How Landscaping Impacts Your HVAC System in St. Cloud, FL
If you live in a warmer part of the country like St. Cloud, FL, an efficient air conditioning system is a necessity to keeping you cool and comfortable in the summer heat. Routine maintenance tasks like changing or cleaning filters can prevent many air conditioning system problems, and so can the landscaping decisions you make. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that landscaping can either help or interfere with your home’s HVAC system.
Plants That Lower the Demand on AC Systems
Your central air conditioning system will not have to work as hard if your home doesn’t need a lot of cooling. Homes with large windows are more difficult to cool because they receive a lot of natural light, which means heat gain inside your home. If you plant trees or other tall plants near large windows, the shade they provide will reduce the natural light’s intensity and take some of the strain off your air conditioning system.
You can also use plants to shade your HVAC system’s condenser unit from the hot sun. Plant shrubs or bushes at least 3 feet away from the condenser to avoid impeding airflow, and they should be tall enough to provide adequate shade throughout the day. Plants near air conditioning condensers can also catch leaves and twigs that could otherwise clog up filters or stick to coils.
Avoid Deciduous Plants
The winter temperatures in Florida almost never fall into the teens or single digits, but deciduous trees in the Sunshine State still lose their leaves every fall. Florida also has many deciduous shrubs and perennials. Falling leaves the elements blow onto an air conditioning condenser can stifle airflow and degrade performance, so either avoid deciduous plants altogether or rake your yard regularly.
Clear a Space Around the Condenser
Your central air conditioning system should be maintained and serviced by a professional from time to time, but it may be hard to find a pro willing to tackle the job if cacti or other prickly plants block the way. If you want your AC system to run reliably for years on end, make sure there is nothing near the condenser that could injure or impede a technician.
Garbage cans, recycling bins and other large objects won’t injure an HVAC technician, but they could hinder the flow of air that a condenser needs. You can place large items near your condenser, but don’t put them right next to it. About 3 feet of space is all that’s needed to maintain adequate airflow.
Landscaping Chores
Landscaping chores like mowing, pruning, raking and watering can also impact the performance of HVAC systems. Grass cuttings or leaf fragments are light enough for even a minor breeze to carry them to your AC compressor. When condenser coils become coated in landscaping debris, they do not release heat as effectively and indoor humidity levels rise.
Watering lawns and plants is another landscaping chore that can undermine the performance of an HVAC system over time. This is because air conditioning condensers sit outdoors on concrete pads that can begin to shift if the soil beneath them washes away. Replacing a concrete pad is a major air conditioning repair job, so try to keep sprinkler systems and hoses pointed away from the ground around your condenser.
Keeping Your Air Conditioning System Running Smoothly
Placing plants strategically around your home and air conditioning condenser and taking care when you mow and water your lawn can help to keep your air conditioning system running smoothly, and so can regular preventive maintenance. Call our team at Frank’s Air Conditioning for heating and air conditioning services in St. Cloud, FL. We’ve been doing business in the area for more than 25 years, and our skilled technicians are standing by to help you keep your home comfortable all year long.
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