How Can I Hide A Furnace And Water Heater? (4 Ways To Do It!)
Your water heater and furnace are essential components of your home. Having hot water and the ability to heat your home on even the chilliest of days are crucial to the comfort of any home. Keeping both running strong takes regular maintenance and care.
But for homes that don’t have space to spare, your water heater may not be tucked away. What can you do if you want to conceal your furnace and water heater? You can use a screen, a sheet or curtain, a cabinet, or an enclosure. Just make sure that you get something that is aesthetically pleasing and will stand up to the test of time, otherwise, you will be replacing these covers more often than not.
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What to Consider When Looking to Hide a Furnace or Water Heater?
When looking to hide a furnace and/or water heater, there are three factors in particular that matter the most. You want to have something that is aesthetically pleasing, durable, and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to implement.
Durability
Perhaps the most important thing to look for when finding something to hide your water heater and/or furnace is durability. You want to make sure that whatever option you choose, it will hold up to regular use over time.
If you are storing them in a garage or unfinished basement, then something flimsier like a curtain may be fine. But if they are being stored in a basement or kitchen, then whatever you choose had better have the durability to hold up to a little punishment.
Visual Appeal
While keeping the furnace or water heater enclosed and protected is key, so too is how it looks. If your water heater or furnace is in a more popular room like a kitchen, then you want everything to blend together as well as possible.
If you use something like a flimsy sheet, it could take away from the visual aesthetic. You want something that will offer protection but won’t look awful.
Cost
Of course, one of the most crucial factors is making sure that this enclosure is not going to cost an arm and a leg. For some, it is the most important aspect that there is. You want to find some middle ground between completely cheap and somewhat expensive.
It partially comes down how long of a solution you are looking at. If it is temporary, then you can go with something cheaper in the interim. Otherwise, you may want to spend a little more to get something more secure.
How Can I Hide a Furnace and Water Heater
The good news is that there are more than a few potential solutions to be had. Just keep in mind that the cheaper you go, the more likely you are to have to replace it in the near future. At best, you will have something that is functional but an eyesore.
Curtains
The simplest, cheapest option that there is. You can find curtains for cheap and in a plethora of styles, colors, and designs. They aren’t necessarily the most attractive option for rooms that get the most foot traffic but can be great for unfinished basements or garages.
Another good consequence of them being quite cheap is that you can swap out patterns. You can keep the look fresh and fit your current stylistic direction cheaply and easily.
Screens
If you want to have something that is not only decorative but a bit more functional, then you can’t go wrong with a screen. These are dividers that can either have a simple screen or have shutters that completely restrict visibility.
Because they are lightweight, they are easy to move. Even better, you can get creative with screens. Paper them, paint them, or leave them as is. Whatever best suits the aesthetic of the room that they are being used in.
Cabinets
One of the more expensive options on the list but perhaps the nicest looking option of them all. Cabinets can match the style of the rest of the room, especially when being stored in a kitchen area or adjacent space.
Cabinets can be a bit more expensive than the other options, especially if you are not doing the installation yourself. Still, there is no better way to hide those unsightly appliances and even add to the aesthetic of the room rather than simply removing the water heater or furnace from sight.
Closets
Maybe the most popular method for hiding furnaces and water heaters are closets. You may even find some apartments that store the water heater and furnace in a hallway or bedroom closet.
Closets provide greater accessibility for repair, which makes them highly convenient. Not only that, but they blend in with the rest of the home. To guests, it is just another door in your home and they are none the wiser.
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The Final Verdict
There are individual factors at play that will determine which option makes the most sense to you. Some care more about the aesthetic than anything else. Many, however, have a specific budget and need to work within those parameters.
If you need to go for the cheapest option possible, a curtain can’t be beat. They are not only highly affordable but can be swapped out with different styles and patterns whenever the mood suits. It may not be the most ideal aesthetic option out there but it is something that can be had in a pinch and on a tight budget.
For the best-looking and most durable option, an enclosure can’t be beat. Whether that means a closet or cabinets depends on the space and your budget. Cabinets are much more expensive because of the work that needs to go into them. Closets, meanwhile, can blend in with the other doors in your home, leaving guests none the wise.
If this is going to be a long-term solution, go with something more durable. While costs are important to monitor, going with something just because it is cheap means probably having to replace it sooner than later.
Ryan Womeldorf has more than a decade of experience writing. He loves to blog about construction, plumbing, and other home topics. Ryan also loves hockey and a lifelong Buffalo sports fan.
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