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Air conditioner units are essential for keeping your home cool, but they aren’t always the most attractive additions to your outdoor space. If you’re looking for ways to hide your AC unit outside without sacrificing its functionality, you’re in luck.
There are plenty of creative and practical solutions to blend your AC unit into your landscape seamlessly. From clever landscaping tricks to stylish enclosures, here are some ideas to help you conceal your outdoor AC unit and enhance the overall aesthetic of your yard.
6 Things to Keep in Mind Before Learning How to Hide an AC Unit Outside
Before you start concealing your outdoor AC unit, consider these six important factors:
1. Make Room for Maintenance
Just like the inside unit, your outdoor AC unit requires regular HVAC maintenance. When concealing the unsightly external component, ensure that the cover is easily removable to allow for routine service and maintenance.
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2. Ventilation Is Key
Your air conditioner requires proper ventilation to effectively remove heat from your home. The AC cover you select should not obstruct airflow around the outdoor unit, as restricted airflow will cause it to work harder and shorten the AC’s lifespan.
Here are some top ways to extend the life of your HVAC system.
3. Don’t Plant Shrubs Too Close to the Unit
When looking for a way to hide your AC unit outside, you might be tempted to hide it behind long, bushy shrubs. You can totally do that, but don’t plant them too close; otherwise, it will impact air circulation and, subsequently, the proper functioning of your air conditioner.
4. Create a Cool, Shady Space
Using a cover to hide your air conditioner can lead to overheating. To avoid this, consider camouflaging your AC unit by placing plants around it. This natural barrier will help keep the area cool and shield your air conditioner from direct sunlight.
5. Check the Manufacturer’s Recommended Distance
When learning how to hide the air conditioner unit outside, it is imperative to be on the safe side. Check the manufacturer’s recommended distance for closure before putting your unit under a cover. Make sure you meet the requirements and then plan on taking on this project.
6. Strategically Protecting AC Outdoor Unit from Sunlight Will Save Energy
If, besides hiding the air conditioning unit, you’re also wondering how to protect the outdoor AC unit from sunlight, this guide will solve both of your problems. Protecting your air conditioner from the sun even increases its efficiency by 10%.
25 Ways You Can Hide Your Air Conditioner Unit Outside
Here are 25 creative ideas to hide the outside air conditioning unit and maintain the aesthetics of your house.
Conceal Your AC Unit With External Structures
- Build a Wooden Cover
The most common solution to hiding the outdoor air conditioning unit is to invest in an air conditioning accessory for shade. A great way to do this is to build a wooden covering around it.
You can easily make this a DIY project! All you need are some wooden planks, nails, and a hammer to build your cover! Ensure the cover is bigger than the unit to ensure proper ventilation. Further, leave some spaces between planks for the same reason.
Using upcycled window shutters can be a great alternative that reduces the hard work by half and is just as effective. You can also contact the carpenter services in your area to make your AC cover. Convey all the necessary instructions (design, size, etc.) to your hired service, and you will have a cover ready in no time!
You can take additional steps using paints or plants to have a decorative outdoor air conditioner cover.
- Get Creative With an AC House
A creative way to decorate your garden and hide your condenser simultaneously is to build a wooden house. You can build a house in a traditional gable roof style or go for something completely different. A slanting roof will help slide off snow and serve as an air conditioner sun shield.
Additionally, you can paint your AC house in different colors and add decorative items.
One thing to keep in mind is that the covering should be removable – you should be able to lift it when it’s time for regular AC tune-ups.
This method can also be a perfect way to hide window air conditioners both indoors and outdoors.
- Make a Box With a Door
This method is quite similar to making a wooden box. However, instead of removing an entire box, the difference is that you can open the door for maintenance. Adding a door requires only a bit more effort, but it can be super helpful in the long run.
- Place the Outdoor Unit Inside Aluminum Slats
Want to create a cover that won’t be affected by rusting, weathering, or pests?
Go for aluminum slats!
They are a robust solution to hiding your air conditioner. You just have to install the slats, which will last a long time without any maintenance. Using the slacks, you can add additional shelves on the side to store different things to increase your storage space!
Related: Rusty HVAC? Here’s How to Deal With Rust On Air Conditioner
- Create a Shed
If you already have a small shed, it can be repurposed as your outdoor air conditioner enclosure.
But if you don’t have one, you can create one from scratch. Make sure to leave optimal space around the unit for ventilation. You can also repurpose the shed as a storage unit!
- Use a Door Screen
This is an interesting way to hide your AC unit outside. First, you would need a door that you can paint any color. If one door needs to be bigger, you might need two doors connected. Just make sure it has openings for airflow. Then, you can install mirrors, paintings, or anything else you want to make a decorative outdoor air conditioner cover.
- Use a Lattice Screen
You can place lattice screens in front of your HVAC unit. This will work perfectly without effort, or you can use the screen to make a removable box to enclose the unit. A plain wooden plank may be too boring, and a plant-based wall may be too hectic.
- Create a Cement Wall
Stack cement breeze blocks or screen blocks in front of your condenser! If you like, you can place small planters or other decorative items within the gaps of the blocks. Painting each block a different color can also make it very vibrant.
- Make a Picket Fence Cover
You might have typically seen picket fences around gardens. They have an unbeatable charm and are a true classic.
While a picket fence might be more prevalent in an old-fashioned house, they always stay in style. They also look great in modern homes and can do wonders to conceal your outdoor air conditioning unit!
Moreover, wood is not the only choice when it comes to selecting a picket air conditioner fence. Other low-maintenance options include vinyl, PVC, and metal.
Put a fence around your external HVAC unit until it is fully concealed. You can also add small birdhouses to create an attractive fence to hide your air conditioner.
