How to hide a gas water heater in the kitchen

How to arrange pipes and chimney?

When decorating a small kitchen, the question arises of how to hide the pipes, the presence of which most people consider a disadvantage. You can’t sew them up: deaf plasterboard niches and boxes will be a gross violation. When hiding the pipeline, it is necessary to leave free access to it - equip the decorative box with a door or hatch.

In the photo there is a kitchen in Khrushchev, where only a gas pipe left in sight reminds of a column. The refrigerator is built into the closet, and the window sill serves as an additional place to relax.

Connoisseurs of modern styles (Scandi, loft, fusion and contemporary) are more tolerant of open pipes and chimneys, preferring to leave them in plain sight. Firstly, the boxes deprive the kitchen in Khrushchev of valuable space, and secondly, even “unattractive” gas pipes can fit perfectly into the chosen style.

The photo shows a straight kitchenette with a neat black column and pipes that are in harmony with the stylish decor.

How to increase the space of the room?

If the kitchen in the "Khrushchev" is too cramped and at the same time with a mounted gas water heater, the owners are primarily puzzled by the possibilities of expanding the space while maintaining its functional purpose.

There are several proven ways to help visually increase the kitchen area with a column. This will make it even more comfortable.

• It is better to refuse floor cabinets. Heavy facades with massive handles will not work either. An excellent option would be a modular set with glass doors or with a glossy finish. Such furniture reflects light and looks more elegant, visually freeing up space.
• If there is a door leading to the kitchen, you need it to open outward. But it is desirable to remove it completely. An open arched opening will save precious meters and create the illusion of a “flowing” space.
• It is convenient to equip a functional shelf in a niche under the windowsill.
• If possible, you should take the refrigerator out of the kitchen or choose the most compact model.
• Window decor is best limited to Roman blinds with translucent textiles.
• For the design of the kitchenette, wall decoration in light colors is successful. So the room will become visually more spacious.It is better to refuse large drawings altogether, since the kitchen will seem cramped from them.

The ideal way out is redevelopment:

Combining the living room with the kitchen. The organization of additional space will facilitate the layout of the kitchen with the arrangement of all necessary furniture and equipment. But you will need a powerful hood so that the smells of food do not hover in the living room.

Connection with a balcony. A small kitchen will become a little more spacious and brighter, but you will have to spend money on dismantling the wall and insulating it.

Expansion of the kitchen by reducing the bathroom. Moving the wall deeper will give more maneuverability in moving around the kitchen. But in the bathroom you have to make room

Here it is important to decide which space is easier to sacrifice.

Radical measures will require considerable capital investment, including the legitimization of perestroika. But, having received documents from state authorities, it will be possible to live comfortably with the layout that suits and does not constrain.

Types of geysers

The principle of operation of all columns is the same. Units for heating water differ from each other in the way the burner is ignited in the column. Several varieties can be distinguished.

Columns with manual ignition

This type of column is obsolete. These were used back in Soviet times. The gas was lit with matches, the fire flared up after turning the knob for turning on the gas supply.

Speakers with piezo ignition

The column starts working by pressing the start button. By pressing it, you apply a spark to the burner using the built-in piezoelectric element. Then you can open the faucet and get hot water.

Automatic speakers

The water in them begins to heat up immediately after opening the tap with water. The spark is fed automatically to the burner.Pressing buttons and matches are not needed here at all. The spark supply is powered by finger batteries. Energy consumption is minimal, so they rarely need to be replaced with new ones.

Speakers also vary in power. The more powerful the column, the more water it will heat in a certain time. If you have a large family, then choose a device with the highest power. For example, a column with a power rating of 24 kW heats 14 liters. This volume is enough for a shower for several people and washing dishes.

Ways to increase free space

The design of a small Khrushchev kitchen with a gas water heater should primarily aim to increase the narrow space without losing its functional purpose. That is, the repair should bring space here without thereby creating any inconvenience.

