Shading And Your AC Unit: What You Need To Know
Every homeowner is always looking for a way to save money, and it doesn't hurt if homeowners can find a way to conserve energy as well. Unfortunately, when the dead of summer hits, you will need your air conditioner. You want to be able to stay cool, save money, conserve energy, and count on your AC unit to keep working, but how in the world can all of that happen at once? It's hard to believe it can, but the truth of the matter is that it can with one simple, effective strategy: shade your air conditioning unit. Read on to learn how the process works and how you can do it.
Can Shading Your AC Unit Really Work?
The United States Department of Energy reports that it only takes a little bit of shade to effectively keep things cooler. When your air conditioning unit gets hot, the system must work significantly harder in order to ensure that your home is kept cool and comfortable.
By taking steps to place your air conditioning unit in the shade, you are able to lower the unit's ambient temperature by up to nine degrees. While this may not sound like a whole lot, it has the capability of increasing the unit's efficiency by as much as 10 percent—again, this may not sound like a lot, but it can do wonders in terms of your energy costs and utility bills.
How Can You Provide Shade for Your AC Unit?
When it comes to shading your air conditioning unit, there is one important thing that you must keep in mind: you must maintain adequate space around the unit so that it can breathe. Without space around it, the unit will be unable to function efficiently and adequately. Ideally, you should maintain a five-foot clearance above the unit and three feet on all sides of the unit. An excellent way of providing shade for your unit is to install a porch or awning above it, which will protect it from the elements while also providing it shade.
Get Your Annual Tune-up
Apart from providing shade for your AC unit, it is also important that you don't overlook the annual tune-up of your air conditioning system. This will help ensure that your unit is prepared for the warmer weather and ready to keep you and your family cool. Talk to your local air conditioning service about scheduling air conditioning maintenance before the weather gets warm.
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