air for your home. This is the main reason why people consider covering their outdoor AC units. But many do it in a way that will affect the appliance’s performance.

You can expect the following benefits by shading your outdoor condenser unit correctly:

  1. It Increases Your AC’s Efficiency

The latest AC models are quite efficient in cooling your home. But they might need to work more than usual on extremely hot days. Now that would affect their efficiency, and you can shade the outside unit to prevent that. Make sure to follow the right way to shade your outdoor unit, which we must see later on.

  1. Lowers cooling costs.

You might increase the cooling costs when the outdoor temperature is very high. After all, your AC needs more effort to cool your home in such conditions. Shading the outdoor unit can cut cooling costs in that case. It should also help keep your cooling costs reasonable year-round.

  1. Prevents Your Walls from Heating the Air

Brick walls can absorb heat and make the air around the exterior unit warm. You can shade the wall area around the outdoor unit to avoid that. So, you might need to set up a higher shade than you had planned. Most people end up shading only the outer condenser unit; you should avoid that mistake.

Can shading the outdoor condenser unit harm it?

Shading your AC’s outdoor unit will not necessarily have good results. So, you must ensure it is the right thing to do in your case. Beware of the following disadvantages of shading your outdoor condenser unit:

  1. It can reduce the airflow.

Shading often occupies the space near the outdoor unit, which restricts the airflow. Now, that might give you the opposite result of what you expected. So, you must take the necessary steps to ensure enough airflow to the outdoor unit. You must keep in mind that low airflow can reduce the condensing unit’s efficiency.

  1. It can raise the temperature around the condenser.

The condenser unit is also responsible for releasing warm air from your home. A shade can often act as an obstacle to your AC in performing this task. It might prevent the air that the condenser releases from moving as far away as possible. As a result, it would stay near the unit and raise the temperature around it.

What is the best way to shade your outdoor condenser unit?

Is your condenser unit placed on your home’s north side? Then, you would not need to shade it since it would remain cool during the day. If you still prefer to shade it, you must plant some trees or bushes near the unit. This will provide natural shade that is best for your outdoor condenser.

To grow tall trees for south-facing outdoor units, plant them 20 feet from windows and bushes. Plant trees taller than the windows. They will shade the unit and cool it, needing little effort to cool.

How to Protect Your AC Unit from Overheating?

Heat can cause significant damage to your AC, as it does with all appliances. You must protect your air conditioner during summer heat waves. You can also take various effective steps to prevent the overheating of your AC.

Try out the following ways to prevent your AC model from overworking:

  1. Run the AC only when required.

Do you leave your AC running even when it is not necessary? If yes, then you must consider turning it off until you need to use it. This can help you avoid overloading both your AC units, indoor and outdoor. Make sure to turn off the AC whenever your house is empty.

  1. Prevent the sun from heating your home.

The sun can heat your home to a great extent during the summer and increase the workload on your AC. So, you must take the necessary steps to prevent the sunlight from heating your home. Use your blinds or curtains, and consider getting heavy ones if required.

  1. Use fans to cool the air.

You must also consider using the fans in your home to keep out the heat. They can cool and circulate the air. They also help your air conditioner cool the room faster. This will help your AC unit operate at a higher efficiency and prevent overheating.

  1. Set a smart schedule for your AC

The latest AC models allow you to set a schedule with programmable thermostats. This helps prevent your air conditioner from overheating due to overwork. So, you must consider setting a smart schedule for your AC to start and stop at the appropriate times.

  1. Get regular professional AC maintenance.

Your AC unit will face various issues if you do not provide regular servicing. Call a technician for inspection whenever your AC faces any issues. Timely repairs can prevent complex issues. They can also keep your AC running for a long time. It will also maintain your AC’s efficiency and prevent overheating on it.

4 Signs of a Faulty Outdoor Condenser Unit

You must look out for any problems with the outdoor unit and fix them on time. Here are some common signs that your AC’s outdoor condenser needs a repair:

  1. Unusual Noises

Does your outdoor condenser unit sound strange while running? In that case, you must get it inspected, as it probably has an issue. Depending on the type of sound, it might indicate various problems with the unit. You usually need an expert to fix your AC’s outdoor condenser.

  1. Bad Cooling Performance

You must make sure that you have set the appropriate temperature on your thermostat. If the problem persists, get a thorough inspection of your outdoor condenser. Repairing the unit can significantly improve the cooling performance. This issue might indicate a refrigerant leak. You must call a technician without delay.

  1. Frozen Components

Do you find some parts of your outdoor condenser unit frozen? Then it might indicate a refrigerant leak, among other possible issues. So, you must immediately contact an AC technician if you face this problem. You will find the condenser performing better after you fix this issue.

  1. Electrical Problems

The outdoor unit might sometimes fail to start for various reasons. This is the most obvious sign of a faulty outdoor AC unit. In such situations, you might need to fix or replace the capacitor or wiring. In any case, you must only rely on a professional to resolve this issue.

Get expert help to fix an AC unit—call Urban Clap

Find a spot with good airflow and a cool temperature for your outdoor condenser unit. This will prevent many problems that you might have faced otherwise. Also, you must clean the area around the outdoor unit to maintain its performance. If it gets too hectic, please contact the UrbanClap experts. They have been fixing major to minor issues without any downtime.

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