Here are proven ways to help visually expand the Khrushchev kitchen with a column and make it more comfortable:

• refuse standard floor cabinets with heavy facades and large handles, do not choose a standard, straight-shaped headset, preferring modular options with glass or glossy doors. Such furniture does not look bulky, and glossy surfaces reflect light, expanding the space;
• if the door opens into the kitchen, dismantle it by making an opening in the form of an arch. This will save precious space;
• use the niche space under the windowsill to store dishes or install compact appliances. If such an opportunity arises, take the refrigerator out of the kitchen or pick up a compact model of such a unit;
• choose only light translucent window textiles or replace the standard tulle with Roman blinds;
• when choosing a color for decorating a small kitchen with a gas water heater, it should be noted that for such a space, experienced designers recommend using light natural tones on the walls. This technique fills the room with light, visually making it more spacious. It is worth abandoning large drawings on furniture and walls, they will only visually narrow the kitchen.

There are also ways to expand the space of the Khrushchev kitchen through installation or dismantling. The ideal option would be a redevelopment.

Method	Advantages	Flaws
Connecting the kitchen to the living room	The kitchen room acquires a fairly significant amount of additional space	You will need to purchase a good hood so that cooking odors do not penetrate into the living room
Joining the balcony area	The kitchen becomes more spacious and brighter due to the dismantling of the walls	The walls of the balcony will need to be additionally insulated, which will entail material costs
Removing the wall of the bathroom in depth	The option is acceptable if a balcony does not adjoin the kitchen	Bathroom space will be smaller

Geysers - we do everything beautifully

In order for the column in the kitchen not to spoil the overall look, it is necessary to choose a unit that matches the color scheme of the entire room.

Such a column will not immediately catch the eye and at the same time harmoniously fit into the overall interior of the kitchen.

What are the ways to do this? See below.

Painting. So, how to close the geyser in the kitchen? If you have a good command of the brush, then painting is an option.

The speakers, decorated with picturesque drawings and patterns, not only look beautiful, but also attract attention. So why not turn an old ugly technique into a work of art? To date, this option to eliminate "ugliness" has become the most popular and in demand among the population.

Decoupage of an old geyser

A geyser with a pattern will fit into the most sophisticated interior

1. Facade color. If you purchase a kitchen column to match the color of the headset, then it will not stand out among all household appliances (it will be easy to do if your kitchen is decorated in white or black). In the event that you cannot find a column of a suitable color, then you can simply repaint the front panel of the unit in the desired colors with your own hands. It is better to do this with a can of paint.

Geyser in the color of the headset

1. Use a kitchen set with a column together. This option involves hiding the column in kitchen hanging cabinets or mounting the gas column close to the cabinets. In general, manufacturers do not prohibit this option, but in order not to risk it again, you need to call the gas service and clarify all the nuances associated with resolving this issue.

1. Kitchens for the kitchen with a column. Many furniture manufacturers produce kitchen sets adapted to old-style kitchens, so they have a special niche or cabinet that is designed to accommodate a column.

Set with a cabinet for a geyser

1. Column inside the kitchen cabinet. On such a step, few modern inhabitants dare. Why? Everything is associated with an increased level of fire hazard.Even if you have a fireproof cabinet, you will have to remove the back wall, lid and bottom in it - increased ventilation will avoid a possible explosion.

3 cm distance respected

1. Latticed partitions. You can hang special grilles on the locker in which you hide the column, which will hide the column itself, but at the same time will become a decoration of the kitchen and an excellent ventilation alternative to ordinary wooden doors.

Trellised door for the cabinet where the column is hidden

Trellised door for cabinet where column 2 is hidden

The nuances of repair

When renovating a kitchen with a gas water heater, we sometimes forget about a very important detail - rarely do any of us order a set that is fully adapted to the size and features of the kitchen.

In most cases, we buy ready-made. In general, if you make repairs in accordance with all the rules, first you need to draw up a project for a kitchen with a gas water heater.

And only then you can proceed to the main work and the purchase of furniture, while taking into account all the features of the kitchen.

