HVAC Can plants help to allow for better subcooling?

[DWDRUMSFOREVER]

I like that your line set goes into the ground. What's with the PVC periscope?

[DrZarkloff]

@DWDRUMSFOREVER Thanks. It's a condensate drain.

[tangnatalaga]

The only thing I am concerned about is I would not want to be bitten by a creature that may live among the plants such as snakes etc. Other than that I agre wtih you 100%

[iRoc2JesusMusic]

I have to two thing's on my mind.

1- Could it be that there is better subcooling because you keep the coils clean?

2- As I see it in this video, the sun still points in a direction where the plant's aren't providing shade or do the plant's block sunlight against the outdoor unit at a different time in the day? Just an observation.

[glendor2]

The shade will absorb the radiant heating from the sun. However, the plants can heat to the same temperature as ambient air temperature or slightly higher and actually increase the air temp slightly. Moreover, The leaves on the plants can slow the airflow slightly and reduce the total CFM across the condenser coil. Increasing the airflow while reducing the radiant heat from the sun will make the unit as efficient as possible.

[glendor2]

I modified my home unit and cut my electric bill in half for comfort cooling. I did the same thing at work and have cut almost 900 run hours on a 75 ton chiller this cooling season. As Walter Lewin says, "Physics works!"

[rdharness]

Do you have a txv?

[DrZarkloff]

@rdharness Do you mean a TXV video?

[delawareplumbingguy]

Good video- we just had a lot of plants and shrubs removed from our property but it's left our unit out in the open sun- might have to replant some things and give it some shade.

[d1incharge]

good vids

[1dyball]

It's about outdoor ambient temp, how many degrees subcooling do you think your achieving by your plants?

[DrZarkloff]

Maybe one degree. Now maybe if I had the condensing unit under a big tree it would be more worth while. I know that I'd have to clean the condensing unit a lot more often, but it might be worth it.

[jhbossman]

what about an automated sprinkler/mister system that sprays down onto the fins, and only turns on when the cooling unit is tripped on?Would that help with the subcooling on those really hot days?

[DrZarkloff]

I remember we had an old roof top package unit that had fins that were all tore up so we did just as you were suggesting with the misting system until we could replace the unit.

[247mechanical]

I'm sorry, but a few plants around the condensing unit are not going to help with subcooling. the ambient air passing over the coil is going to be the same. Now if the AC is in the shade you may get slightly more capacity from it, due to the less heat it has to try and reject.

[d1incharge]

everybody in hvac knows that shade is important on your hvac, dont you realize ambiant air temperature will be cooler in big areas of shade. Not to mention the light that heats up the actual unit, which doesnt have to come from straight above. More shade the better.

[acthetech]

are you going to change the condensing unit

[DrZarkloff]

Probably not anytime soon.

[hackfreehvac]

Those trees are great for shade. Do you have any of those trees in your area that have the bright pink leaves? Man those leaves are like paper and are so light they plug the entire face of coils when one of them trees are anywhere near a condenser. I forget the name of the tree/bush. But if you say the name I'd remember.

[DrZarkloff]

I think you're referring to the bougainvillea. They don't grow very well around Northern Florida. They're all over the place in South Florida. Naturally, I wouldn't grow a messy shrub anywhere near a condensing unit. I'm fortunate that the shrubs in this video don't shed leaves. They're ideal for this purpose.

[hackfreehvac]

Bougainvillea. That is defenitely the tree/bush or whatever it is. Pretty to look at. But wow do they shed a BUNCH of paper light leaves that suck right into them condensers! Not a good plant to have near a condenser, that is for sure! :p

[killtheglory]

is that a dang lennox... err dave lennox :-P

[DrZarkloff]

It's an Amana.

[killtheglory]

goodness. yea amana did have the one unit the somewhat resembles a lennox. whatever. i hate the valve access. too tight..

[killtheglory]

if i had paid attention when you said its amana.. goodness im an idiot.

[astranine]

I know that grass has a natural cooling effect and i'm sure plants do too. Contrast your setup to a package unit on an asphalt roof. Good video and thanks for sharing!

[DrZarkloff]

Yeowch! Roof top package units can be real hot to work on.

[itscool1968]

nice unit how old is it and got any room for an apt in that back yard i want out of maine lol

[DrZarkloff]

LOL. The a/c is 6 years old.

[mechanicwarrior20]

You know also if you have plants near your suction line going back to your condensing unit. You can prevent excess superheat from going back to the compressor because of the shading.

[DrZarkloff]

True. Hopefully, you'd have the suction line wrapped in armaflex anyway. Maybe I should grow some flowers around the line set. It would even look pretty.

[mechanicwarrior20]

lol who said air-conditioning could not be a beautiful thing...

[yapbird]

how old is the unit?

[DrZarkloff]

It's only six years old. I want to replace it with a more efficient system because I can.

[hdyudu]

some people just dont care about condensing unit and let the weeds vine up on it to

the point that it starts looking like the unit was installed in the middle of the costa rican forst i even seen one with rust on the fan grill.