Planting shrubbery covers up air conditioning units while adding color to the landscape. Central air conditioning keeps your home cool during the summer, but central air conditioners are generally big, square or round bulky units that detract from the beauty of your yard. While you can hide air conditioner units, you need to plan carefully so you don't affect the unit's performance. Leave adequate room around the unit for air conditioner service and replacement. Fences Fencing is a simple, affordable material to hide a central air conditioning unit. Use a fence that complements the home's architectural style or that matches your fence. If your back yard is enclosed with a white picket fence, for example, use the same type of fence to enclose the air conditioning unit. If you live in a log cabin, you might opt for a rustic fence made from weathered barn wood. If you choose to use inexpensive lumber, paint or stain it to match your home's exterior finish or the surrounding landscape. Garden supply centers also sell prefabricated fences so you don't have to build your own.

Install a single fence panel to screen the outward facing side of a central air conditioner unit or enclose the unit on three sides for more coverage. If you choose to enclose the air conditioner, hinge one side of the fence to allow access for repairs. Hedges and Shrubbery Hedges and shrubbery help to blend the air conditioning unit into the rest of the landscape. If possible, choose hedge plants that are native to your area. Camellia is a small evergreen tree that can grow 3 to 20 feet tall with large, colorful flowers that vary from white, pink, yellow and red. Lantana is a perennial flowering plant that grows from 1 to 6 feet tall and has aromatic flower clusters that are blue, white, red, yellow or orange. Plant hedges and shrubs approximately three feet away from the central air conditioner unit to allow room for plants to grow and to allow adequate room for air flow around the unit. Trellis Trellis panels come in either wood or vinyl, and generally in 4- by 8-foot sections. Paint wood trellis panels to match the surrounding landscape or the home's exterior finish.

Vinyl trellis panels come in several colors, including white, green and brown. Install a trellis to cover as many sides of the air conditioner unit as needed and, if desired, plant climbing, flowering vines at the base to blend the panels into the landscape. The foliage from the vines further conceals the unit behind the trellis. When using trellis panels, place the trellis panel framework a minimum of three feet from the air conditioner unit to allow proper operation. Box Cover Building a box cover allows you to completely conceal the air conditioning unit without restricting air flow. A box cover is essentially a box that surrounds the unit on all four sides and on top. Use slatted sides when building the air conditioner box cover to allow air flow into the unit. Ideally, the top and one side of the unit should be removable to allow access for repairs. Use materials that match the surrounding landscape or the home's exterior finish, such as wood, vinyl or composite. Paint or stain wood box covers to match the home.

Draw inspiration from other aspects of your landscape, such as furniture or fencing material, and choose a coordinating building material. fan on top of ac unit not turningReferences Your Houston Home Inspector: Hiding Those Unsightly Air Conditioning Units Photo Credits Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images Suggest a Correctionoutdoor ac unit will not turn onThere's something special about an outdoor wedding: the unparalleled beauty of a rocky ocean shore, a romantic botanical garden, the warm familiarity of your own backyard. home central ac units pricesBut as gorgeous as these sites are, there's also a significant amount of legwork and orchestration that goes into planning an alfresco celebration. From the lighting to the loo, here's how to pull off a flawless tented reception.

Tents can be pitched just about anywhere. Stake one in your favorite park or even outside a gorgeous mansion. Whether you're going for formal or casual, tents come in all shapes, sizes and materials. Work with your local rental company to figure out what style fits your vision (and the venue's spatial constraints). And make sure you choose a tent that works on your surface—pavement, grass, sand and so on. Remember to:Weatherproof your tent. For a summer wedding, bring in fans and portable air conditioning units, and keep guests warm in chillier months with tall patio or propane heaters. You may also want to add floor surfaces (to correct uneven ground) and wall panels (to protect against wind or rain). Bonus tip: Don't rely solely on your tent. Even the sturdiest tents can't withstand heavy rains and fierce winds. Your best bet is to have an indoor backup plan at a nearby reception space or restaurant. And if your area is known for having inconsistent weather, make sure your wedding insurance package covers rain, which could help you recover at least a portion of the fees if your event has to be postponed.

Since tents are virtually a blank canvas, you'll probably need some extra things to finish the look. Luckily, there are tons of rental options available—textured curtains and tiebacks, funky chandeliers and colorful cushions. Decide what elements are most important to you and then figure out how to fit the items at the top of your list into your budget. Remember to:Find out the return policy for each rental vendor you work with. For example, companies sometimes require that votives and glassware be cleaned and boxed before being taken back (fines can be added if directions aren't followed). Make an organized plan with your wedding coordinator (a key reason to have a planner!) or maid of honor to decide who will be responsible for taking care of this—then be sure to work it into the day's schedule. Bonus tip: Reserve the site for your wedding day and the morning after. (Find out if the venue offers a package deal or how much each additional hour will cost.) With tent and rental setup, not to mention flowers and décor, your team of pros will need extra time to set up— and tear down—the site.