So, we hung the column and organically fit it into the design of the kitchen. But what to do with hoses and ventilation, the pipes of which stick out in all directions?

Stretch ceiling in the kitchen with a geyser will help solve this problem! If you put all communications on the ceiling, then stretch ceilings will be able to hide all the pipes (it remains only to hide those sections of pipes that stick out directly from the column).

As an option, you can consider special cable channels for pipes, which, in case of an unforeseen situation, can always be opened without damaging the integrity of the entire “masking structure”.

Safety precautions for installation and operation

For the safety of the kitchen in Khrushchev with a column, you must follow the rules for installing and operating the device.

Before use:

1. Look for flammable objects near the burner.
2. Make sure no gas is leaking.
3. Check if the burners are working. They shouldn't smoke. If it is present, that use is prohibited.
4. The color of the flame should be blue. If you see yellow or red shades, then you need to call the master to clean the surface around the burner.
5. In case of malfunctions and defects in the device, it is disconnected from the network. Even when the speakers are off, smoking and the use of lighters is prohibited.
6. If you find a leak, call the wizard and open the windows. Trying to fix it yourself is not allowed.

Before installation:

1. Make sure the rooms are well ventilated. Usually installation takes place in kitchens or bathrooms, because there are hoods there.
2. Do not cut off the air supply to the water heater.
3. Do not place the device near flammable objects. If your kitchen has a gas stove, then the water heater is not placed above it, so as not to provoke a fire.
4. Do not lay the device with bricks, plasterboard, tiles. This will interfere with the inspection of the operability of the device, carrying out repair work. In addition, in the event of a malfunction, it will not be possible to quickly detect them, shut off the gas and call the masters, which can lead to disastrous consequences.

Some believe that Soviet instruments could explode. This will not happen if you follow it, do not violate safety precautions and periodically call specialists for inspection.

Still people are afraid of gas leakage. In modern devices, an additional burner is installed for the fuse.It does not allow gas to go into the room until a fire, sparks. When the fire is turned off, the valve shuts off the gas. If the fire goes out on its own for unknown reasons, the valve will also work.

Masking for the interior

One of the easiest ways to “marry” a geyser with a kitchen interior is to paste over it with the same wallpaper as the walls of the room. Or cover with a vinyl film similar to them in style and color. You can also choose the shade of the film for the water heater to the kitchen set.

The best option is to paint the column with non-combustible paint also to match the walls or headset. Heat-resistant enamel, which is designed to cover metal, is best suited for these purposes.

However, you can use a regular spray can, then even a teenager will cope with the task. In this case, do not forget to cover the screen and handles of the device with masking tape, and also cover the surface behind the speaker.

Types of pipes and how to mask them in the kitchen

In many apartments, pipeline masking is provided for in the layout: the developer makes special strobes in the walls, in which plumbing communications of hot and cold water supply and heating systems are hidden.

Sewer pipes are usually hidden in the floor or in the wall during the construction or major renovation phase. The only type of pipes that cannot be closed tightly is a gas pipeline. For safety reasons, gas equipment must be provided with an unobstructed air supply.

If the pipe is walled up or the column is placed in a closed box, then in the event of a leak, the gas will accumulate in the closed space, and this situation may one day lead to an explosion.Therefore, according to existing requirements, it is strictly forbidden to close gas pipes with the help of boxes, to wall them up in walls.

There are several basic ways to close the pipes of cold and hot water supply, heating, ventilation, sewerage and gas pipelines.

Standard options - using frame structures based on metal profiles and drywall sheets (plywood, plastic, chipboard). In this case, the design will be perceived as part of the layout.

Another popular way of masking is with the help of hanging and floor furniture modules.

In any case, the use of any structures should not be contrary to safety requirements and be consistent with the gas service.

Each owner chooses his own way of masking pipelines, based on the possibilities, general style decisions and aesthetic preferences.

Construction of boxes

With the help of boxes, you can hide vertically and horizontally running engineering communications in the kitchen. This is a simple way that allows you to maintain the aesthetics of the design of the room.

