07/18/2022
Will your air conditioner work better when it's under shade? Yes, according to the Department of Energy. Some Texan residents have started doing this years ago to help their HVAC unit during the hot Texas summer temps. Some residents say it has made a very noticeable difference in their cooling and electric bill. They drive a metal fence post pipe in the ground next to the HVAC unit and place a patio umbrella (vented top) in to give it shade. The tilt style patio umbrellas and canopies allow you to adjust the angle of the shade. Even growing a tree nearby. Make sure the top of the metal fence post is 13” - 15” above your HVAC unit. Make sure not to restrict air flow. You can drill holes in the pipe to secure the umbrella on the windy days. Some say lowering it at night and wrap a bungee cord around the umbrella. Maybe this can be of help to someone else.
