What to Avoid Placing Next to Your AC's Compressor

One of the most important pieces to the central air conditioner puzzle is your compressor: the brain of the unit. Whether it’s on the side of your home or on another part of your property, this “metal box” houses the fan, condenser coil, evaporator coils, and the compressor itself, which are all essential for producing cool air. While this “hunk of metal” may be an eyesore to some homeowners, there are a few things you should avoid when trying to cover it up.

Billowing Bushes

While bushes might seem like an ideal way to create a visual barrier between you and your air conditioner compressor, it’s important to know that you should plant them as far away as possible. If there’s something blocking the metal fins of your compressor, there’s a strong chance that it won’t be able to turn any hot air into cold air.

Another downside is that bushes can grow to new lengths and get leaves and debris stuck in the compressor’s fins. If you’re looking for the best way to incorporate bushes into your landscape, make sure that they’re a comfortable distance away so that you can avoid any performance-hindering problems.

Tremendous Trees

Trees are known to not only cast shade, but to add visual depth to any property they reside on. A popular option for most homeowners is to find a way to incorporate a tree (or two) around their compressor, to help disguise it. This can help your unit produce more cold air, but anything that falls from the tree (or if the roots grow in the wrong direction) can disrupt the performance and well-being of your condenser.

An additional factor to keep in mind is that any foliage can be considered a fire hazard, depending on how close leaves are to the unit.

In Need of an AC Repair, Maintenance, or a Tune-up?

At Mitch Wright Plumbing, Heating & Air, we are here for all of your plumbing and heating/cooling needs, which is why we happen to offer 24/7 emergency services. For more information on the services we provide, visit us on the web or give us a call at (662) 269-0851.

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