Do you want to know how to hide the gas meter in front of your house in clever and even attractive ways?
Ideally, the gas company puts the gas meter in an isolated location on the side of the house where no one can see it.
Unfortunately, sometimes, the best place for it is in the front of the house if that’s where the gas line runs.
The gas meter in front of your house may not add to the curb appeal of your property.
However, you can’t simply get rid of it if you still want to enjoy the convenience of a connection to the main gas supply.
We provide the top 10 ways to hide the gas meter in front of your house.
Cost: Medium
Simplicity: Beginner planting and maintenance required that can be done by almost anyone
Attractiveness: High attractiveness during blooming season
Gas Meter Coverage: Possible lack of coverage, especially during fall and winter
Grow aesthetically pleasing plants around the gas meter to cover it.
Of course, you need to pick plants tall and wide enough to effectively get the job done while also adhering to regulations.
The gas company and the city may have specific rules about greenery around the gas meter.
Ignoring these regulations can lead to fines or a gas leak.
You also need to ensure that the gas company can read the meter when necessary.
Call the gas company to learn the rules before you take a shovel to the dirt.
Questions you want to ask include:
Now, you need to decide on the type of plant you want to grow.
Trees aren’t the best choice since their large roots can damage the gas lines and any nearby sewer lines.
If allowed, you want to plant bushes or shrubs since the larger size helps cover the gas meter.
Pick an evergreen bush with full leaves all year long if possible, such as boxwood or azalea bushes.
If you must stick to flowers, grow large, thick flowers.
Some great flower options to hide your gas meter include:
Now that you have picked a flower, you need to plant.
Before you get dirty, you need to locate the gas line.
Avoid digging in the same spot as the gas line and possibly damaging it.
Now, you need to nurture your flower seeds until they grow.
Shrubs come full-grown and last longer throughout the year.
You may need to come up with an alternative plan when the plants wilt away in the fall or winter.
You need to keep up with all landscaping maintenance, but especially around your gas meter.
Trim the plants regularly and ensure they don’t interfere with the gas meter in any way.
The cost varies depending on the plants you choose, the size and quantity of the plants, and if you do the work yourself or hire a landscaping company.
On average, you will want a three-gallon or five-gallon shrub.
Landscapers will charge $50 for the shrub and another $50 per hour to plant it.
The larger expense involves the tools, time, and sweat equity you put into maintenance over the years.
Alternatively, you can schedule regular landscaping maintenance for your whole yard, including the plants around the gas meter, for an average of $40–$80 a week in the spring and summer.
Cost: Low
Simplicity: Introductory woodworking skills
Attractiveness: Low to medium
Gas Meter Coverage: High
A wood box cover refers to an attractive wooden box with no bottom that you place over the gas meter.
Most people make their box cover themselves.
Gather the wood planks you need to create the box cover.
You can use leftover wood from a different project or buy new wood from the hardware store.
If repurposing wood you already have, prep the wood by removing any nails in it.
You also need to cut the wood to the proper size using a table saw.
You want the box cover to properly fit over the gas meter with plenty of room around it.
Create the box a length that complements the aesthetic of your yard and home and allows for optimal functionality.
Finally, sand the edges of your lumber to keep the edges smooth.
Now, you need to make the actual box.
Form the box shape without a solid bottom.
You want to make the object easy to place over the gas meter.
At this point, you decide how close together you want the wood planks.
You can make them close together to increase how well it camouflages the gas meter, or you may prefer the look of the planks a little further apart (which will also make it easier for the gas company to read the meter).
Now, you need to paint the box cover.
Start with a waterproof primer since the object will come into contact with the elements (i.e., rain).
A waterproof primer will prevent mold growth and prolong the life expectancy of the object.
Next, you need to finish the wooden box cover with an attractive color that either matches your home or your yard.
Alternatively, you can paint it a bright color to add an unexpected design aspect to your front yard.
When fully dry, place the box cover over your gas meter.
