I'd just do a little fence to hide that and your trash can. Or you can even buy something like this: Enclo Privacy Screens 4 ft. x 4 ft. Premium White Vinyl Privacy Fence Panel Screen Enclosure-ZP19014 - The Home Depot

Large potted plants. See above.

When screening the outdoor unit consult the manufacturer's requirements for minimum required service clearances. Also, keep in mind that you want to promote--not restrict air flow through the unit. Avoid designs that block or restrict air flow as they can affect the performance of your air conditioner or heat pump.

Charles, I'm not in the hide a box business.

In this heat where I live it would be short lived. Contrary to popular myth AC condensers are not magic boxes, they need to breathe.

site

/sīt/

noun

1. 1.an area of ground on which a town, building, or monument is constructed."the proposed site of a hydroelectric dam"

The proposed site of a condensing unit.

Ray,

It's clear that your commentary was with respect to the aesthetics of the OP's yard. That makes the proper term "unsightly." "Unsitely" isn't a word in the dictionary, but it might be part of the vernacular in Katy, TX.

It's a shame that your only contribution to this thread was to minimize the OP's concern and attempt to make them feel bad. There's nothing "professional" about that.

Haha @Austin Air Companie. Everybody hates the AC unit like it is the ugliest thing in the world. At least you have competition for ugly now with all the home generators being installed these days.

The problem I see in the sighting of this two ton AC Condenser (sounds freakishly heavy) is that it is going to block the rusty sidewalk and make access to the door less comfortable. If the hose bib is on that section of wall, that is another PITA. Is there some reason it can't be located behind the building?

Hilary,

Ask the HVAC contractor why the condenser can't be behind the garage. Looking at the photo the line set may need to be extended another 10-15 feet. It is a miniscule drop in performance, but it does add some extra cost to the installation. The extra cost may be the reason why this was not suggested. It would also allow you to use the concrete walk way without having to walk on the lawn.

That's a beautiful lawn. What type of grass is that? It looks like a putting green. I wish my lawn could look like that.

Austin Air, the sidewalk isn't rusted, it looks like a concrete stain in a terra cotta color. rust stains wouldn't be that uniform.

OP, why can't the units be installed around the back? If you put them right there against the house, won't it block the walkway?

or why can't a fence be erected to block off that side of the yard, so it's not visible from the front?

or why is a AC unit ok, but a lattice surround is not?

doesn't even make sense.

Consider painting that side door a vibrant lime or one of the blue colors, and getting a new copper light to match the sidewalk!

Our neighbors across the street have the AC and the trash cans beside the garage. There is an iron fence around it, and plantings in front, but not too close, but enough to block the view.

Just leave enough room to plant some upright evergreen shrubs around the units.

@Austin Air Companie,

I think you're the perfect spokesperson for inanimate objects, albeit self appointed. I encourage you to seek input from your constituents on a regular basis, but I'm guessing that you do that already, Ray.

It might be a foreign notion to you if the HVAC systems you work on serve houses around the $183K valuation of your home in Katy, TX, but many upscale communities have architectural covenants which require screening of both HVAC equipment and garbage cans. Screening them from view doesn't suggest they aren't important, just something that functions better behind the scenes. Kinda like the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain.

Maintaining the attractiveness of the OP's home by screening the HVAC condenser and trash can be achieved with a small investment in screen fencing or landscaping.

Why there and not on the garage wall? BTW Austin you were even more rude than I am often.

Isn't it a tradeoff? The side of the garage is never exactly a focal point, and if it is on the back won't it be more visible in your backyard?

I live in a dense urban area and I have a different viewpoint maybe than someone who lives in a relatively controlled suburban environment. THere are $2M houses near me that have the electric and gas meters planted front and center next to the front doors, all down the row. Poor planning. but the methods that people have come up with to screen them don't work that well with the facade anyway. Nobody's fooled that there isn't meters there.

When I bought my house the AC sat on top of a rotting garden shed visible from the Living room windows. The unit was rusty, it was propped up with a brick and there were sagging wires and cables running to the house from it. It was hideous.

There is now a unit hung on the side of the house I can see it from the bedroom window at one angle and it is still highly visible from the yard which is only 8 x20. But it's a piece of machinery, it has a good finish on it and it is kept maintained. There would be no other option short of craning it onto the roof and mounting it on a platform.

And improvements on the way the AC looks do little about the fact that the four rowhouses that abut my and my neighbor's yards are lavender, mint green, off white and periwinkle blue and their stucco is patched and lumpy.

