Your air conditioner is a fundamental part of your luxury house, but it’s not something you want to be in the spotlight. Most of us would prefer to conceal the air conditioner.
Having unsightly air conditioning equipment cluttering your patio or destroying your carefully built interior can be humiliating.
We have a few solutions for hiding your air conditioner outside. Hiding your air conditioner outside is a terrific opportunity to show off your creativity while improving your home’s look.
You can hide your AC unit outside by making a wood box with trellis sections on the sides and attaching it to the outside of the unit’s window. Then, if you want to add a glaze of nature, use the same trellis box and place an array of artificial plants inside the top edge to disguise the air conditioner.
Can You Hide Air Conditioner Unit Outside?
Yes, keep in mind that AC units require room to breathe. It needs to release a lot of generated heat because it works so hard to keep the inside of your house cool. For this reason, the metal casings of air conditioning units are perforated.
Take that into account when placing any cover or impediment near your equipment. Also, check the manufacturer’s suggested distances for any enclosure to be safe.
Remember that a happy air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard when constructing your new home for a new system. One approach to achieve this is to build your home with energy-efficient features that decrease your dependency on air conditioning and allow you to keep as much cool air inside as possible.
Two rules in mind when looking for ways to conceal your unit:
Maintain accessibility– You want to ensure that a repair person can get to the unit to conduct repairs or perform routine maintenance. So whatever construction you build there can’t be permanent and can’t be removed or accessed.
Keep it Vented – Make sure there’s plenty of airflow around the air conditioner by keeping it vented. The primary goal of the air conditioner is to suck hot air out of the house, so you don’t want to make it more difficult for it to accomplish its job.
How To Hide Air Conditioner Unit Outside?
If you live in the United States and have outside space, you probably don’t want an unsightly condensing unit to damage the aesthetics.
So instead, try one of these clever AC-hiding ideas: your guests will never know it’s there.
1. Use an AC Enclosure with Good Ventilation
Using a wooden box to conceal your window air conditioner outside is a simple but efficient solution. You can buy a ready-made enclosure or create one yourself.
You’ll only need some wooden planks, a hammer, and nails; your enclosure will be ready in a few hours.
For a clean finish, use L-brackets to secure the cover to the wall. Each side will require one L-bracket. After that, screw them into the cover’s frame and the wall.
Remember to provide room between boards so the air conditioner doesn’t suffocate and appropriate ventilation is maintained when making the cover.
2. Consider Combining a Lattice Screen and a Mini-Garden.
Even if you don’t mind the unsightly window unit, the lattice screen and the mini-garden combination will make you consider covering it.
Purchase a lattice screen that matches the size of your air conditioner, or make one yourself. For this procedure, you’ll need to install a wooden plank on top of the screen to fit the plants.
Keep the screen a safe distance away from the air conditioner. Then, to create a lovely mini-garden, place tiny planters on top with succulents, cacti, or blooming plants.
3. Shrubs Can Help You Hide It
Consider hiding your unit with plants to provide a touch of greenery. Only tall window air conditioners will function here because they are much taller than other units.
Some tall, evergreen types include Scarlet Peak Holly and Blue Point Juniper. Plant them along the edges of your window unit, and their dark green foliage will hide your air conditioner perfectly.
When planting shrubs, remember that they shouldn’t be planted too close together because they can obstruct the operation of your air conditioner. Excess heat might also cause their leaves to burn.
4. Build a Plant Wall
A plant wall is a terrific method to improve your outdoor space’s look while hiding the large window AC unit.
Wooden boards construct the wall, adding little boxes to house the plants. DIYing this wall may be a lot of effort, but it can be a fun weekend project with friends and family.
Just make sure you choose robust plants that can withstand the heat generated by your window air conditioner.
5. Conceal Your Unit with a Flower Box
Adding elegance and hiding this eyesore by enclosing the exterior part of your window AC in a flower box. You can use natural or imitation flowers, depending on your desire.
When using flowering plants, remember that they will require watering and fertilization, and not all species can withstand heat. Purple coneflower, zinnia, and butterfly weed are examples of heat-tolerant plants.
