As long as you don't block air flow and you leave the it accessible, it's OK to hide an AC unit. Here are some of our favorite ways to do it.
9 Ways to Hide an Air Conditioner Outside
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Hide AC Unit with a Living Garden AC Cover
Build a fence or box around your AC unit, incorporating plants and flowers between the slats. You can also install flower boxes for a taller fence. You’ll have to maintain the foliage and prune it back occasionally to prevent it from suffocating your AC unit, so plan on making that part of your regular AC maintenance routine.
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Hide AC Unit with a Modern Outdoor AC Cover
Here’s a great way to hide your AC unit. Put it beneath a beautiful structure of clear or weathered redwood or cedar. Just make sure you construct the outdoor AC cover to be easily disassembled so you can have access to the AC unit for maintenance and repairs. And make sure to provide ample space between the slats for air to circulate.
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AC Cover/Tool Shed
Make your outdoor AC cover do double duty as it also provide storage space your outdoor tools. A mini shed is perfect for covering up your AC unit and hiding miscellaneous outdoor items. Just make sure the tools don’t get in the way of ventilation for the outdoor AC unit and that you have easy-to-remove access doors. Here’s what you need to know about covering your air conditioner in winter.
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Hide AC Unit with Tall Shrubs
Line the side of your house with beautiful tall shrubs to not only hide your ugly outdoor AC unit, but also create more privacy for your outdoor space. Here’s why you should be cleaning your air conditioner in the spring.
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Hide AC Unit with Birdhouse Picket Fence
This is the perfect way to double-duty your outdoor AC unit cover! Build a fence, with plenty of space between the pickets and an access door, and let your fence serve as a perch for birds to eat and chill. Line up birdhouses to create an attractive outdoor space.
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Hide AC Unit with a Shabby Chic Shutter Screen
Don’t throw your old wood shutters away. An old shutter is the perfect repurposed fence for hiding your AC unit. Paint an old screen a vibrant color, and wrap it around the outdoor AC unit.
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Hide AC Unit with an Iron Trellis
Surround your outdoor AC unit with a beautiful iron trellis. Let vines grow up it to create a backyard nature scene.
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Hide AC Unit with a Multi-Purpose Structure
Build a full-height equipment shed big enough to house your outdoor AC unit along pool stuff and garden tools. Make side the sides are louvered to allow air to circulate, and keep miscellaneous items a few feet away from the AC unit.
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Hide AC Unit with an Outdoor Privacy Screen
Not really a DIYer? Simply purchase a pretty outdoor privacy screen and let vines grow up it for an AC unit screen! If you do want a DIY project, here’s how to build a patio privacy screen.
FAQs
Can covering an AC unit hurt its performance?
Yes. Air needs to circulate through the compressor coils to dissipate heat. If you prevent that, the unit can’t exchange heat, and your house won’t get cool. Not only that, but the compressor will work too hard and break down prematurely.
What should I avoid when hiding my outdoor AC unit?
When you hide an AC unit, you want to avoid dense materials that restrict air flow. These include:
- heavy foliage;
- heavy fabrics and tarps;
- any type of wood, metal or plastic enclosure without ventilation.
You also want to avoid restricting access to the unit for repairs and maintenance. Some units have overhead access doors, and some have them on the side. You need to be able to easily remove the covering so you can get to these doors.