- Make a Big Storage Area
In winter, when you do not need your air conditioner any longer, it is recommended that you properly store the HVAC unit to prevent exposure to the off-season elements, avoiding any damage to it.
Are you running out of storage areas inside your home? Master the art of hiding the air conditioner unit outside. We have a creative idea that can solve your issue!
You can create a large storage area to store your items and hide the AC unit. Ensure you don’t stuff it too much to affect the ventilation required for your HVAC unit to work properly.
- Use Outdoor Privacy Screens
You can maintain the beauty of your outdoor landscape by hiding the air conditioning unit behind a privacy screen.
These screens are available in a variety of styles and colors. Choose the one that best complements your overall garden decor! Then, add planters, decorative chairs, and a bench to keep your garden decor top-notch.
- Purchase Aluminum Screens
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When interested in learning how to hide an air conditioner unit outside but not a DIY type of person, purchase an aluminum screen that looks sleek and is big enough to hide the outside air conditioner unit.
It is completely covered on one side but has spaces on the other for ventilation so that you can use it without any worries.
- Use a Bamboo Fence to Enclose the Outside Unit
One artistic way to prevent your condenser from ruining the view is to use bamboo sticks. They come in various sizes. DIYing a bamboo fence to hide your air conditioner unit outside will be challenging, as bamboo is heavy. However, you can hire a professional to help.
The best part about bamboo is that while it looks great on its own, you can stain it to match other wood tones in your landscape.
- Create a Stone Wall
Another great way to cover your HVAC unit is to build a stone wall. You can use simple stones or purchase decorative ones; it’s all up to you. A stone wall will require little maintenance and will last a long time.
- Birdhouse Picket Fence
This can be a great alternative to conceal your AC unit outside. This creates an attractive outdoor space and serves as a perch for birds to feed and rest.
However, this can also go the other way, attracting birds to form nests in your AC units, which can adversely affect the unit’s heating. Here are some strategic ways to keep birds away from your AC.
- DIY Seat With Built-In AC Cover
Another genius hack is to build outdoor seating to hide your AC unit. It will not be very tricky if you are good with woodwork. If not, consider calling a carpenter. It will not be as expensive and is totally worth the effort!
Use Decorative Items to Conceal Your HVAC Unit
- Hide It With an Outdoor Air Conditioner Cloth Cover
If you want to avoid creating a wooden cover or planting bushes to hide your air conditioner’s outside unit, consider buying a decorative cloth cover. They come in various colors and designs; you can pick one according to your preference.
It is an easy solution but has one drawback – it can only work when you are not using your air conditioning unit, such as when on vacation or during the cold, if your unit isn’t a heat pump that has both cooling and heating options.
- Place Decorative Ornaments
Buy oversized decorative items such as big vases with faux plants, accessories like mushrooms, and garden gnomes to use as air conditioner hiders. Using this method, you get to decorate your garden and hide the ugly condenser.
- Mosaic AC Screen
Using broken glass, create a mesmerizing AC unit cover. It will add a perfect modern touch to your backyard while keeping your unit hidden.
- Use a Curtain
Hide an unsightly outdoor air conditioner unit by hanging curtains around it. This simple solution can transform the view using materials like PVC pipe and outdoor fabric that you might already have on hand. Ensure there’s sufficient clearance around the unit to maintain proper airflow and make sure the curtains or drapes are secured so they don’t obstruct the equipment or block ventilation.
Get Nature on Your Side
- Hide It Behind the Bushes
Plant big green bushes, vines, or ornamental trees for a complete air conditioner camouflage. Select plant species that can tolerate the heat released by the condenser; you don’t want to burn your bushes. Hydrangeas, roses, clematis, and trumpet vines are some options! Moreover, plant the bushes at a safe distance from the AC and do it sparingly; leave space in between. Finally, they should be kept on trimming when they grow to maintain proper air circulation.
- Stack Planters in Front of the Unit
If you live in an area where you can keep plants outside all year round, make use of this opportunity to camouflage your condenser.
Use planter boxes big enough to conceal the air conditioner outside. As mentioned above, only plant those species that can tolerate heat emitted by the air conditioner. Take some big planters and make a circle around your AC unit. To put a decorative touch, you can plant heat-tolerant species such as Cosmos or Viburnum.
Placing colorful pots that match a theme can add a great touch!
- Grow Vines Around the Outdoor AC Unit
Another green way to block the external AC unit from view is to use trailing vines. You can attach vines to a wood structure and place them around the unit.
If they have yet to grow fully, they will take a few months to grow in length. However, added greenery is always a pleasing addition that everyone loves!
- Wooden Wall With Small Plants
For this method, wooden planks are used to make a wall. Remember to create a support for the wall. You can use the remaining planks for that. Then, place it in front of the unit.
To install small planters, buy ring-shaped holders and insert them in the planks. The final step is to place your planters in the ring holder, and ta-da!
- Use Iron Trellis
Opt for the iron trellis to camouflage your outdoor air conditioner unit. Let the vining plants such as English Ivy grow all over it to make it look like a backyard décor piece.
This method is perfect for homeowners who don’t want to do the DIY route and want an easy solution. Just remember to keep trimming the vines, as their fast growth rate can cause them to take over your unit.
In Conclusion
With a touch of creativity and some thoughtful effort, you can disguise your outdoor AC unit to enhance its functionality and the aesthetic appeal of your home. Explore various methods, such as building a decorative screen, using landscaping elements, or incorporating planters to conceal the unit while maintaining accessibility for maintenance.
Experiment with different approaches until you find the perfect balance that complements your home’s style and meets your practical needs. However, always prioritize safety by ensuring proper ventilation and access to service. Neglecting these considerations could undermine your efforts and compromise the unit’s performance.
