How to Hide a Heat Pump in Your Garden (Without Affecting Performance)

More and more Irish homes are switching to air-to-water heat pumps. They're efficient and help cut energy bills – but the outdoor unit is usually a large, boxy appliance sitting right beside your house or in the middle of your garden view. If you've spent time and money on your garden, it's natural to want to hide it.

The good news is that you can disguise a heat pump and keep it looking good – as long as you do it the right way.

1. Airflow comes first

A heat pump works by moving large volumes of air across its coils. If you block that airflow, the unit has to work harder and may become less efficient. Before you choose any screen or cover:

• Check your heat pump manufacturer's recommended clearances around the front, sides, back and top of the unit.
• Choose a cover with open, decorative panels rather than solid sheets.
• Make sure the cover is sized to leave space around the unit – not wrapped tightly around it.

If you're unsure, check your installation manual or ask your installer.

2. Keep access for servicing

Your heat pump will need occasional servicing. Make sure any cover or screen can be removed or opened so your engineer can get to the unit easily.

3. Choose materials that suit Irish weather

Timber screens can look nice at first, but they need regular treatment and can rot, warp or go green in our climate. Galvanised steel with a powder-coated finish is a low-maintenance alternative that holds its colour and won't rot.

4. Match it to your home

A heat pump cover doesn't have to be purely functional. A well-designed cover can become a feature in its own right. Think about:

• Colour – anthracite grey works well with modern windows and doors, while moss green blends into planting and hedging.
• Pattern – laser-cut designs, from natural tree and birch patterns to clean geometric shapes, add texture to plain walls.
• Planting – a few pots or climbing plants nearby (not blocking the airflow) help the cover blend in further.

5. Get the size right

Measure the width, height and depth of your outdoor unit, then add the clearances your manufacturer recommends. That gives you the minimum internal space your cover needs.

Our F Series heat pump covers

Our F Series heat pump covers are designed and made in our workshop in Rathcoole, Co. Dublin, from galvanised steel with a powder-coated finish and a 15-year coating guarantee. They come in three sizes and three RAL colours, with Birch, Native Tree and Geometric designs – and we can make custom sizes too.

Not sure which size you need? Send us your heat pump's make and model and we'll help you choose.