Since this object isn’t installed into the ground, it can succumb to damage during high winds and hail.
For lightweight box covers, you may choose to put them in the garage during extreme weather.
Your box cover can make a great ledge for you to place a flowerpot or your favorite watering can.
This added detail can make the box cover appear more functional than a cover for the ugly meter box.
Cost: Low cost
Simplicity: Introductory painting skills
Attractiveness: Low attractiveness
Gas Meter Coverage: Low coverage
Gas companies know that many homeowners don’t like the look of the gas meter, so they usually allow you to paint it.
Paint doesn’t cost much, and you don’t have to worry about making a mess since you will be painting outside.
Of course, you may need to complete some touch-ups every couple of years.
Many people choose to paint the gas meter a color similar to that of their house.
In some cases, it can make more sense to paint it green or brown to match its surroundings.
For the creative family, you can turn your gas meter into an art piece by painting designs or using bright colors.
Who said you can’t paint ladybugs or clouds on the gas meter?
In this case, don’t hide the meter.
Instead, make it a talking point when people visit your home.
You can’t cover the dials to the point that they become unreadable.
This means not painting the meter glass or the index.
Since you are working outside, you also want to find a time to complete the task when the temperature doesn’t negatively impact the paint.
Finally, if you notice rust and corrosion, resolve the issue at the core.
A fresh coat of paint can cover the appearance of the corrosion, but it can’t stop the process from damaging the lines over time.
Cost: Low (if building your own) to high (professionally installing a new fence)
Simplicity: Introductory woodworking skills (if building your own)
Attractiveness: Medium
Gas Meter Coverage: High
You have two options when using a fence to hide your gas meter:
Strategically place your fence to hide the gas meter as well as protect your family if the design calls for it.
However, this may not work in your yard if the gas meter isn’t located somewhere you want to run a fence.
You also need to be careful about placing a sturdy fence around the gas meter.
In most cases, you need at least nine feet of space between the fence and gas meter.
Instead of using your front yard fence to hide your gas meter, you may choose to place a mini fence solely around the gas meter.
For this method, you will create an above-ground fence out of wood (similar to the box cover but a fence instead of a box).
Consider putting a small welcome sign on the fence to add to the hominess of the design.
Cost: Medium to high cost
Simplicity: Advanced woodworking/metal skills (if building your own) and intermediate gardening skills
Attractiveness: High attractiveness
Gas Meter Coverage: Medium coverage
A trellis refers to a structure of interlocking framework usually made of wood, steel, or bamboo, and it usually comes in the shape of a fence, a solitary vertical structure, or an arch.
Oftentimes, homeowners use it in the yard as a foundation for climbing plants to grow.
Since a trellis has a more detailed design, it will cost more than a simple box cover.
You can make your own or buy one at the local hardware store.
Since most trellises have empty spaces by design, you should take advantage of the ability to grow attractive plants on them to fill them out.
Common bines and vines to grow on a trellis include:
Even if the trellis doesn’t hide the gas meter completely, the beautiful addition to your yard will surely cancel out the appearance of the meter box.
However, do your best to deliberately place the trellis in a way that allows it to hide the gas meter as thoroughly as possible.
Cost: Medium cost
Simplicity: Introductory gardening
Attractiveness: Medium to high attractiveness
Gas Meter Coverage: Medium coverage
Place rocks of various shapes and sizes in the area, placing especially large rocks around the meter box itself.
Using multiple large rocks larger than the meter and placing them all around it, you can hide the box and enhance the appearance.
Put the rocks in an attractive formation that looks purposeful.
Before you put down your landscaping rocks, you need to prep the area.
First, you need to remove weeds and any plants growing in the area.
Next, you place a lining over the space to prevent organic growth.
If your gas meter is next to your home, consider using rock features as a border around your entire home.
If your meter finds itself near the sidewalk, create symmetrical rock features on both sides of your driveway to maintain a balanced appearance.
The cost of your rock feature depends on the size and types of rocks used.
