Here in the Mandeville and Covington area, there is an abundance of beautiful foliage, historic trees, and shaded neighborhoods where the houses are frequently hidden away under the branches.
Neighborhoods such as Beau Chene and Covington Country Club are the first two that come to mind, but they are just examples of the many shaded areas on the North Shore.
In recent years there has been a new construction boom on the Northshore, and many wooded areas have been cleared to make room for new homes & businesses.
Even in areas without a high level of construction, since Katrina we’re all adjusting to fewer trees. While this may or may not be good for other reasons, there’s no denying that’s not great for your AC performance.
Impact of Shade on Your AC Unit
AC units don’t work by pumping cold air into your house, but rather by removing the hot air from the house and pumping it outside.
In the summer, a Louisiana attic can quickly get over 120 degrees inside. That puts a lot of stress on the AC equipment as it tries to remove that air as quickly as possible.
Those types of temperatures also stress the insulation of the house. Remember, there are only two feet of materials, total, separating that 120-degree attic from your 75-degree home downstairs.
These temperature differences are for houses that have at least some partial shade. Now imagine the differences in a house where the unit is in the sun most of the day.
As the coil inside the unit works to strip the heat from the air, it is being heated up. Then you add the heat from the sun, and it’s easy to see how an AC unit could get overheated and worn out quickly.
In fact, AC coils are created to strip about 25 degrees or so of heat from the air; so, if it’s 100 or over outside, and your AC unit is in the sun, you can’t expect it to get any cooler than 75 to 80 degrees inside your house.
Why Shade Helps
Shading your AC unit itself won’t really do much for the temperature inside your house.
However, if your house isn’t in the direct line of the sun, you can help reduce how hot it gets inside in the first place. Then, your AC unit doesn’t have to work as hard and can lower the temperature inside to a much more comfortable number.
Our advice is to consider planting a tree near your house. Not too close, but close enough that the branches and leaves will block the sun from windows.
We also recommend checking your filters and changing them regularly. This helps ensure that your AC has good airflow inside, which is very important for optimal cooling.
Finally, we recommend having your AC unit inspected regularly, especially if you live in a very sunny neighborhood without a lot of shade. This way, you can be sure that your AC is running at its most efficient levels so that your home can be comfortable.
Contact Us Today
If you are concerned that your unshaded home is too warm to be cooled, or that your AC isn’t running properly, get in touch with us today.
We offer a same-day diagnostic service, and we perform maintenance on any type of AC equipment that exists. We can be reached online, or you can call us in Covington at 985-892-7071.
We serve the entire North Shore area with highly trained technicians that will be fast, courteous, and knowledgeable. We can help you understand how you can help your home feel more like home this year.
