One of the joys of a finished basement is the ability to hide all your heating and cooling equipment in the middle of the space. This article will show you how to hide furnace in middle of basement, with little to no construction required. By following these simple steps, you can have a furnace hidden away in no time!
The basement is a great space to provide all the comforts of home, including heating and cooling. However, furnaces and air conditioners can be pretty significant and unsightly. Therefore, there is no need for a bulky heating or cooling unit to detract from your finished basement space by hiding them away in the middle of the room. You can have a furnace hidden away in no time!
Things You’ll Need
- Drill
- PVC pipe and fittings (to build frame)
- Corrugated cardboard (the furnace will fit in this frame, but it will be a tight fit)
- 2 pieces of drywall cut to size for the top and bottom panels of the board to close off the furnace area from view once installed in the basement
- Screws, nails, or adhesive to attach drywall panels
- Fiberglass insulation for inside of the furnace area when installed in the wall
A Stepwise Guide on How to Hide Furnace in Middle of Basement
Step 1: Determine How Big to Make the Frame
Cut two pieces of PVC piping that are slightly smaller than the length, width, and height of the furnace. For example, if your dimensions are 36 inches by 24 inches by 20 inches, cut the PVC piping at 33 inches by 21 inches by 17 inches. Drill holes on each end where the PVC pipe will connect. Don’t forget to put holes in the center of each length that is large enough for the flanges on the bottom of the furnace to fit through.
Step 2: Prepare and Cut the Cardboard for the Frame
Cut corrugated cardboard to cover the PVC pipe frame. Drill holes in the center of each length that are large enough for the flanges on the bottom of the furnace to fit through. Once this is done, connect two pieces with tape or adhesive to form a box around the outer edges of your frame.
Measure out two pieces of drywall that will close off your furnace enclosure’s top and bottom openings once installed in your basement. You can use screws or nails to attach them, so they provide continuous support across both pieces. Cover one side with fiberglass insulation before you screw it into place on either side of your frame, though you may want to do this later if you feel like it interferes with the furnace.
Step 3: Assemble the Frame
Place the PVC pipe inside the frame to create a square or rectangle shape. Place one piece of drywall on top of each side with the flat edge facing up. Attach with screws, nails, or adhesive to create an enclosed box around the PVC piping in-between them. If you’re using nails or adhesive, allow a little extra space around the perimeter in in-case you need to add a few more millimeters to fit the flanges on the bottom of your furnace.
Step 4: Place Frame Around Furnace
Place the furnace inside the frame and check for any spaces between each side and the structure (often, if there is a little bit, it can be shimmied until it fits snug). If there are gaps, stuff insulation into these areas to ensure no light will shine through once closed off with drywall panels. Also, ensure there aren’t any significant gaps at either end for this exact reason (this would allow someone standing outside in your basement or out next to your house to see what’s going on inside).
Step 5: Cut Out Holes for Furnace Doors & Air Vents
Find where your furnace doors are on the front of the furnace. Trace around them with a pencil, so you know how big to make your cut. Make sure that you are marking at least 1 inch beyond each door because these areas need to be fitted with pieces of drywall later to create an air-tight seal between the two walls.
Drill holes through the piping and cardboard so you can use them as guides for cutting out along your traced lines with a utility blade or box cutter. If it’s easier, go ahead and connect all four corners of each door so they form a square/rectangle shape (this will make fitting the drywall panels a lot easier).
Step 6: Cut Out Holes for Air Vents
Use the same method to trace around and cut out holes for your air vents, except make these smaller. How big you make them will depend on what type of air vent it is. Some vents will have no screws or nails holding them into place, while others require you to take off the front piece to fit them through this tiny hole. https://smarthomepick.com/how-to-soundproof-an-above-door-air-vent/
If there is no way to be removed from their current location without unscrewing anything, leave the traced areas open where you intend to drill when it comes time to add drywall panels. This is a crucial step in how to hide the furnace in the middle of the basement.
Step 7: Attach Drywall Panels
When attaching drywall panels, it is preferable to have a partner working with you to attach them, but if not, make sure that you do not overlap the frames when attaching panels in-between two end pieces. Each piece of drywall should be flush with each other and fit snugly against one another, ensuring no gaps for any light to shine through.
How you attach the panels is entirely up to you. You can use screws or nails (which makes it easier to take down), add adhesive, or follow your instructions from where you bought them.
Step 8: Complete Frame
Once all drywall has been added and secured tightly around the furnace without gaps between each panel, the frame can now be seen on both sides of your structure. We suggest adding some latch along the front or side for ease of access to get your furnace in and out for safety reasons. Now that your frame is completed, it’s time to start covering each side with drywall panels.
Step 9: Cover One Side in Drywall Panels
Start with the side that faces your home. Please take one of your panels and place it around your opening, making sure to fit it snugly into each corner (this will be the easiest way to do this). Then, using screws or nails and adhesive, attach the drywall panel to the piping on either side. How you choose to glue them is up to you – if using screws or nails, drill through all three so they are firmly attached. If using adhesive, make sure no excess adhesive gets onto any areas where there may be heat later on.
After adding one panel, take another drywall panel that is similar in size and shape. Attach this panel to the piping on either side of it, then glue or attach it to the piece you just added. Choose how to attach the second panel, making sure there are no corners for light to leak through or gaps where heat can escape. If necessary, move the first panel out of the way and continue adding more panels until they completely cover all surfaces.
Step 10: Finish Covering Other Side
Once your first side is finished, it’s now time to cover the other half of your frame. This process should be very similar to what you just did with the first side. On this side, overlap each panel so that it looks like one large piece of drywall covering the entire frame when seen from inside.
How well you want this structure to look may affect how many panels you choose to use for each row or layer, but make sure there are no gaps for light or heat to escape. Again, these steps will help in how to hide furnace in middle of basement.
Precautions When Hiding Furnace in Middle of Basement
- Make sure that all of the windows in your basement are boarded up with wooden planks
- Make sure there is a big Do Not Enter sign on the door leading to your basement.
- To enter the basement, you must find a wooden plank in your backyard and put it on top of a big rock near the door.
- To use your furnace, you must find a rock in your backyard and put it on the wooden plank while going down to the basement.
- Only 40 people can use your furnace at a time; make sure that no one other than yourself goes to the basement.
Conclusion
We hope you have learned how to hide furnace in middle of basement. The best way to hide a furnace is in the middle of your basement and make sure it’s not on display. You can also place an air conditioner over top of the furnace if you want to disguise it even more. An old wardrobe will do the trick if you don’t have a basement. Remember to re-purpose old furniture when hiding furnaces.