See the following to learn the average cost of different landscaping rocks:
Cost: Medium to high cost
Simplicity: Professional installation required for many features
Attractiveness: High attractiveness
Gas Meter Coverage: Medium coverage
Installing a water feature near the gas meter may not cover it completely.
Even so, it can certainly distract visually, taking focus away from the meter box and onto something more enchanting.
You want to place the water feature far enough away from the gas meter to prevent the possibility of confusing water from the water feature with a leak from the gas line.
If you find water in the gas line, it can mean that pipes contain too much rust and corrosion, allowing the water into it.
This happens since water weighs more than gas and will insert itself anywhere it can.
If this happens, you need to replace the pipes.
You don’t want to think you have a water leak when you don’t.
Furthermore, some water features get overly complicated.
Avoid installing something that requires too much plumbing or construction as it may not work in the area due to the gas lines.
Some of the most common water features for the front yard are:
The water feature should cover the gas meter from as many angles as possible, so you want something large.
A birdbath with a skinny stand may not provide the coverage you need.
However, a large birdbath with a thick base can work well.
Consider getting multiple bird baths to cover the gas meter from different angles.
Fire fountains can make use of the nearby gas meter by using it to create the awe-inspiring addition of a fire fountain that creates a flame on top of water.
No one will notice the gas meter when looking at this innovative conversation piece.
Cost: Low to medium cost
Simplicity: Easy enough for anyone to install
Attractiveness: Low to medium attractiveness
Gas Meter Coverage: High coverage
Homeowners across the country who enjoy the power of a gas water heater and a gas stove share your frustration of trying to cover up an ugly gas meter.
Many companies and individual sellers created a solution to the problem by manufacturing gas meter covers for sale.
Gas meter covers provide a simple way to place something over the gas meter using something attractive that can actually enhance the appearance of your yard.
Most options don’t cost too much, either.
You can find a number of different types of gas meter covers.
The main difference is the image they portray.
For example, gas meter covers can look like a rock, an angry rock, a tree stump, or glow in the dark garden pebbles.
Some gas meter covers look similar to the wood box covers we mentioned earlier.
You can find gas meter covers at your local hardware store or online.
Cost: Medium cost
Simplicity: Easy installation
Attractiveness: Medium
Gas Meter Coverage: Medium to high
Buy a metal privacy screen and put it in front of the gas meter.
Most screens don’t require any installation and simply pop open on the ground where you want them.
Many of them come in attractive colors and designs.
However, you want to incorporate the metal screen into your design as seamlessly as possible.
It can point out the fact that you want to hide something if not part of a cohesive look.
Metal makes a good option for your privacy screen since metal can withstand water and fire.
It also adds some variety and texture to your overall landscaping that can increase how interesting your front yard looks.
Pro Tip: Consider buying a couple of the same metal privacy screens to place strategically around the front yard to increase connection and aesthetic continuity.
Cost: High
Simplicity: Professional electrical wiring upgrade
Attractiveness: NA
Gas Meter Coverage: High
You don’t necessarily need to use gas to heat your home or power your stove.
While gas heats 48% of homes in America, you have other options.
In the United States, 37% of homes use electricity, and 14% of homes use alternative fuel sources.
Homeowners will find gas prices more volatile yet cheaper than electricity prices.
Also, it can cost a significant amount of money to make the change from gas to electricity, especially if your home currently uses gas to power appliances.
However, electricity runs more efficiently, making up for the extra cost compared to gas.
Plus, you can get rid of the ugly gas meter on your property once and for all.
It’s no wonder that while gas remains the most popular option, gas home numbers are declining while more and more people opt for electricity.
To make the switch to electricity, you need to buy the appropriate appliances, such as an electric stove, electric clothes dryer, electric water heater, and electric heat pump.
You may need to hire a professional electrician to upgrade the wiring in your home to ensure that you can safely run all of the electrical appliances in your home.
At the very least, get a consultation to avoid dangerous electrical fires or electrocution.
