There are many words you typically hear associated with your air conditioning system:
- Power
- Energy efficiency
- Comfort
One word that rarely pops up when it comes to describing your air conditioning? Attractive.
Let’s face it, old air conditioning units can be, well, ugly. They take up valuable real estate both inside and outside your home, and can spoil the appearance.
If you’re still in the planning stages for your aircon installation Brisbane, you can ask your air conditioning installation team to set your system up in a way that minimises visual clutter and maximises space.
But what do you do if you have an existing system? After all, you can’t reasonably be expected to move it!
Luckily, there are a couple of ways that you can hide it…
How to hide air conditioner unit outside
If you’re a regular follower of this blog (or have a passing knowledge of how modern cooling systems work), you’ll know that today’s reverse-cycle air conditioning systems (which is to say, almost all of them) are made up of 2 components:
- The indoor unit
- The outdoor unit
Ducted air conditioning Brisbane in particular take up a lot of space outside, with many ducted systems using outdoor units that can be as big as your fridge.
Even split and multi-split systems aren’t immune – while not quite fridge-sized, the outdoor component of these air conditioners can still take up room in your garden or back porch.
Luckily, it doesn’t have to be this way!
Our mobile tech-team specialise in air conditioning Brisbane. During that time, we’ve seen homeowners find clever ways to hide their cooling systems – here are just a couple of them.
Cover it up
Fancy a bit of DIY? If so, this might be just the solution for you!
As long as you don’t block airflow and ensure that the outdoor unit is still accessible in the event that you need air conditioning repairs, pretty much anything goes:
- Picket fences
- Lattices and trellises
- Walls or panels
- Decorative structures
- Privacy screens
- Garden walls or planters
Not only can these hide your air conditioning system, but they can also add character to your garden while you’re at it.
Just be sure to give your system enough space, or to use something that still allows warm air from inside to pass through it.
Short on ideas? Here are some great ideas to get those creative juices flowing.
Turn it into a garden
Why not take your love of gardening and use it to turn your outdoor air conditioning unit into something a bit more aesthetically pleasing?
Plants are a great way of obscuring your air conditioning system – potted plants and planters are especially useful, as they can easily be moved when air conditioning repairs and maintenance in Brisbane are required.
When using plants, just be sure to remember that plants can drop leaves, seeds and other debris, which may enter the coils in the unit.
Be sure to prune and clean regularly to avoid air conditioning issues.
Another thing to consider is whether or not your plants are tough enough to handle the heat.
Modern refrigerated cooling cools by removing heat from the air and expelling the hot air outside. Any plants you use to cover up your outdoor unit may be caught in the crossfire.
Before visiting your local nursery, be sure to measure how hot the immediate area around your aircon gets while it’s running (don’t forget to account for the summer heat, either).
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Hiding an indoor unit
Okay, so that covers the outdoor unit… but what about the indoor one?
Obscuring an indoor unit can be difficult, for a number of reasons – namely, the fact that doing this incorrectly can affect your cooling and comfort!
If you ask us, the best way to go about this is to opt for an air conditioning system that offers low-profile alternatives to the traditional wall-mounted system such as:
- Ceiling cassettes
- Bulkhead systems
- Ceiling suspended units
- Vents
Alternatively, you could choose ducted air conditioning for minimal distraction and visual clutter!
Of course, air conditioning upgrades can be expensive and time-consuming – we don’t blame you if you’re looking for something a little bit less dramatic.
Luckily, you still have options…
Hiding split systems
Just like with your outdoor unit, one option is to simply cover up your indoor unit!
Of course, with wall-mounted units typically being mounted higher up (as opposed to close to the ground like outdoor units), this requires a bit of extra work – however, it can still be done!
While it can’t be hidden per se, you can take steps to reduce its visual impact such as:
- Placing a tall cabinet or bookshelf directly underneath your wall-mounted system
- Installing shelving
- Building a bookcase or entertainment system around your aircon
- Converting that wall into a feature wall
All you need to do is rearrange some things and you too can make your wall-mounted blend into its surroundings.
Hiding through-the-wall air conditioners
Many older homes in Brisbane still use through-the-wall box air conditioners – systems that aren’t exactly known for their energy-efficiency, quiet operation or cooling abilities.
The one benefit they have? Since they sit flush with your walls, they’re easy to hide!
With through-the-wall systems, you have more options to hide them, including:
- Slatted wood panels (to allow air through)
- Grilles
- Decorative window shutters
- Screen panels
Hiding your thermostat
If your home features a ducted air conditioning unit, you won’t have to worry about your air conditioner taking up precious indoor space, as your ducts will sit flush with your ceiling.
But have you thought about your thermostat?
While most thermostats are already low-profile as it is, you can go further by turning that particular wall into a picture or feature wall, camouflaging your thermostat.
Air conditioning in Brisbane that combines form AND function
Choose Tri-Tech for all your heating and cooling needs
While our focus is on ensuring that you’re provided an air conditioning solution that’s powerful, energy efficient and effective, that isn’t all our mobile tech team offers.
In addition to choosing a system that will keep you comfortable, our award-winning team also offers a wide range of options that allow you to minimise visual clutter and maximise space.
All you have to do is tell us during the system design phase – we’ll account for your preferences and walk you through your options.
Our team might recommend alternatives to the traditional wall-mounted indoor unit such as bulkheads or vents, and will help select a location for your outdoor unit that’s out-of-the-way and hidden.
Thinking of air conditioning in Brisbane?
Want a system that’s powerful and which won’t leave you with an eyesore?
We work with some of the world’s most reputable, modern, and efficient brands, including Mitsubishi Electric, ActronAir, and Daikin.
Talk to us today – give Tri-Tech a call on (07) 3394 0222 or click here to get in touch online.
