Hide Your Air Conditioner

Let’s face it, A/C units are ugly, loud and take up valuable space especially on small patios that could be better utilized for more visually pleasing and functional purposes. In this video I’ll show you how to make a simple and attractive box around the air conditioner compressor unit out of composite decking material that will greatly improve the overall ambiance and enjoyment of your outdoor area.

How To Hide An A/C Unit

First clean the area surrounding your A/C unit.
Measure the space and determine the size of your box while allowing for unobstructed airflow.
Using lumber, pressure treated lumber or composite decking material cut the pieces that will become your support structure.
Screw your support beams together with wood screws. Attaching your support structure to an existing fence will give it added strength and stability.
If you don’t have a fence or an existing object to attach your structure to, you’ll want to add diagonal support beams.
Cover your structure with additional cross beams while allowing 1/4″ to 1/2″ of airflow between boards.
If you’re using composite decking, you’re done!
If you’re using lumber or pressure treated lumber, apply a coat of polyurethane to protect the wood from moisture and sun damage.

Now that your air conditioner box is complete, you can now use this area for more functional purposes like a surface for outdoor plants, a BBQ stand or storage.

Keep In Mind!

If you do decide to turn on your Air Conditioner, you’ll want to remove objects that are on or around your air conditioner box as it can generate hot air that will damage plants and can cause a fire hazard.