2 Mistakes To Avoid When Choosing A Spot For Your New Central A/C Unit

After deciding to have central air conditioning installed in your house, you may be in the process of trying to pick out an outdoor spot for the new unit. You may have even narrowed it down to a few possible locations. However, before you definitely decide on where you want your new A/C unit placed, make sure that you avoid the following mistakes.

1. Mistake: Selecting a Location That Is More than a Few Feet from Your House

While looking over your property, you may have decided that one spot that you rarely use would be ideal for the unit. However, it is more than a few feet from your house. You may feel that it will be okay since the installers can just add longer lines between your home and the air conditioner.

However, selecting a location that is more than a few feet from your house will cause undue stress on the unit. The further away from the house that the air conditioner is situated, the harder the compressor has to work to deliver cold air through the lines and into your house.

Because the unit has to work harder, it may wear down faster than usual. Also, the extra effort will consume more energy, which will increase your cooling costs.

2. Mistake: Picking a Spot on the Hottest Exterior Side of Your House

Another mistake that you should avoid making when deciding where to place your new A/C unit is picking a spot on the hottest exterior side of your home. Although the spot is unshaded and has direct sunlight at the hottest part of the day, you may feel that your air conditioner can withstand the heat.

However, as part of its cycle, the air conditioner pulls in the air surrounding it so that the compressor can cool it and deliver it into your home. If the air is extra hot from direct sunlight, the compressor will have to work harder to cool the air, making it run more often and longer than normal. This will increase wear on the unit as well as the cost of running it.

Choosing an area that is close to your house and away from direct sunlight and heat will help the air conditioner run smoother, as well as help to save you money on unnecessary cooling costs. If you are having trouble finding the ideal location for the unit, speak with an HVAC contractor who offers A/C installation services.