8 Things You Should Never Keep By Your AC

Stay cool and conserve energy by keeping these eight things away from your AC unit or floor vents.

During the hot summer months—which seem to last longer each year—many people are running their air conditioning units on full blast all day, every day. The cool air isn’t just useful in terms of comfort during the hot summer months—it can actually prevent some serious damage that excessive heat and humidity levels can cause. For maximum efficiency, it’s essential that you don’t block an air conditioning unit, whether that’s a window unit or regular wall or floor vents.

As with all other interior features, allowing for optimal conditions when running your HVAC system is key to its proper functioning. Blocking an air conditioning unit can lead to reduced efficiency, an uneven distribution of cool air throughout the room, and cause the HVAC system to have to work harder—which may result in significantly higher energy bills. To make sure you stay cool while conserving as much energy as possible, go through this checklist of eight things you shouldn’t keep by your air conditioning unit.

Related: 7 Reasons Your Air Conditioner Isn’t Cooling Your Home—and How to Fix It

Large Furniture

Whether you have a window unit or regular floor or wall vents, make sure they are unobstructed to allow cool air to move through your space. Don’t position large furniture such as an armchair in front of or on top of vents and keep the space in front of a window unit clear. Other bulky pieces of furniture that you should avoid placing close to or directly in front of an air conditioning unit include sofas, bookshelves, cabinets, and headboards.

Related: The 5 Best Portable Air Conditioners, According to Testing

Stoves and Ovens

Appliances such as stoves and ovens give off a considerable amount of heat while they are being used and as they cool off. To prevent your air conditioning unit from having to work harder and that being reflected in your energy bill, keep your stove and oven away from the unit.

House Plants

Keep house plants at least three feet away from air vents, as the direct stream of cold air can have a negative effect on their health, growth, and appearance. Since many potted plants thrive in a warm and humid environment, cold air, especially when directed at them, can dehydrate the plants and make the leaves shrivel up, wilt, dry, or become discolored.

Any Electronics

It may not seem like it, but electronic devices such as a TV or a gaming console give off heat, which can affect the temperature in your home. Place these electronics away from an air conditioning unit to make sure it’s not working extra hard against the heat these devices emit.

Related: 15 Genius Ways to Organize Electronics, Games, and Media Items

Area Rugs

If your air conditioning runs through floor vents, make sure you don’t cover them up with area rugs or runners. Not only can this damage the structure of the rug, but it prevents cool air from entering the room with full strength and speed, causing the unit to have to work harder, which in turn will cost more in energy.

Related: Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Water? 7 Causes (and How to Fix It)

Curtains

Wall and floor vents are often located near or under windows to allow you to create a functional furniture layout in the room. While that’s beneficial because you don’t end up blocking the vents with furniture or area rugs, you do need to keep window treatments in mind. If you are planning on hanging floor-length curtain panels, especially if you opt for a “puddle look,” where curtains pool on the floor, take note that they don’t block any air conditioning vents to allow for maximum airflow.

The Dryer

Whether you have an air conditioning unit or a regular vent in your laundry room, avoid positioning the dryer directly next to it. A dryer emits heat which can make the space feel hotter and cause the HVAC unit to work overtime to keep the temperature in the room down.

Trees and Bushes

When it comes to an outdoor air conditioning unit, leave enough clearance around it so it can function properly. While you may want to conceal this outdoor utility for aesthetic purposes—which is ok to do—make sure that you leave plenty of space around it to prevent any issues. Avoid planting trees and bushes right next to an air conditioning unit so that roots and branches don’t start growing around and under it and interfere with its efficiency.

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