FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions:
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Should I shade or install a shade kit for my A/C unit?
Shown above: This Do-it-yourself wooden overhang is too close to the top of the unit, restricting airflow and blocking access.
What the Research Says:
Studies have shown that the benefits of shading the condenser unit are minimal. In 1996, researchers from the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) found that shading the air conditioner condenser doesn't significantly improve its efficiency. They discovered that the efficiency increase is only about 1-3%, which is much less than what people often believe.
Why Shading Isn't Effective:
The main reason shading the condenser unit doesn't help much is that air conditioners work by moving large amounts of air through their cooling coils and fins. It's the temperature of this air, not the temperature of the unit, which affects efficiency. Even if the unit itself is cooler in the shade, the air being drawn in is still the same temperature as the surrounding environment.
A typical 3-ton (36,000 BTU) air conditioner condenser moves around 170,000 cubic feet of air per hour. This massive volume of air means that any small temperature-drop from shading the unit itself has a limited impact on overall efficiency.
A similar study by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research in 2010 found that shading only improves efficiency by up to 1%.
Conclusion:
Surprisingly, shading your outdoor unit does very little to improve efficiency, but if done properly, it can provide other benefits, such as protecting the coil and fan blades from debris, and protecting the finish from the long-term effects of the sun. If you are concerned about efficiency, there is nothing more important than maintaining regular maintenance and cleaning.
Shown above: Shrubs should be pruned back at least 18 inches from all sides of the unit.
Please keep in mind that the information found on our website is provided free of charge and Hannabery HVAC does not assume any liability resulting from the information we provide. We hope this information helps, but please note that these are just rough guidelines, and not all possible situations are covered. Your HVAC system should be inspected and repaired by a trained technician.
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