Right Location for a New Air Conditioner
When getting a new air conditioner for your Los Angeles area, selecting the correct size and model to fit your needs is extremely important. An incorrectly sized air conditioner may allow humidity to escape, causing comfort issues.When installing your new air conditioner, it can be useful to consider where you would like your new air conditioner installed, where it can be installed, and the best time to do so. Here are some helpful tips on how to pick the perfect spot for it.
Look for a Shaded Location
One of the most important things to look for when choosing a spot for your new air conditioner is a shaded location. You want to make sure that your air conditioner is not in direct sunlight, as this can cause it to overheat. If you cannot find a shaded location, you can also use awnings or other shading devices to protect your air conditioner from the sun. Another thing to consider is the proximity of your air conditioner to other heat-generating appliances, such as clothes dryers and ovens.
Air conditioners themselves aren’t immune to heat, as they can work to cool the air in your home, but they can do the job much more efficiently if their interior temperature is set to acceptable ambient levels. The perfect location would be a shaded area away from sunlight. In ideal situations, a shading type of engineered air conditioning unit would be laid underneath the shade of a freshly planted tree. The best way to accomplish this is to place the adjustment points beneath the tree.
Check for Deciduous Trees
If you cannot find a suitable location for your air conditioner, you can also check for deciduous trees. These trees lose their leaves in the fall and can provide a natural shade for your air conditioner. If you are in an area where there are no deciduous trees, you may need to consider installing an air conditioner that has an adjustable fan speed.
It’s always correct practice to place air conditioners near deciduous trees but this can sometimes increase the maintenance requirements slightly. When de-leafing trees in autumn, it is important to pay attention to all those areas of the tree which have not shed their leaves for the sake of the entire tree. If your air conditioner becomes too covered in leaves or pollen, the unit’s airflow will be decreased, and its efficiency will be reduced as a result. Insects and other small insects that are attracted by the exhaust of carbon dioxide can also become trapped in the leaves and this can lead to an increase in your home.
Check around your air conditioner for any trees that may be falling on it. If there are any, be aware that you will have to clean the leaves and sticks off of it each fall.
Surround With Grass or Mulch
When looking to surround your air conditioner with grass or mulch, be sure to consider the climate in your area. If you live in a hot climate, opting for a grassy surround will help to keep your area cooler. In cold climates, mulching will help to protect your air conditioner from the elements and prevent icing or snow build-up.
Vertical air conditioners, which are usually installed on slabs in order to increase the efficiency of the unit, are usually installed on a concrete slab. Also commonly called “unit on slab”. The concrete slab also acts as a reflector for the AC unit and the surrounding grass or mulch will reflect the heat and light from the AC unit and also act as a cooling agent.
Cement and stones will radiate the solar heat. This heat will increase the ambient temperature around your air conditioner, making it work a little more than it’s functioning without strong external walls around it.
Sometimes, we may feel so afraid that we reach for our air conditioner, but it’s important to remember that the radiation of heat from an air conditioner is not the same as that produced by a cement or stone.
Blocked Off From Your Dog
If you have a dog, you may want to keep the air conditioner out of its reach. Dogs have been known to urinate on air conditioners, which can damage the unit and void the warranty. Additionally, dogs can damage the air conditioner by chewing on the cords or the fins. If you must keep the air conditioner in an area where your dog has access, consider putting up a fence or some other type of barrier to keep the dog away from the unit. You’ll want to have a security gate in your air conditioner that uses heavier duty shock cords, so that no dogs get close to it or urinate on it. A dog’s urine will eat through the insulation of the coil.
Putting up a small fence or a few well-kept shrubs around the air conditioner provides an anti-dogging measure. Even if there are a few small gaps that dogs could squeeze through, they’ll often stop at the surrounding border and mark their territory there instead of on a unit itself.
Outdoor Activities
If you live an active lifestyle, you may want to consider installing your air conditioner in a location that is easily accessible for you. This way, you can easily clean the unit and perform any necessary maintenance. Additionally, if you have young children, you may want to keep the air conditioner out of their reach to prevent them from playing with it or getting hurt. If you and your family spend a lot of time outdoors, think about where you and your family can locate air conditioners that will complement your outdoor activities and that will benefit from changing the noise of your outdoor area.
Seek a Professional’s Advice
To ensure you are able to service your air conditioner in a safe and efficient manner, you should put the need to heat or cool your space as well as the integrity of the unit important considerations.
Best American Heating and Cooling is a company that specializes in HVAC systems, providing installation and replacement for air conditioners, furnaces, and more. If you are looking to install a home air conditioner in Los Angeles area, reach out to us right away!
Conclusion
By placing your air conditioning unit at the perfect place in your home, you ensure that your air conditioning unit runs efficiently and effectively, cooling your house while ensuring its longevity.
If you are having trouble locating the best location for your A/C units, let us know right away so that we can help you locate the best place for your unit.