Crazy Chicky asked:
Our HVAC unit is not covered by any type of shade during the hottest time of the day. Is it true that the unit has to work harder and uses more electricity if it is not covered by either a shade tree or other means? If it is true, what have you used to guard the unit from the blazing sun? Thanks for your help!!
My husband is convinced that because it is not covered by shade or something of the sort, like an awning, that it is making our utility bill higher because the unit has to work harder. He is very concious of saving money, well I am to, but he really is. I am trying to help him with it either way it goes. You don’t know what I live with as far as saving money, te he he
Jon
Our HVAC unit is not covered by any type of shade during the hottest time of the day. Is it true that the unit has to work harder and uses more electricity if it is not covered by either a shade tree or other means? If it is true, what have you used to guard the unit from the blazing sun? Thanks for your help!!
My husband is convinced that because it is not covered by shade or something of the sort, like an awning, that it is making our utility bill higher because the unit has to work harder. He is very concious of saving money, well I am to, but he really is. I am trying to help him with it either way it goes. You don’t know what I live with as far as saving money, te he he
Jon
Tags: Awning, Hvac Unit, Time Of The Day
The radiant heat from the sun will have a minimal effect on the operation of your AC. Eventually the UV light will end up ruining the paint job, but it really doesn’t do much to how it works.
I have never seen that units are more often than not covered so wouldn’t you think that means its doesn’t matter? Seems to me that they would install them covered if it mattered, or at least try to sell you something else to do the job of covering them.
Absolutely, it is a heat pump and the direct sunlight just adds more heat. It is good practise to install these units in the shade, whenever possible. Plant trees or shrubs, and perhaps install an awning, for temporary shade.
There will be no benefit to putting the condenser in a shaded area. The benefit to your condenser comes from you cleaning the coils of that condenser monthly during the summer, keeping it free of leaves and grass clippings that get thrown up against it. Hose it off regularly that will keep you running much smoother
I was told by Heating/Air conditioning dude about shade temp is usually 10 degrees lower than blazing sun, the shaded temperature air used in cooling will already be about 10 degree cooler. We installed an awning to shade out AC unit.
No placing the condenser unit in the shade will do nothing for it. This is an old wives tale.
If it were true millions of roof top units would have little awnings over them. Just look at any commercial building and you will see a bunch of package units right in the sun.
Your condenser is air cooled. The air temperature will be the same in the sun or in the shade.
Lots of people have shrubs planted near their condenser units this can actually block some air flow reducing the efficiency of the unit.