With the help of various materials - drywall, plastic panels, MDF or chipboard - rectangular structures are mounted. They can protrude above the wall surface, be installed in existing niches and corners of the room, under the ceiling or along the floor, or combined with a furniture set.

It is quite simple to build a box: this requires metal perforated profiles, a screwdriver and self-tapping screws. With the help of profiles, a frame of appropriate dimensions is made.The profiles are securely connected with fasteners and fixed to the wall, ceiling and floor with self-tapping screws.

The width of the frame must be calculated in such a way that there is at least 10 cm free space on both sides of the pipe. When the frame is mounted, sheets of drywall, plastic or MDF are attached to it.

Disguise with furniture

Furniture elements - wall and floor cabinets - the easiest and most convenient way to hide utility pipes in the kitchen. In most apartments of compatriots, using a special cabinet under the sink, they mask the siphon and sewer drain.

By the same principle, you can hide other pipes: for this, the upper and lower modules of the kitchen set are used. Depending on the thickness and location of the pipes in the body of the wall cabinet, holes are cut or the bottom or top of the module is completely removed, leaving only the side walls and the facade (door).

Concealment with wall cabinets is a traditional way to hide the exhaust ventilation pipe and gas pipeline. To do this, the kitchen set is hung on the wall so that the shelves inside the cabinet are parallel to the pipe.

If necessary, you can cut holes in them according to the diameter and location of the gas pipeline or heating pipe, and if it is a thick corrugated exhaust ventilation pipe, you can completely remove the shelves and leave a free niche.

If you need to hide the pipes with a hanging furniture module, you can not use it as a support for hanging. A cabinet with a door should only be fixed to the wall or side modules. It should not be subjected to stress, especially if it is a gas pipeline.

Another camouflage option is with the help of a countertop connecting floor modules, a sink or a window sill.The countertop masks horizontally running pipes of a gas pipeline, sewerage or heating.

If possible, you can even replace the window sill with a single slab of natural or artificial stone (granite, marble) or chipboard 16-22 mm. Many designers use one design that goes from countertop to window sill.

Popular disguise options

There are several ways to decorate communication. How exactly to hide the gas pipe in the kitchen, the master decides on his own, depending on the available budget, the general interior of the kitchen and his preferences.

Plasterboard box

This is a relatively controversial method by which a gas pipe can be removed from prying eyes. The main requirement for a drywall construction is the ability to remove one of its sides at any time. In addition, in the assembled drywall box, there must be ventilation in the form of a lattice or special perforation. This eliminates the accumulation of gas in one zone in the event of a leak. Subject to these two rules, you can hide the gas pipe with a decorative design.

Before you hide the gas meter in the kitchen in the same way, it must be taken into account that the listed rules apply to this area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe highway.

It is advisable to make a drywall box for a gas pipe in the kitchen from fire-resistant sheets. It's not hard to do the job:

1. Marking is applied to the wall.
2. A frame made of aluminum profiles is mounted.
3. According to the measurements taken, pieces of drywall are cut out and planted on self-tapping screws.

It is desirable to carry out work using the building level so that the box does not have a skew.

Cabinet or hanging furniture

Sometimes the function of decor is perfectly performed by kitchen cabinets.You can make them yourself, order furniture according to given measurements, or simply buy the perfect kitchen set. In this case, two options are possible:

• Arrangement of cabinets in such a way that the gas pipe passes inside them.
• Hanging cabinets on the wall under the pipeline. Due to the considerable depth of the kitchen furniture, the highway at the top will not be visible.

Similarly, you can hide the gas meter from prying eyes without having to move it. With a skillful approach, the cabinet will become a real art object in the kitchen.

If you don’t want to mess with hanging furniture, you can provide a decorative shelf in the upper part of the wall directly under the pipe. Hiding a gas pipeline in this way is easy and also interesting. Pots with chlorophytum or asparagus can subsequently be installed on the shelf. The greenery hangs beautifully with stems down and also perfectly cleans the air in the kitchen.

