Summertime is a great time to be outdoors, but it can also be a time when your AC unit has to work overtime. If you’re like us, you probably don’t want to spend the whole summer inside because of the heat.
That’s why it’s important to take steps to protect your outdoor AC unit from yardwork damage. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips on how to keep your yard work from ruining your AC unit!
Common Yard Work AC Mistakes
It was a hot day, and Jack was excited to get started on his yard work. He worked up a sweat as he trimmed the hedges and pulled weeds, and he was proud of the job he’d done. When he went inside to cool off, however, he quickly realized that something was wrong with his air conditioner. The cool air wasn’t blowing as it should, and the temperature inside was quickly rising.
Jack wondered how something that worked so well prior to his yard work was now working so poorly. Then, he started putting two-and-two together and found he’d made some pretty serious missteps when he was doing his thing outside.
He used a leaf blower near the unit
Sometimes Jack likes to do this to blow off grass clippings into the yard itself. However, it had been a while since he mowed and weeded, so there was more than usual. Could it have gotten caked onto the unit?
He mowed the lawn too close to the unit
The grass clippings blowing out of the side of the mower might have added to the problem, causing more congestion around the unit. Clogging up the internal components with all that wet grass probably wasn’t the best idea.
He left debris or had some unruly plants near the unit
Jack just bought the unit last year. He figured it could handle being used as an outdoor coffee table or that it could keep doing its thing in spite of the saplings growing up around it from the Bradford Pear tree that had taken over his backyard.
Preventing Outdoor AC Issues Due to Yard Work
Activities like the ones Jack experienced in the examples above are all little things that can have a huge impact on your AC’s performance. They can cause all sorts of damages or malfunctions, which can lead to expensive repairs (or even replacement).
In some cases, it may be necessary to call a professional for an AC unit diagnosis. In the meantime, there are some things that you can do on your own to protect your outdoor AC from yard work damage. Here are some tips:
- Be careful when using a leaf blower or any type of high-pressure blower around the unit. Leaf blowers, in particular, can generate a lot of wind force, damaging the fins on your AC unit.
- Mow the lawn away from the unit, rather than towards it. This will help keep the unit clear of yard debris.
- In the winter, keep snow and ice away from the unit. This will keep the coils from freezing up.
- In the summer, remove any debris or plants that are near the unit. This can stop the unit from overheating.
By following these simple tips, you can avoid damage to your AC unit from yard work. If you hire a professional to help with your yard work, be sure to let them know about your AC unit and where it is located.
Summer AC Woes Don’t Have to Get You Hot Under the Collar
There are few things more frustrating than summer heat without a working air conditioner. It’s even more frustrating when you are experiencing entirely avoidable issues stemming from missteps like the ones that we have presented here.
