The DIY Utility Screen That Safely Hides A Water Heater Eyesore

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Many people find their water heaters unsightly, but struggle to find a way to cover them. Now, not every house has a massive hot water tank; if you have a tankless heater, you can turn its cover into a beautiful work of art by painting it. But the larger, 20- to 80-gallon tanks take up a lot of space, and you can't just paint over them or block them with a plant or a shelf. If the tank is located in the garage, it probably isn't too much of an issue. But if it's in a laundry room connected to a common area, like a kitchen or a living room, then it can make for a real eyesore. If you have basic carpentry skills, you can build an attractive folding utility screen to hide your water heater in style.

You'll need to gather the right materials, including aluminum sheets, 1-by-4-inch boards, caulk, a pack of pocket-hole screws, and acrylic paint (or an oil-based stain). You need to determine the proper dimensions to cover your screen and purchase your materials based on those measurements. Then you'll need the right tools, including a Kreg pocket-hole jig, a power drill, a ⅜-inch drill bit, three utility hinges, a pair of tin snips, paint, a paintbrush, and a table saw. 

Start by cutting four long vertical boards and six short horizontal boards. Then you can arrange your boards to fit the screen. Next, you'll need to cut rabbet joints into the insides of these boards using your table saw blade, which should be raised by a half-inch. Next, use your Kreg jig to drill pocket holes into each vertical board (where it meets a horizontal board), and then connect these boards with screws. 

Then measure and cut four aluminum sheets to rest firmly within the rabbet joints of each frame. Secure each screen by squeezing caulk into the rabbet joints. Then you can paint the entire screen. Once the paint dries, attach the two screens by screwing in three evenly spaced hinges. 

You can also save a lot of time and use some of the same tools by screwing two bi-fold doors together. You just need to purchase two bi-fold doors and attach them using three hinges. Then you can paint the screen however you please. If you need extra storage space, you can say goodbye to water heater eyesores with a pegboard door (for hanging tools). 

Water heaters are generally not the cause of house fires, but in some cases, they can ignite nearby materials. Gas-fueled water heaters tend to be the most dangerous because they have a constantly burning flame, known as the pilot light. They also have burners that activate when someone turns on the hot water. While propane and oil units cause the majority of water-heater-related fires, electric heaters can also ignite. Poorly wired electric heaters can cause fires like any other electrical component in your home. That's why it's important to never position your screen too close to your heater. 

Experts say that you should 3 feet of cleance between your water heater and your screen. Your screen will also create a barrier between the heater and other items you might store near it, such as boxes or laundry. Just make sure not to throw clothing or towels over your screen, as they could ignite, too.