4 Smart Pool Equipment Enclosure Ideas (With Pictures)

When your pool area is complete, and the new patio or deck surrounding it is finally finished, the yard should look beautiful. It is a perfect setting for family barbeques, kid’s birthday parties, and a lazy Sunday afternoon. One common issue that many pool owners deal with is how to make the pool equipment look better.

Depending on what type of pool you have, the pool equipment can stand out like a sore thumb. In addition to it looking like a small industrial factory on the side of your sparkling blue oasis, the kids and pets always seem interested in the one thing they should not be interested in.

Pool enclosures are great for keeping your equipment in great shape and keeping your yard looking neat and clean. Here are three smart types of pool enclosures and some natural sources for getting this taken care of right away!

The 4 Pool Equipment Enclosure Ideas

1. Privacy Screens and Walls

This is the simplest and cheapest solution to your pool enclosure issue. A privacy screen can be ordered and installed in a matter of hours.

Make sure to carefully measure the area before purchasing and get one large enough to hide the equipment properly.

The Yardistry Privacy Screen is one of our favorite options because of the ability to add plants around the base of the screen. With built-in planter boxes, this screen will only add to the natural beauty of your yard. Because this particular design has three panels on hinges, it can be easily configured to fit around some tight-fitting spots or pool equipment that takes up an irregularly shaped space.

The best thing about privacy screens for a pool enclosure is that they are durable, inexpensive, and available in a variety of options. In addition to hiding the pool equipment, they will work to block some of the noise as well. The one downside of the wall or screen is that it doesn’t cover the equipment as a full enclosure would.

If you are a do-it-yourself kind of homeowner, you can make a privacy wall to surround your pool equipment. A simple wall several feet high, if done right, can be an excellent addition to the yard. Make sure to choose a durable material that will last for years to come and treat it correctly with the correct paint and finishes. A quick trick is to look for a fence section from a local home improvement store and see if you can use that to make something work. Some of the fencing can be expensive, but if you only need one section and you know you are getting materials that will hold up in lots of weather over time, it can be a quick and easy option.

2. Sheds

If you are not lucky enough to have a cabana or pool house in your yard, then a small shed can be a cheap and quick alternative to that. There are always plus, and minus to every decision pool owner has to make, but here are a few things to consider about adding a shed to house your pool equipment.

• Make sure you have enough space with where your pool equipment is currently located to install the shed and leave adequate areas for opening and closing the door.
• Check that your pool equipment can fit (with extra room) before purchasing any pool sheds.
• Be sure to look at the inside dimensions of the shed, not the outside.
• If you have extra pool toys, patio furniture cushions, and other outdoor eyesores that need to be stored, choose an option that is big enough to handle all of this.
• The best part of the shed option is the protection of your pool equipment.
• Sitting in the direct sunlight year after year and be difficult on the pool parts. Depending on your climate and if you take the pool equipment inside in the winter, those deep freezes can also cause issues.

Pool sheds are available in a variety of options and costs from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. One option that we like for a quick solution is the Keter Backyard Storage Enclosure. This shed will work in even the smallest space. The inside and outside dimensions are listed on most product offerings. Some sheds available should give plenty of room for a little to medium size system depending on how it is configured. This enclosure is made out of polypropylene resin plastic and steel reinforcement to ensure that it will last for years to come. This particular model is available in a 4’ x 6’ model with a single door and a 6’ x 8’ model with a double door.

Make sure to follow all manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to installing this shed and be very careful when storing pool chemicals in any location.

3. The Natural Look

Not interested in a small house or a wall standing out in your yard? Another option is to use plants and grasses to cover the area. If you are not a green thumb, this can be a complicated process. Not only do you need to plan out the plants that will work around the equipment long term, but there will be upkeep involved as well. Some plants will only last a year; others will root in too deep and could cause more issues. Weeds are another thing that needs to be taken into consideration, if you have ever tried weeding a garden in July, it’s not a great time.

All that being said, there are plenty of people that do very well with a garden hiding their pool equipment. If you are not those people, there is another option! Several manufacturers make fake boxwoods and hedge walls that you can use to surround your equipment. At first, you may be thinking that this would stand out and look fake, but in all honesty, some nice ones get the job done and with zero maintenance costs!

These Artificial Boxwood Panels can be configured in a variety of different ways to accommodate your needs. The material is straightforward to use, install, and maintain. We love this solution for someone that happens to have a chain-link type fence surrounding their pool equipment and wants to make it look more natural. If you are going to use the artificial boxwood panels, you may need to put in an inexpensive fence around your pool pump and then cover it with these. There are so many different configurations, and if you like the look, you can carry it over to another area in your yard or patio design to make things flow even better in your yard.

4. Simple Yet Efficient

Another idea for a quick and easy pool enclosure is to use an outdoor curtain. Depending on your yard and pool setup, it might be that you only see the pool filter from one section of your patio. An Outdoor Curtain can be a great solution. Not only will your pool equipment be blocked, but this option provides privacy and shade as well. Choose something that is mildew resistant, so it will last you for years to come and will be simple to clean when needed. A great benefit to this type of enclosure would be that you can also pull the curtain back at times when you don’t need it blocking your entire view. Hard to do that with a fence or a wall!

Conclusion

There are lots of options when it comes to enclosing your pool equipment.

Your yard, budget, and physical space are going to determine which options will work for you. Keep in mind when working on any project like this to measure twice and order once. Another thing you may want to look into is your pool filter recommendations for being enclosed. Some will require a certain amount of space or airflow around the actual equipment. This information should be easy to find in the owner’s manual that came with your product.

Featured image credit: innokurnia, Pixabay