Painting

You can mask the gas pipe with a simple paint. By showing artistic imagination, you can achieve excellent results. Experienced craftsmen offer several decor options using painting:

• Paint the highway to match the wall decoration in the kitchen. In this case, the pipe will merge with the main color and will not be conspicuous.
• Use a contrasting shade. But it must necessarily overlap with any color in the interior of the kitchen. Then the pipe will be perceived harmoniously.
• If the kitchen uses a classic style or baroque interior, you can paint the gas pipe in gold or silver with an aging effect.
• For lovers of eco-style, the option of painting a gas pipe under wood, stone is perfect. The highway in the form of a birch trunk looks original.
• You can use the option of ethno-staining. It will be appropriate if similar ornaments are already present in the kitchen.

Railing system

This method is suitable if the gas pipe stretches in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe kitchen apron. This is more common in apartments of old houses. Railing systems-overlays are a kind of zone in which kitchen utensils are placed on hooks. In this way, you can beat the interior in any style.

Other ways to decorate

You can close the gas pipe in the kitchen in other ways. One of them is artificial plants. Curly stems of plastic flowers can be run through the pipeline. They can also be interesting to decorate the hood. It will turn out a kind of green corner in the working area.

Bamboo stem shaping is another interesting decor option. This will require natural or artificial bamboo material. Its diameter should exceed the cross section of the gas pipe by 8-10 cm. The length of the artificial or natural trunk should be equal to the length of the line that needs to be hidden, hidden.

The decoupage technique also makes it interesting to close up a gas pipe. As a masking material, you can take the usual twine. It is tightly wrapped around the pipe along its entire length. For a more interesting performance, you can later attach artificial citruses and green leaves to the string.

Rules for the safe installation of a geyser

When a large-scale redevelopment is planned, a radical transfer or installation of a gas heater in an apartment for the first time, one cannot do without obtaining the appropriate permits from the gas services. The complexity of the coordination is determined by the distance of the "moving" and the place chosen for mounting the column.

A transfer project is created if the device is moved more than 1.5 meters from the previous mounting area. On average, it takes up to several months to obtain an official permit.

We also recommend paying attention to the rules for transferring a gas pipe

Since the gas water heater is a potentially dangerous appliance and requires extremely careful handling in everyday life, let's talk in more detail about the general rules and requirements regarding installation. Almost any manipulation with the device needs to be coordinated with the regulatory authorities

It is not necessary to coordinate your actions only in two cases: if the unit has already been installed, remains in the same place or is replaced by a similar one

Almost any manipulation with the device needs to be coordinated with the regulatory authorities. It is not necessary to coordinate your actions only in two cases: if the unit has already been installed, remains in the same place or is replaced by a similar one

Installation site requirements

The location of the appliance in the kitchen is limited by rigid frames. It is strictly forbidden to install the unit above the sink, refrigerator, gas stove. The minimum distance between them is 1 meter.

Access to the gas column should be as free as possible. This will ensure quality service and the possibility of inspecting the device if necessary.

In addition, the device must not be mounted too low or too high. It is desirable that the burner is at eye level or at least in sight.

For residents of small apartments, the kitchen area of ​​​​which does not exceed 6 m², an exception is provided: they can hang a column above the sink

Recommended Height:

• from the floor to the bottom surface of the device - 0.8-1.2 m;
• from the upper surface to the ceiling - from 0.3 m;
• from the side panel to the wall - at least 0.15 m;
• from the front panel to the opposite wall - from 1 m.

It is better not to decorate the walls near the column with wallpaper and plastic panels. The surface on which the installation is supposed to be carried out must be covered with non-combustible materials. The same rule applies to all panels used to mask the device.

Requirements for the premises

A gas water heater is installed in houses with a height of no more than 11 floors. Gas workers insist on installation within the kitchen premises, but subject to a number of additional requirements, installation in the bathroom is now possible.

But in the kitchen-studio, which combines two rooms in an apartment with redevelopment, they will not be allowed to mount a column. According to the law, the space in which a gas water heater is installed cannot be part of a living room.