It's a piece of machinery and to me as long as it is kept clean and rust free it's no more unsightly than a backyard grille (especially if it has a propane bottle) or various other things people have cluttering up their yard and never seem to notice. And that includes most cars. If you think that cars are inherently beautiful, think about which 1983 car you would like taking pride of place in your driveway. There are probably a couple, but not many.

Why don't you ask if the covering case comes in black or could be powder coated to match the house instead of thinking of some complex thing that will still end up looking like "something covering up an AC unit"

Oh, please. There is a way to say the truth without being rude. Really not that difficult.

@Austin Air Companie,

This is not a case of truth vs. falsehood so please don't play the part of a crusader.

The OP asked about options for concealing their condenser unit. Your response--which seems to have been deleted--was to minimize their concern and attempt to make them feel bad. What you--and none of us-- know is whether there is a requirement in the OP's neighborhood for visual screening of HVAC equipment (there is such a requirement in most of the neighborhoods we build in.)

So, what you might have said is something like this:

If you'd like to visually screen the condenser unit, please make sure to allow adequate clearances for your HVAC service tech and for proper air flow through the condenser. You might also consider making the screen large enough to also screen your trash can, hose, emergency generator, etc.

Sorry to have incited such a riot on this forum.

Need to clarify a few points: That is not rust on the sidewalk, it is Kauai, HI, soil discolorations. It cannot be removed no matter how hard you try. You should come to Kauai, though; it's beautiful this time of year, and yes, all year, btw.

The trash can is not an issue.

The parameters for the installation of ductless a/c units are that they be screened so as to not be visible from the street. No lattice work allowed..

It's in an awkward position, hence the issue I'm asking this forum about.

I thought I stated that these are HOA rules; who else would say no lattice allowed?

And yes, I have researched all over the internet for solutions and have yet to come up with an answer.

But thanks to all of you for your time.

Valuation of our home is currently 1.4M.

Mahalo

Sorry to have incited such a riot on this forum.

Need to clarify a few points: That is not rust on the sidewalk, it is Kauai, HI, soil discolorations. It cannot be removed no matter how hard you try. You should come to Kauai, though; it's beautiful this time of year, and yes, all year, btw.

Hilary, it wasn't you. Regardless the thread, regardless the topic any words I say are likely to get attacked by people who don't do air conditioning professionally. --- They will attack those words too, btw.

The "rust" on the sidewalk whether it's rust or not, is not the point but as to what it "looks like".

HOA's like to tell you what you can't do but, but offer no advice as to what you can do. I wish you luck on that.

My pro opinion is to not cover the AC. It needs to breathe, it will need servicing and repair... it's not any more ugly that what you have exposed now if you hire someone responsible to do the job. Hire someone who actually makes a living from HVAC work.

Hawaii is definately on the bucket list, love to visit some day.

Aloha Hilary, you call this a two ton split unit that is being placed in this awkward location beside the house to cool a garage that is where?. Is the picture the side of the garage? No lattice is allowed and carpenters are hard to find. This suggests a built enclosure is allowed, just no lattice can be involved. I'm good with that. Lattice is generally ugly. Between the description of the unit, the sidewalk going around the house, the side door, where exactly the street view is and HOA rules it is hard to imagine what kind of built structure might work here.

As the name Garden Isle implies there is no shortage of tropical foliage plants that can be used to hide the unit from street view. A simple grouping of Areca - Yellow Butterfly Palms placed well away from the AC units out towards the front property line could hide the thing perfectly fine. Plenty more plant choices could do the same and no built enclosure would be needed. Seeing the planned AC unit location from the street view as well as what else is going on with the house and landscape would be helpful in determining the best location for that type of plant screen, but hiding it with plants from the street view should be easy and no carpenter is involved.

For the bulk of the readers here, a 1.4 million house in Kauai is equivalent to a 300K house at best in the rest of the country.

Only comment from me, if I lived in Kauai I wouldnt even notice it, everything is so beautiful there. My favorite place on Earth, I visit it at least every other year!

In my experience, when communities have architectural covenants which require visual screening of condensers, trash containers, emergency generators, etc. the covenants will include descriptions and/or depictions of approved screening methods. Be sure to check your community's architectural covenants for guidance.

Condensers can function perfectly well when screened, provided appropriate clearances for air flow and servicing are maintained. If you follow the manufacturer's instructions you'll be in good shape.