Tallahassee-area residents love their air conditioning, especially during the hot and sticky summer months. However, many homeowners in the area do not like how their outdoor HVAC unit compromises the aesthetics of their property and how its noise disrupts the enjoyment of their outdoor spaces.
Some Tallahassee-area homeowners consider hiding their unit with fencing or other enclosures to improve the appearance of their property and reduce HVAC noise. When homeowners ask the HVAC technicians of Air Control Heating and Cooling for enclosure ideas, we generally recommend against it. While fencing in an outdoor HVAC unit may reduce noise, improve aesthetics, and help protect it against storm damage, the potential problems caused by an enclosure can outweigh the benefits.
With plus-50 years of providing HVAC service in the north-central Florida area, we know best how to maintain the long-lasting efficiency of your air conditioning system. Thus, here are the top five reasons why you should refrain from fencing in your outdoor HVAC unit:
1. Potential Airflow Restrictions Reduce Efficiency, May Cause Damage
Outdoor HVAC units need unobstructed airflow to function efficiently, and poor airflow can strain the unit’s mechanical components, which can cause more frequent repairs and shorten the unit’s operational lifespan. Enclosures that are too close to the unit or made of solid materials restrict airflow, can force the system to work harder, and may cause overheating. The reduced efficiency caused by fencing can also boost the system’s energy demand and your utility bill costs.
2. Compromises Maintenance Access
Fencing and other air conditioner enclosures can restrict access to the unit and make it difficult for HVAC technicians to perform necessary maintenance, such as cleaning, inspection, and repairs. In some cases, our technicians have responded to service calls to find that new fencing prevents their access to critical components. To complete the service, they’ve been forced to temporarily dismantle sections of the enclosure, at an increased cost for the homeowner. In other instances, fencing has forced them to take extra time to maneuver around and within the enclosure.
3. Encourages Moisture Retention
Florida’s humid climate naturally promotes moisture buildup around outdoor HVAC units. However, an enclosure can inhibit water dissipation, leading to greater moisture buildup and an increased risk of the unit being affected by rust and corrosion. Additionally, moisture buildup combined with restricted airflows will create the perfect environment for unit-damaging mold and mildew growth, which might also affect indoor air quality.
4. Creates an Inviting Habitat for Pests
By fencing in your air conditioning system, you’re putting the unit out of sight and out of mind. As such, you probably won’t notice if any number of Florida’s pests—rodents, reptiles, and insects—decide that the enclosure makes the perfect habitat for their new home. Not only can such pests damage your HVAC unit by building nesting areas inside it or chewing on wires, but they can also prove challenging to remove once established.
5. May Negate Heat Dissipation
Our hot and humid climate makes it imperative for homeowners to ensure that their HVAC unit effectively dissipates heat. Fencing, especially when constructed of solid or non-ventilated materials, can inhibit such heat dissipation. If heat gets chronically trapped around your outdoor air conditioning unit, you will realize it with decreased cooling efficiency, higher power bills, more unplanned maintenance, and increased risk of unit overheating.
Discuss Your HVAC Fencing with Air Control Heating and Cooling
If you are determined to enclose your outdoor HVAC unit in the Tallahassee area, please discuss fencing options with an Air Control Heating and Cooling technician. We can provide you with HVAC fencing ideas to mitigate an air conditioner enclosure’s negative impacts on your system’s efficiency, maintenance, and long life. To ensure optimal HVAC system performance and efficiency, consider joining our Air Control Club. Our cost-effective HVAC inspection and preventative maintenance program provides members with numerous benefits to ensure the best in your HVAC system’s operational efficiency and lifespan.
Air Control Heating and Cooling provides expert HVAC maintenance, repairs, installation, and equipment sales to Tallahassee, Havana, Quincy, Monticello, and Crawfordville area customers. For the best in HVAC service, contact us today at (850) 562-1234.