The AC Umbrella Hack Is Back in MN But Does It Really Work?

Just when you thought you'd seen every summer hack on the internet, one of the strangest is making the rounds in Minnesota again. It involves an ordinary patio umbrella, your air conditioner, and a claim that could save you money.

We've been sweating our way through some oppressive heat and humidity for over two weeks now, and perhaps you've seen this viral hack that promises cooler temps and lower utility bills. But does shading your AC unit with an umbrella during a summer heatwave in the Land of 10,000 Lakes actually work?

This hack raises an important question many of us in the Bold North might be asking, seeing as air conditioning is pretty common in many homes these days. And nobody wants to have their A/C break down or quit working during a heatwave like we're enduring now, right?

SEE ALSO: The Best AC Temp For Comfort & Savings in MN This Summer 

Most Minnesota Homes Depend on Air Conditioning in the Summer

This CBS Minnesota story reports that a whopping 91 percent of homes in the Midwest, including Minnesota, have some form of air conditioning. (Or 'air con' as they say over in Europe.) And of those who do have air conditioning, roughly 75 percent use central air, compared to just 22 percent for window units. And single-family homes are much more likely to have air conditioning, compared to apartments.

So does a hack making the rounds about covering your a/c unit with an umbrella or tent make it more efficient?

Can an Umbrella Really Make Your Air Conditioner More Efficient?

This story from a few years ago by Piggie Harris at Kiss 103.1 in Killeen, Texas-- where dealing with heat and humidity is something they do every day-- is making the rounds again. It says that 'tenting' or putting an umbrella over your air conditioner is a hack that has 'many proven benefits.'

Harris notes that 'once you cover your air conditioner, it gives the air conditioner shade, which allows it to cool off and prevent anything from happening to your air conditioner pipes like freezing.'

However, I'm guessing not too many a/c units in the North Star State or the Lone Star State of Texas, for that matter, are freezing up right now because they're not properly shaded. Air conditioners DO freeze up, of course, but as this story notes, freeze-ups are usually caused by clogged filters or trying to operate the a/c when it's too cool outside.

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Why HVAC Experts Say Covering Your AC Can Backfire

And, in fact, THIS story from WBRC-TV 6 in Birmingham, Alabama (where they're also used to some punishing heat and humidity) says that tenting or covering your a/c with an umbrella can actually make things WORSE.

That's because air conditioning units are usually designed to draw air from the sides, cool indoor spaces, and then expel hot air from the top. But if you have an umbrella or tent that's placed too low over the top of your a/c unit, it can actually cause it to work much harder, seeing as 'all of the hot air it’s discharging out the top gets looped right back down to the unit, and it can’t dissipate that heat,' WBRC says.

ALSO INTERESTING: Use This Hack to Keep Your A/C Working Smoothly This Summer in MN

The story did say that an a/c unit operating in the shade-- like from an awning on the house or pergola that's placed well above the fan-- can sometimes operate around 3% more efficiently. So perhaps THAT's where the hack originated. But overall, it's best to NOT put an umbrella over your a/c here in Minnesota or anywhere else.

Meanwhile, all the rain and storms that have hit Minnesota over the past few weeks mean many waterfalls are flowing again this summer. Keep scrolling to check out some waterfalls that are Minnesota's most magical!