How to Soundproof a Boiler Cupboard

Considering that one of the main reasons for surrounding a boiler with a cupboard is to limit noise, it's important to ensure that steps are taken to soundproof the cupboard. 

After all, with the incorrect materials or steps, it’s entirely possible to end up with a boiler cupboard that while preventing your boiler from being an eyesore, does little to dampen its sound.

So, what steps should be taken to ensure that a boiler cupboard is soundproof? And can this be done DIY?

Let’s take a closer look!

Why Do Boilers Make Lots of Noise?

Boilers can be noisy appliances. Of course, it’s important to separate the expected sounds from those that may indicate an underlying issue.

Starting with the normal sounds, when a boiler is on, you should notice a gentle ‘whirring’ soon.

This is the noise of the heat pump as it circulates or/and pumps water.

Another sound you should hear is that deep rumbling noise your boiler makes as the flame ignites and begins heating up water.

Lastly, modern boilers will occasionally produce a clicking noise as switches and valves switch on and off inside the boiler.

However, sounds coming from boilers can also be a sign that something is wrong.

Therefore, before having a soundproof boiler cupboard installed, you want to be sure that you are not trying to block out a noise that actually needs investigating.

Noises that may be a sign of a problem include:

• Banging sounds - Often the result of kettling, which in turn is generally caused by the accumulation of limescale, overheating or a boiler leak.

• Whistling-like noises - Generally the result of trapped air inside your heating system.

• Gurgling sounds - Again this tends to be caused by trapped air, however, another possible explanation is that your condensate pipe has frozen over.

For more details on what varying boiler noises mean, check out our ‘why is my boiler making noises?’ guide where we explore the common causes and fixes of various boiler sounds.

Of course, if there turns out to be a problematic noise with your boiler and this is solved, you may not feel the need to soundproof your boiler cupboard.

However, if you’d rather quieten any and all sounds coming from your boiler, there are various approaches to doing so, with some being DIY-friendly and others not.

Methods of Soundproofing a Boiler Cupboard

Note: After having your boiler cupboard soundproofed, it’s essential to still remain vigilant to problematic boiler noises.

Be sure to check it occasionally to see if it’s generating any strange noises.

There are various approaches you can take to soundproofing a boiler cupboard and some will be more effective than others. 

As mentioned, some of these solutions will be okay for a DIYer to undertake, whereas others will require the work of a professional.

Moreover, even if a task is considered DIY-friendly, you should only undertake it so long as you have the right skills and knowledge. If in doubt, always hire a professional.

Also, if you decide to undertake a given task DIY, wherever applicable, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to a T.

Obviously most products will not come with instructions as to how you can specifically add said material/product to a boiler cupboard, which is another reason why having the right skills and knowledge is critical.

But, without further ado, here are the methods you might want to consider.

Acoustic panels

DIY-friendly? Yes

Also known as soundproof panels, acoustic panels can be added to a boiler cupboard and are a great way of dampening the noises that your boiler produces.

Acoustic panels come in the form of two foam sheets with fibreglass in their centre.

By limiting reverberation, the panels can significantly reduce the sound levels of your boiler, giving you a more serene and calm environment to work, eat or sleep in.

While soundproof panels do not come cheap, they are relatively easy to install and do a superb job of limiting the sound coming from your boiler.

You likely won’t need too many acoustic panels to achieve this. 

Acoustic plasterboard

DIY-friendly? Yes

Another DIY-friendly solution involves adding acoustic plasterboard, which is a high-density material, making it a great noise insulator.

While it is easy to add acoustic plasterboard to a boiler cupboard, it is noticeably thicker than regular plasterboards.

It’s important to spend time looking around to ensure you get a product with a high mass so that it will do a great job at noise-proofing your boiler cupboard.

This particular solution is perfect for solid hall boiler cupboards.

Add a soundproof blanket or soundproof curtain

DIY-friendly? Yes

Returning to an example of a relatively straightforward answer, you might want to consider fitting a soundproof curtain or a soundproof blanket along the door of your boiler cupboard.

This is a simple way of dampening the sounds your boiler makes.

These products work well to insulate noise due to their dense nature with the use of various layers of tightly woven fabric.

While not entirely free, this method will likely prove cheaper and easier to undertake than most of the solutions raised in this article.

Sheet and towel storage to dampen noise

DIY-friendly? Yes

One of the simplest solutions is to pack your boiler cupboard with sheets and towels, assuming that it is suitable for this type of storage.