Many neglect this rule, explaining their decision by the fact that no one sleeps in the living room. However, from a security point of view, this is considered a gross violation.

In the room where the column works, one should not overdo it with waterproofing and window insulation. If plastic window structures are installed in the apartment, they must necessarily have a micro-ventilation function.

Basic requirements for the room in which the column will be installed:

• the presence of a high-quality, not clogged ventilation system with natural air flow;
• diameter of the circumference of the ventilation hole - not less than 0.12 m;
• sufficient area - 6.5-8 m², but specific parameters depend on the type of burner;
• ceiling height - not less than 2 m.

To obtain permission to install or change the position of a gas heater, it is necessary to prepare a certified act on the condition of the chimney, the technical passport of the device itself. You will also need an installation project and a document confirming the ownership of housing.

We talked in more detail about the norms and requirements for installing a gas column in our other article.

Compliance with the requirements for the room and the installation site of the column will significantly increase the level of safety for family members. However, in order to foresee all the risks and completely eliminate the likelihood of emergencies, it is worth installing a gas leak sensor in the room.

Installation of gas pipes, installation, connection and first start-up of the device must be carried out exclusively by professionals. After all the work is completed, the gas service employees issue an act of commissioning.

We transfer gas systems

The need to move the gas pipe in the kitchen arises in connection with the overhaul. The transfer of gas pipes is a responsible matter and requires a competent approach, therefore it is better to entrust the installation work to professionals with special knowledge and skills. The operation of gas communications is always associated with some risk, and your safety depends on how correctly the transfer of the gas pipe in the apartment is carried out.

Transferring a gas meter

In order to carry out the reconstruction of the gas system in a legal way, four mandatory steps are required:

• Send an application to the territorial gas service with a reasoned request for permission to dismantle and install pipelines and equipment, for example, move a gas stove.
• With the participation of a gas service specialist, inspect the place of work and assess their feasibility.
• If the issue is resolved positively, obtain from the service organization a calculation of the required work and their final estimated cost.
• Order, if necessary, a technical project in a specialized organization licensed for this type of work.

Upon completion of the preparatory stage of registration of the necessary documentation, you can proceed with the installation. For this, it is recommended to involve licensed professionals. Specialists performing gas hazardous work strictly comply with the requirements of the instructions. Watching them, you can assess the level of professionalism of employees. To move the gas pipe, you must strictly follow the following algorithm:

Installation work of the gas supply system is best left to professionals

1. Before starting work, it is required to turn off the tap on the gas pipe leading to the equipment: boiler, column or stove.
2. Pipes need thorough purging in order to remove the remnants of the gas mixture from them.
3. The unnecessary pipe is cut off, the resulting hole is welded, a new pipe is mounted in the required place.
4. Welds and other connections are checked for tightness.
5. Upon completion, an appropriate document is drawn up - an act of work performed, and notes are made on the changes made to the technical passport.

When entrusting gas hazardous work in your premises, you need to make sure that a specialized organization has a certificate for this type of activity. The qualifications of employees must be confirmed by valid certificates.

Varieties of columns

Before installing heating equipment, you should familiarize yourself with the types of gas water heaters. They are divided into two types:

• automatic;
• semi-automatic.

Semi-automatic means that the gas wick burns constantly, and when hot water starts up, the burner also turns on. The automatic column is arranged a little differently: when the hot water tap is turned on, the igniter is ignited, from which the burner is ignited.

Outwardly, both types are practically the same. The design may differ in color, the location of the control panel and its type (buttons, levers, sensor). Owners of any kind of speakers are primarily interested in the question: is it worth hiding the heater or not.

Modern speakers often have a rather stylish design and easily fit into the interior of even a small kitchen, they look great among headset cabinets.

If the open view of the geyser in the kitchen does not suit you, then it can be disguised, for example, in a closet.

Geysers are divided into two types: Automatic and semi-automatic

Modern speakers are able to harmoniously fit into the interior