How To Build A Cabinet Around A Hot Water Heater

Disclaimer:  The water heater in this postal service is electric.  I've been told this could pose a fire take a chance with gas water heaters.  I am non familiar with gas water heaters and the condom precautions to take with them.  And then, before doing this project, delight consult a professional to find out if this is safe for your own awarding.

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Compliments are always then nice, correct? They can totally modify everything.  I mean you're going along having the worst 24-hour interval e'er and someone tells y'all that they retrieve you are having a good pilus 24-hour interval and suddenly the world is right again.  "Who, me?  My pilus? *flips it around shoulders* Why…cheers! Information technology is great hair, isn't it?"

So, permit me ask you something. Has anyone always complimented your hot h2o heater?

No? Actually?  I wonder why?  Is it mayhap because information technology's maybe but a little bit slightly kind of possibly…um….UGLY?

Don't be offended, yous really tin can't assist it. It's simply the nature of the beast…water heaters are just not pretty appliances.  I don't have a pretty one, you don't have a pretty one.  No one has a "pretty" water heater.  Information technology's just not a matter.  (Although, the tankless ones are much more than attractive than the large ones with tanks…they just cost a lot more.  And, howdy, my heart name is cheap.  Well, non really.  Information technology'southward Beth.  Just information technology might as well be cheap.)

Despite their atrocious appearance, nosotros do have to accept a minute to capeesh what a water heater does. I mean…it heats our water.  That'southward kind of a big deal.

Several years ago when I was in college, a big part of West Kentucky (where I telephone call dwelling) went through an ice storm. Pretty much anybody was without power and everything was covered in ice.  Nosotros had no hot h2o (because no electricity) for days.  Afterward 3 days, I had had enough and I had to have a shower whether there was hot water or not.  Have you ever taken a shower and so cold that y'all could see your breath.  That'll brand y'all appreciate your water heater….

Said all that to say: our water heaters serve an important purpose. Nosotros tin can't just toss them considering they are ugly.  Simply we CAN cover them upwards.  And gauge what?  IT'Due south AN Like shooting fish in a barrel FIX!

Here is how you lot brand a water heater cover. AND estimate what else?  It's easily removable for quick access in example of any leaks that you demand to get to.  Danny had to make sure that was a requirement 🙂

I can't tell you exact measurements on this, because information technology will all be based on your own personal application. You lot will have to have in to consideration the infinite y'all accept around your heater, and the size of your heater.

My water heater is tall and skinny. I didn't take pictures of me making it last twelvemonth when nosotros remodeled our laundry room, but I fabricated one for a friend of mine recently and hers was a short, fat water heater.  The pictures below are from when I made that one.  The procedure is the same, just the measurements will be different.

Outset, I cut four 1x4s for the "legs." These will need to be slightly longer than the top of your water heater. Then, I cut 4 brusque pieces of 1×4.  The length of these brusque 1x4s will be based on how wide and deep yous want your cover to be.  You will need to drill pocket holes in them (using your Kreg Jig–affiliate link) like the picture beneath.

So you will attach the curt 1x4s (with pocket screws–chapter link) to the longer "legs" to brand 2 frames similar the picture beneath.

Then, I took some luan—which is like cheap ¼" plywood—and cut two pieces to size to fit in the frames. I cut them nearly an inch wider and an inch longer than the opening.  You have to take some overlap so you lot can staple or blast them on.  I stapled it on the back of each frame.

If you would rather, you can use material instead of luan. I used material for mine (it was drop cloth really), but my friend wanted forest.  Either works fine for hiding the heater 🙂

So I drilled pocket holes in 1 leg of 1 panel like the picture below. I screwed the two panels together using pocket screws.  Make sure you screw them in the correct orientation for your application.

At this point, y'all have two options. Because I wasn't going to be putting a lot of weight on mine and I didn't take the space to add together the extra leg for back up, I just attached my top at this point.

Notwithstanding, if you lot take the infinite for the actress leg, I would put the extra leg in for support. If you don't have the space, skip this step and go to the adjacent 1.

To add together the extra leg, I cut another 1×4 the same length as the other legs, and a shorter ane×4 like I used for the frames.

Using pocket holes and screws, I attached it like the picture below.

Now, you tin can add together the peak. If you weren't able to use the extra support leg, I suggest using ½″ or ¾″ plywood for the top.  If you were able to add the extra leg, yous can use plywood or planks.  I did planks here.

I nailed them on for the superlative. If you don't take the extra leg, I would employ screws to hold it in identify ameliorate.

Now it's ready for pigment, or stain, or just leave it unfinished. Annihilation will look better than that h2o heater!

Simply set it in identify, and that'due south it!  Easy peasy!  Past but sitting it in place, information technology makes for like shooting fish in a barrel removal in case y'all need access to your heater.

That's much better than looking in and seeing ugly pipes and warning labels all over a big metal tank, right?

PS if yous like what yous run into hither, exist sure to check out my whole laundry room remodel 🙂  It's seriously one of my favorite rooms in the house now!

So what are you waiting for?! Get to building–you take a water heater to hibernate!

Don't forget to pivot for later!

How To Build A Cabinet Around A Hot Water Heater,

Source: https://www.woodshopdiaries.com/hide-ugly-water-heater/

Posted by: albrittonoughted2001.blogspot.com

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