I hope your "little patio roof" is several feet over the
condensor fan.

Wondering if something like a chimney would be good. Let the hot
air rise naturally, but provide some sides for shade.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"Pop`" wrote in message
news:JwLwh.28$6P4.6@trnddc06...

Shade of some sort will help. Mine went to running less often
on same
temp/wind/humidity days. Actually, it went from nearly always
on to short
off periods even on the worst days. No idea how much energy
change that
amounted to though, but point is, it made a difference.

One important thing bout shading: Whatever creates the shade
must NOT
impede air flow in any way. Ideally the shade should cover the
ac and as
much area around it as reasonable so that the ambient it
operates in drops
some on sunny days. I made mine look like a little patio roof.
Some people say to shade with plants; I disagree as enough
foliage to
shade also impedes air flow. ymmv I suppose.

Pop`