Many homeowners are looking for ways to hide their air conditioners and make their yards more neat. Some people even go as far as having a hidden room or false walls in order to house the unit. Learn how you can install an AC unit outside in your yard without sacrificing aesthetics, but still getting great cooling results!
The “how to hide ac unit outside” is a question that has been asked many times. It is important to note that it is not always possible to hide an air conditioner unit outside for a neat yard, but there are ways to make it look like the AC is inside.
Whether you reside in a warmer or colder region of the nation, having an HVAC system is a must. But, let’s be honest, let’s face it. The compressor isn’t the most appealing feature in your yard. As a result, learning how to conceal an air conditioner unit outdoors is critical for removing clutter and superfluous features from your landscape.
When it comes to dealing with this eyesore, you’re up against two obstacles. First and foremost, whatever solution you choose should not obstruct the free flow of air around the device. That’s because the outdoor part of a split HVAC system, the air compressor, needs to release the heat that the refrigerant has captured from your home’s interior into the environment.
Second, you can’t simply put it in a box and forget about it. Routine maintenance, which you or your service representative will do, requires easy access. It is also required for repairs. A heating and cooling system is not indestructible. You may expect to live for roughly 20 years, plus or minus ten years. As a result, if your camouflage is in the way of replacing the unit, make it simple to go past or break down.
Contents
Step 1: Take a look at the terrain.
When figuring out how to conceal an air conditioner unit outdoors, this step might save you a lot of money. Instead of enclosing the complete machine, you may simply need to install a screen. Consider how you utilize your yard and who will see the air compressor: you or guests. If visitors only see it as they enter your backyard, you may just need to cover one side.
Keep in mind that the compressor is very certainly near to your home. It may offer the screen on one side while you figure out what to do with the other.
Additionally, consider it a chance to add another ornamental feature to your landscape. It’s not necessary to make it evident that anything is hidden beyond the visual barrier. Make it a part of the broader design instead.
Step 2: Calculate the Area to Be Covered
As previously stated, air circulation is essential. We recommend a minimum of 12 to 24 inches all around the device. If you’re not covering three or four sides, you have considerable leeway. Consider the common wind patterns to determine how much area you’ll need and how you’ll need to put up your screen.
Consider what angle you’ll need to conceal the device from. If guests will be passing by the air conditioner on their way to other sections of your yard, you’ll want to think about the vertical profile as well. This will need a 6-foot-tall screen. Otherwise, all you have to do is cover it up to the top with a few additional inches to sufficiently conceal it.
Step 3: Evaluate Your Alternatives
This preparation will provide you with the information you need to narrow down your options. To begin with, there is no need for a full wall to surround the air compressor. Both shelter and ventilation are provided by lattice or slatted frames. You may also utilize fence pieces with ornamental elements to make it seem less practical.
Other materials to think about are:
- Pallets
- Trellis
- Hazel makes a decision.
- Blocks of cement
- Screen made of bamboo
- Patio paving stones
- Fencing made of willow
- Plants in pots
It isn’t necessary for it to be just a screen. You may use it as a planter, a garden seat, or storage if you make it practical. We recommend thinking beyond the box since it will provide another layer of camouflage. Many of the design features that may be used to generate seclusion can also be used for this purpose.
Another alternative is to go to an antique shop and reuse an old door, window shutters, or a room screen. It will draw attention to your answer and provide some curiosity. After all, nobody said it had to be dull.
Consider the weight of the plants while installing your screen if you choose a trellis or latticework with vines. Don’t be tempted to plant a fast-growing, invasive species that will quickly outgrow the place.
Instead of a blooming deciduous vine, we recommend opting with an evergreen vine like English ivy or purple wintercreeper to keep the air conditioner covered all year.
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Hiding Your Air Conditioner Unit with Live Plants
Alternatively, you may disguise the AC unit with bushes while also contributing to your landscape. Arborvitae and other plants with a slimmer profile are ideal possibilities. They’ll provide you the year-round protection you need without being intrusive. Make sure the plants have enough of space next to the compressor.