To control insects on your wedding day, think about having your site sprayed by an exterminator two days beforehand and placing citronella candles throughout the space. Whether you've chosen a grand, grassy lawn or a small backyard, pick an area and make it more inviting with lounge furniture and lots of pillows. If you don't have room to bring in couches and plush chairs, arrange your dining area with smaller 4—person reception tables instead of larger 8— or 10—person tables to create a more intimate look and feel. Drape fabric from the tent's ceiling to soften the space or to create sectioned off “rooms.” Hang pomanders from the frame's cross sections, and add other details to welcome guests and enhance your wedding's unique design. Bonus tip: Don't assume that your guests will find their way around. If your reception site will also be home to the ceremony and cocktail hour, make sure there's a natural flow between the spaces. You may need to add signs directing guests from the ceremony to the reception and pointing out the restrooms.

The more you bring into your tent, the warmer it will feel. Colored linens, vibrant up- lighting and quirky knickknacks set a great vibe. To set the mood (and help guests see each other), add paper lanterns, pinspot lighting, twinkling lights or stately chandeliers. Light up surrounding walkways for easy access to the bathrooms. Think luminaries and small up— lights along the paths and Mason jars with tea lights hanging from nearby tree branches. Remember to:Have an electrician check out the space before lighting up your tent. Not only will he be able to make sure you pass all the proper inspection laws, but he should also be able to make recommendations as to whether you'll need to rent an extra generator and how to safely secure your lighting fixtures. Bonus tip: You may want to keep a lighting pro (who has wedding experience) on hand to ensure everything stays in place—and lit up—all evening. If there aren't any restrooms nearby (and even if there are a few), you should consider renting them.

These days, you can find luxury portable restrooms with amenities like in—room music, granite countertops and air conditioning or heaters depending on the season. Remember to:Give guests something to talk about with a few subtle extras like luxe soaps, fresh flowers and monogrammed towels. Bonus tip: The general rule of thumb is to have one bathroom or stall for every 35 guests. This way, guests will spend less time standing in line and more time partying on the dance floor. Let the outdoor setting guide your music choice. If you're on the beach, you can't go wrong with steel drums. For a backyard reception, you might go for a folk or bluegrass group. Remember to:Make sure your band or DJ has enough power to supply their equipment. This may mean bringing in an extra generator so you don't lose the lights in the middle of the party. They should be able to tell you what they'll need to set up at your site. Also, figure out where the band or DJ and dance floor will be. (Hint: Make sure it's not in the path from the kitchen to the tables.)

Bonus tip: Most city ordinances don't allow outdoor music late into the evening; do your research and then commit to a time when the band or DJ will unplug. Having an outdoor wedding gives you flexibility to get creative with your menu. Under a tent you might throw a New England clambake, a spicy Southern barbecue or even a Hawaiian pig roast. But you probably wouldn't even consider those options for a ballroom affair. Regardless what food appears on your menu, plan to have plenty of cold water and refreshing nonalcoholic drinks on hand—especially if the weather is hot and humid. Lemonade and iced tea are good staples. Remember to:Schedule a site visit for your caterer to make sure she's well—equipped to handle the space. Also keep in mind that in most cases, your caterer will need a separate prepping tent. And don't forget about the need for electricity and running water. Work with your caterer to draw up a detailed floorplan. Bonus tip: Make sure your catering company has experience running tented events.

They'll not only provide all the right supplies (saving you the hassle of having to rent them) and set up and clean up, but they'll also know to have enough waitstaff on hand to ensure that all of your guests are taken care of. Traditional fame tentSmall versions of these tents are typically the type used on residential patios in the summer. There are no interior support poles to obstruct views or furniture layouts, but the frame tends to be visible from the inside of the tent. Pole tent These tents have mountain-like peaks in the center plus one or two rows of interior poles, creating that lofted shape (something to consider when mapping out tables and the dance floor). They're often used for formal affairs and work well with vibrant ceiling up-lighting. Gable end A fancier version of a frame tent, this kind has fabric panels with a scalloped edge that caps each end, creating a formal entranceway. Marketplace Good for all types of affairs, the roofline on these tents peaks in the middle and supports sloped panels extending from either side.