Obviously not all boiler cupboards will be a good match for sheet and towel storage (many will be simply too small).

However, if your boiler cupboard has various shelves, it might be suitable for sheet and towel storage as well as a place to keep additional soft furnishings. 

Naturally, adding sheets and towels to your boiler cupboard, will help to insulate the noises your boiler makes and act as a simple and free method to soundproofing your boiler cupboard.

What’s more, your boiler should keep these furnishings nice and warm. This method is best suited to a solid hall boiler cupboard.

If you have any doubts as to whether or not it is safe and suitable to store furnishings in your boiler cupboard, make sure to consult with a heating engineer.

Fiberglass for insulation

DIY-friendly? Yes

Another option is to fit fiberglass around the edges of your boiler cupboard as a means of soundproofing.

Fiberglass is a tried-and-true method of insulation for both heat and sound. It is often used to insulate properties in a range of ways (e.g., to insulate floors and ceilings and to fill wall cavities). 

If you decide to take this approach, just be sure to purchase the right type of fibreglass insulation material.

This is because some products are used for heat insulation while others are used to dampen sound.

Noise proofing your boiler cupboard door

DIY-friendly?

There are two primary ways of soundproofing a boiler cupboard door: weatherstripping or adding a door sweep.

In either case, soundproofing the door itself can largely limit the noises of your boiler from escaping the cupboard.

It is a great way of soundproofing hanging kitchen cupboards and solid hall cupboards for boilers.

Starting with the former approach, using a suitable weatherstripping tape can conceal gaps in the door of your boiler cupboard, helping to soundproof the boiler cupboard.

It may not be the strongest approach on today’s list but given that weatherstripping is generally cheap and easy to add, you might find that it’s worth a try before attempting a more costly approach. Just be sure to get a suitable product.

Alternatively, you may want to add a door sweep to the door of your boiler cupboard.

This will work in a similar way to the addition of weatherstripping tape, by limiting how much noise can exit the gaps in the cupboard door.

And, as low-cost solutions, you may find that one approach or the other may prove sufficient.

The use of stud walls and suitable insulation

DIY-friendly? Probably not

While more costly and complicated, fitting stud walls to your boiler cupboard with acoustic insulating added can be an almost perfect way of soundproofing your boiler cupboard.

In fact, if done well, it should prevent virtually any noise from making it out of the cupboard.

While it is possible to undertake this task DIY, it requires more extensive knowledge and effort than any of the other methods discussed above.

Therefore, you should only try this yourself if you’re absolutely sure of what is involved and that you have the necessary skills.

Stud walls can be constructed with a combination of timber, metal studs, plasterboard and nails.

Then a suitable glue is required to put the components together in the right way.

Adding acoustic insulation to the gaps in the stud walls will be the icing on the cake. This approach is most suitable for a solid hall boiler cupboard.

Moving or replacing your boiler

DIY-friendly? No

While you may wish to soundproof your boiler cupboard using one of the methods discussed above, it’s also worth considering whether it’s best to instead move or replace your boiler.

Moving a boiler might make sense if it is a particularly noisy boiler that would require a costly soundproofing approach. 

However, for moving a boiler to make the most sense, you’d probably also want to be in a position where you are eager to have it moved for other reasons such as that you’d prefer not to have an exposed boiler or even a concealed boiler visible in its present location.

After all, it generally costs around £350 to £700 to have a boiler moved.

As for the latter, it would make sense to have an old, noisy boiler replaced entirely if it seems close to being on its last legs.

After all, why spend time and money (and energy if you’re doing it DIY) on soundproofing a boiler cupboard when the boiler itself may need replacing soon? 

This would be especially relevant if the normal sounds of a new boiler would not, in your mind, necessitate a soundproof cupboard.

Cost of Soundproofing a Boiler Cupboard

Of course, what it might set you back to have a boiler cupboard soundproofed will depend on various factors, including whether or not you were to hire a professional. 

The labour price of hiring a heating engineer is about £30 to £60 per hour, whereas the hourly rate of a carpenter is generally around £25 to £35. Labour prices vary from region to region.

Below, we have provided a table with the costs involved in the soundproofing methods discussed in the previous section.

Naturally, the DIY approach cost involves the supply costs only, whereas the total cost of hiring a professional involves both labour and supply costs.

The cost of various solutions to soundproofing a boiler cupboard:

If you’d rather take a different route, having your boiler moved would set you back around £350 to £700, while having it replaced entirely would likely cost somewhere in the region of £800 to £2,800.

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