How to hide a boiler

Your boiler can stick out like a sore thumb when designing your home or kitchen. Luckily, there are ways to disguise your boiler so that it doesn’t ruin the aesthetics of your home.

In this article, we’ll provide our top suggestions, tips and tricks for hiding your boiler.

How to hide a boiler in a cupboard?

When designing your home, the most obvious solution for keeping your boiler out of sight and out of mind is by placing it in a cupboard. But is it actually safe to do so?

The answer is yes, as long as certain regulations are followed to ensure that the appliance is safe. You may need to get a custom cupboard made to the specific size of your boiler.  The cupboard will need to be vented so that there is proper airflow.

PLEASE NOTE:  Always ensure that manufacturer service instructions are met, and if you’re unsure for any reason, speak with the manufacturer or a boiler installation company before hiding your boiler yourself.

The boiler needs to be accessible at all times, meaning the cupboard should open and close with a typical cupboard door. Additionally, at least 50mm of space needs to be accommodated between the appliance and the cupboard walls. This allows for efficient airflow and minimises fire risks.

The final thing to consider when constructing a cupboard to hide your boiler is the location of the flue. This component of the boiler enables harmful gases to efficiently leave your home. Your Gas Safe Registered engineer can advise you of the best location for a flue during their inspection prior to installation.

Choosing the right size boiler

To effectively hide your boiler within your home, you must make sure that you purchase the right size appliance for the space.

If your boiler is too big, finding a location where it can be hidden away will be challenging and may result in an eyesore within your home.

On the other hand, if your boiler is too small, it won’t be able to sufficiently heat your property, which can be a problem during the colder months.

When you purchase your boiler from Boilerhut, our advisors will help you choose an appliance that is the perfect size for both your home and your family’s needs. We’ll also consider the location of the boiler and the surrounding area to ensure that the appliance will operate as efficiently as possible.

Creative ways to hide your boiler

A kitchen cupboard is the most obvious and practical solution for hiding your boiler, but it isn’t the most creative.

If you have limited space or aren’t interested in a cupboard’s boxy design, there are other ways to get creative and hide your boiler.

False wall

A popular solution is to create a false wall in front of the boiler. This can be done by attaching a piece of wood or plasterboard to the wall and painting it to match the rest of the room.

If you choose to implement this solution, you should ensure that the boiler is accessible and has sufficient ventilation space.

The false wall should not be a permanent fixture and should be able to be removed easily in case of any future repairs or maintenance.

Creative cover-ups

If you aren’t interested in building an entire structure, or the boring everyday design of a cupboard doesn’t appeal to you, there are plenty of ways to get creative.

A custom mirror cupboard is a functional yet attractive way to hide your appliance. Not only will the mirror give the impression that your space is larger but it will allow light to flow more freely through the room, offering functional and aesthetic benefits.

If you are an avid doodler or organised list-maker, you might enjoy the idea of utilising a DIY chalkboard to cover up your boiler. Rather than wood panels, a chalkboard can be used as the cupboard door, providing unlimited opportunities for creative expression.

Those looking for a simple yet chic way to cover up their boiler may consider installing a curtain in front of the appliance. This solution offers creativity to switch up patterns or tie a design into the style of the room.

Alternatively, contact Boilerhut to get more creative ideas from installers and engineers who have been hiding boilers for the last 40 years.

Focus on your surrounding decor

In some properties, there may not be space or permission to create a structure around your boiler. This might be relevant to rental properties or smaller homes. Instead, attention can be deflected from the boiler by focusing on the space surrounding the appliance.

By being creative with your space and styling it with the rest of your room, your boiler will no longer look bulky and out of place. It is important to remember that you shouldn’t keep items directly in contact with the boiler as it can become hot, and the boiler requires ventilation.

How to hide boiler pipes

There are a series of pipes that are attached to a boiler. These include the gas supply, cold water inlet, hot water outlet, central heating flow pipe, central heating return pipe, pressure relief pipe, and condensate pipe.

All of this pipework can appear crowded beneath your boiler. Some cupboards or false walls may cover the majority of the pipework. However, other appliances may be positioned in an unforgiving location, leading to an eye-catching blemish within your home.

There are plenty of solutions to help you cover up or blend in the pipes that extrude from your boiler. Painting the pipes the same colour as the wall or tiles behind is one of the simplest ways to camouflage them. You should ensure that heat-resistant paint is used as the pipes can become extremely hot when carrying water from the boiler to the central heating system. Alternatively, you can consider boxing the pipes in with a purpose-made channel that is decorated to match the surrounding areas.

Final Thoughts

Boilers are an essential appliance within the home, but they aren’t the most attractive. Fortunately, there are plenty of creative and functional solutions that enable you to hide the appliance in plain sight.

If you are considering relocating your boiler, or the appliance is old and inefficient, it may be the perfect time to purchase a replacement.

For properties with a previously large boiler, installing an energy efficient combi boiler could provide the size reduction you need to redesign your home in the way you desire.

For any guidance during the selection process or more information about our installation services, contact Boilerhut today.