To guarantee enough ventilation, you must also keep up with basic maintenance such as trimming. Clean the area between the shrubbery and the air conditioner, removing any dead leaves or other material that might obstruct its operation. Allow enough room around it so you can easily reach it.
When Using Other Materials, Keep These Things in Mind
If you go with something plain like cedar panels or pallet wood, you’ll have to paint it every year or two to keep it from looking dingy. Furthermore, certain materials, such as lattice, are not as durable as solid wood. That indicates your solution could only be temporary. Keep this in mind while selecting a material to work with.
Step 4: If You Want to Dig, Do Your Homework
More than likely, you’ll need to get a shovel and anchor the screen into the ground in some way so that it can withstand the wind and remain erect. Depending on the lay of the land, it may be a powerful force, since its proximity to your home could lead it to spin and develop strength. Whether you’re planting bushes or installing a lattice screen, you’ll have to dig.
There is, however, one precaution you must take.
Call 811 to get the area surrounding the air conditioner marked for lines and wiring by your local utility provider. Some are more accessible than you would expect. Also, particularly if it’s an older home, be sure to leave some wiggle area around the markers. After all, the previous owners are likely to have modified the landscape and yard around the house.
You won’t require a construction permit as long as your screen isn’t enclosed and isn’t too large. It’s not a bad idea to contact your municipal planning office just to be safe.
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Step 5: Collect your supplies
The next step is to gather the necessary materials and hardware for installing the screen. At this moment, you have two choices. You have the option of using ready-made materials or making your own.
The benefits of the former are that it saves you time and effort. The job may be completed in an afternoon. On the other hand, you’ll almost certainly pay extra for the convenience. However, you are not constructing a massive construction. You could discover that the savings in time and labor justify the extra cost.
The advantages of the latter include the opportunity to personalize it to your requirements as well as additional applications if you want to add other pieces such as window boxes or a vine trellis. Keep in mind that depending on how detailed your strategy is, you may need extra tools. It may also cause your project to take longer.
You may need the following supplies and tools:
- Measurement tape
- Hammer
- Level
- square of speed
- Saw
- Hardware
If this is a new installation, you’ll also need the materials for a platform to place the unit on. It’s usually a concrete slab that can support the compressor’s weight as well as the heat it creates. While you’re thinking about the remainder of the unit, consider extending your screen down to cover the platform, or at the very least painting it to blend in.
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Install Your Screen in Step 6
The nicest part about this DIY project is that you can change it up to your liking. If you notice that you’re seeing more of the air compressor than you’d like, consider it a work in progress. You may even perform a test run by putting things in temporary locations to make sure it’s working before committing to the final location.
It’s a good alternative for hiding an air conditioner unit outdoors since it causes you to think about all angles and how people access and utilize your yard. You can also utilize it to create a feature by diverting attention away from your screen and into the supporting objects.
To get the most out of the design, we recommend incorporating it into your landscaping motif. If you have a rural garden, for example, consider utilizing a trellis with vines to maintain the natural aspect. Because of the heat produced by the compressor, you may need to give any plants a wider berth.
Last Thoughts
If you want the comfort and convenience of an HVAC, you’ll need an outside air compressor. You don’t have to put up with this unattractive device, however. You may hide it in a variety of ways so that it doesn’t distract from the atmosphere of your landscape.
The most important elements to keep in mind are access and circulation. As long as these two points are addressed, you can create something that is both gorgeous and practical. You’ll probably discover that hiding an air conditioner outdoors isn’t as difficult as you think.
An air conditioner unit is a great way to cool down your home in the summer, but it can be an eyesore when it’s not needed. To hide an air conditioner unit outside for a neat yard, you need a 3-panel screen that will keep bugs and debris out of your home. Reference: 3-panel air conditioner screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I hide my air conditioner in my backyard?
A: The best option would be to place a small object, like an upside down pot or birdhouse, on the air conditioner to hide it from view.
How do I hide my air conditioner outside with plants?
Can you cover outside AC unit?
A: Yes, the Domino can be covered with plastic or cardboard.
Related Tags
- how to hide an ac unit inside
- how to hide a split system air conditioner
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- air conditioner fence screen
- can you enclose an air conditioner unit
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