Best Tips to Conceal Your Water Heater

The water heater is an integral appliance to any residence. It, however, is a large and unwieldy appliance that almost begs to be concealed. Depending on the type of water heater and the dimensions of your space, concealing it may vary in practicality and necessity. Tankless water heaters and water heaters in small apartments, for example, can benefit from concealing more than large tanks in residential homes, but these too are often best hidden.

Even with large water heaters in basements or laundry rooms, there are a number of creative ways to disguise or conceal the tank if you are so inclined. For living quarters where space is constrained and aesthetic appeal is a top concern, enacting a creative solution to disguise your water heater can be a great way to reimagine your space. There’s no reason why you can’t hide the water heater in style. Here are a few ideas.

Corner Enclosure

Consider enclosing the water heater behind closed doors to conceal it in a room. This can be done easily in virtually any location, and can work especially well for larger tank systems since you can utilize the corner to build around the water heater, making it into a small closet. This design keeps the water heater concealed, but easily accessible with the turn of a door knob. This can improve the overall aesthetic of the room in which the water heater is located.

Tankless Box

Tankless water heaters occupy significantly less space than tank systems, but you may still want to conceal them. Because of their size, tankless systems can fit easily into a mounted cupboard-like box. These systems are pretty versatile in where they can be stored as well, so there won’t be much problem devising a solution to conceal the appliance. Tankless systems are also more energy efficient because of this compact size and can reduce your energy bills over time.

Removable Wall Enclosure

For water heaters in a laundry room, you can take advantage of the location of the water heater by creating a removable wall enclosure around it. This is most effective when the water heater is located in a corner but there are not existing walls around it. Make sure the wall enclosures are easily removable when you need access to the water heater. Before doing this, check that this design meets building code specifications and the walls are easily transitional for maintenance and repair access.

A Basic Door

Water heaters in small apartments are often located in bathrooms and may be enclosed, but not fully. If there is an unsightly water heater lurking in your elegant bathroom, a simple door could be the solution. Installing a door and making use of the door for things like hanging clothes, towels, or jewelry can be a great way to improve the aesthetic while adding additional functionality to the enclosure housing the water heater.