6. Make a Lounge in the Backyard
Place metal panels in front of the window where the AC is put to complete the configuration. Make sure you provide enough room for airflow.
Then, to create a pleasant atmosphere, bring some pillows inside, add some plants, and hang some beautiful lights.
Guests will not notice an unsightly window air conditioner hidden behind the lovely setup when throwing a patio party.
7. Choose a Canvas Sleeve
If you only use your window air conditioner in the summer, consider covering it entirely in the winter. An air conditioner cover can help protect your unit from snow melting and causing moisture buildup during the winter.
In addition, small particles and gravel stones can enter the system during large storms and hailstorms, causing damage to various AC components.
When shopping for a sleeve, consider one composed of absorbent material to avoid moisture buildup inside the cover.
In addition, search for a surface that can protect you from rain, wind, and debris. UV-treated sleeves are also available, which means the color won’t fade, and the material won’t grow brittle when exposed to sunshine.
Choose a cover with bright patterns and motifs if you don’t like the look of a plain one. If you use a window heat pump all year, this method will be inconvenient.
8. Choose a Shutter Screen
An old shutter screen can conceal an unsightly window air conditioner. Consider painting the old screen and giving it a fresh look to make it worthwhile. Depending on the rest of your outdoor decor, you can opt for a rustic style or paint it in bright colors.
If you choose this alternative, ensure the slates do not obstruct airflow and have enough space between each screen slate.
9. Make Use of an Iron Case
It’s fantastic to choose a DIY solution to disguise the AC; however, not all homes have the time or energy to do it, especially if it involves plants. Shrubs and flowering plants necessitate daily attention, which can be time-consuming.
Iron cases are ideal if you only need anything for a short period. This is because it can successfully hide the bulky and unsightly window unit on the exterior. It also has the appearance of a small balcony and plenty of space for airflow, ensuring that the air conditioning is not disrupted.
The iron window cover is strong and fits around your window. Some are coated to boost their longevity and protect them from the elements and UV rays.
10. Construct a Mini-House
A miniature cottage is a charming addition to any landscape. When made around your window air conditioner, it can also conceal it.
A house with a slanting roof type might help your unit slide off the snow during the winter and minimize moisture buildup.
Acknowledging that the house should be simple to remove for upkeep is essential.
Hiding your window air conditioner both inside and outside can allow you to showcase your creative abilities while also maintaining your home’s attractiveness. So, pick a solution that matches your decor, and have fun hiding the giant box.
Can You Enclose an Air Conditioner Unit?
Of course, you can enclose your air conditioner unit to protect it from the elements and reduce the noise output.
According to some estimates, beautiful landscaping can increase the resale value of your property by as much as 28%.
You not only draw the attention of potential buyers when you carefully plant trees, add lights, and create stone paths, but you also lower utility costs, boost security and reduce liability.
You must look at your yard and garden to get the greatest out of your investment. Any features that don’t contribute to the flow and elegance of your home may hinder rather than enhance your resale value.
How Much Clearance Do You Need Around an Air Conditioner?
A common rule of thumb is that each side of your air conditioner should have at least one foot or 12 (twelve) inches of clearance. Your air conditioner’s manufacturer may have particular clearance specifications, but it’s usually between 12 and 24 inches.
According to most manufacturers, plants should not be closer than 18 inches to your outside unit. We recommend a two-foot clearance around the apparatus and a five-foot above it.
Covering the top of the unit reduces efficiency and raises the area’s temperature around it.
Your air conditioner needs enough space to circulate air in and out and proper clearance on either side.
If you don’t offer the air conditioner with a good vertical support, you risk placing it under unnecessary stress and increasing the odds of needing air conditioner repair.
Can AC Outdoor Unit Be Installed In a Room?
It’ll be alright if the exhaust from the outdoor unit does not enter the indoors. However, long periods of continuous operation can cause the exhaust air to impact the room’s temperature.
The external unit can be installed on a balcony, on a roof, or the sides of a building. All solutions are equally good as long as there is no restriction on ventilation, enough space is available, and the device is serviceable.
