Will adding a shelter over air con condenser unit help to save energy? Any side effect to unit by doing so?

Question

The concern is that the sun shining on the condenser unit will cause the casing to heat up, thus air intake is warm. Providing a shelter will prevent direct sun on the casing. The other concern is that building the shelter will cause inhibitions on air intake / air out, thus higher risk to the condenser unit.

Are these concerns justifiable / valid?

Answer 1

The risk of inhibiting air flow is completely viable. The condenser is necessary to transfer heat from the inside of the building to the outside. The heat transfer itself is more dependent on the ambient conditions of the air outside, than it is of sunshine on the unit. Most units are supplied with a housing that is well designed to protect the unit from debris and the elements, while providing the necessary airflow. Basic annual maintenance of rinsing any built-up dust or debris (leaves, etc.) from the unit is necessary to provide improved airflow.

Any shelter built over the unit will likely require extensive ventilation itself. This extra ventilation would not significantly improve the air conditioner efficiency and would likely lower the overall system (air conditioner, extra vents) efficiency.

Answer 2

There would only be a negligible saving. The fan in the condenser unit blows outside air over the condensing coils, so the coils are not much affected by the case temperature. Your concerns about inhibiting the air flow are valid. Bottom line: leave it alone.
-- Robert A. Saunders, Lake Stevens, WA.

Answer 3

Yes!
The air condition system takes heat from inside the room and transfers it out side/ When the temperature outside is high, the system will require more energy to function.
Thus, keeping the temperature at the outside part of the system in a cooler environment assists and give us better efficiency and spend less energy!
That is why heat pumps are more economical, since they transfer heat not to 80 or 100 degrees, but ~70, that the ground is in the average!

Answer 4

No, never. Its a sealed/closed equipment that applications on a metamorphosis of state. in case you desire the amazing version of subcooling(condensing). The AC is obviously interior the cooling mode the only exception may be the defrost cycle in the process the heating cycle. this is extremely greater complicated pondering the numerous categories of structures and refrigeration is totally a different technique then aircon which is composed of a few rather extensive circuitry. In a nut shell (The technology): no warmth is given off for a metamorphosis of state to happen. remember water melts and freezes on a similar temperature. employing that theory different gases have different boiling factors and condensing temperatures. for this reason your in basic terms in contact approximately condensing(subcooling) or giving off warmth that replaced into absorbed on the evaporator. the factor at which a metamorphosis of state occurs is named the saturation factor.on the top of the condenser the gas would be a liquid. Comparative figures: Comparative figures: this is going to rely on the refrigerant used and the whole donning(load) cooling potential of the equipment: 2 measurements are needed for sub cooling(condensing); the liquid line temperature and the rigidity leaving the condenser. below regular load circumstances the refrigerant in an air conditioner would be subcooled 5F-15F leaving the condenser(R22). those stages are based on outdoor ambient temps with a dry bulb analyzing and return air moist bulb analyzing. 410a could have a different saturation and subcooling plot for a similar ODT DB and identity WB readings. Subtract the extremely liquid line temperature from the saturation temperature. A PT chart is had to boot as a manufacture suggestion. I extremely have yet to fulfill absolutely everyone that should be certain the saturation temperatures and psig/psia of different gases at different stages on the fly. however I extremely have meet some that knew some, from repetitive adventure.

Answer 5

Agree, very little savings in the running of the unit. However, the shelter will help keep the sun and rain from harming the unit increasing its longevity. It may or may not better the appearance of the home exterior, as well.