Pool Equipment Screens for Pumps, AC Units and Trash Bins
Every yard has a corner you'd rather not look at: the pool pump and filter, the AC condenser, the trash and recycling bins. A pool equipment screen made from PrivacyPlus+ aluminum panels hides that corner behind a clean black wall, and a matching gate keeps everything easy to reach.
Why Aluminum for an Equipment Screen
Equipment corners get splashed, sprayed by sprinklers, bumped by bins and baked in the sun. PrivacyPlus+ panels are laser-cut from 6063-T6 aluminum, a commercial-grade structural aluminum, then powder-coated black.
- No rot, no warping. Aluminum won't rot, warp or decay, even in a damp corner by the pool pad.
- Virtually no maintenance. No painting, staining or sealing. Hose off grass clippings and wash with soap and water.
- Made for the weather. Panels and hardware are made to resist corrosion and weather exposure.
- Looks like part of the yard. The same patterns you use on the deck or patio can screen the equipment, so the whole yard matches.
Hide Pool Equipment
Pool pumps, filters and heaters usually sit on a pad near the house or fence line. A run of panels on one or two sides, often an L or a U, blocks the view from the pool deck and the patio. Every PrivacyPlus+ panel is a full 68" tall and sits 2 1/4" off the surface, so the top of an installed panel is about 70 1/4" above it. That full-height panel is the option for equipment screens: it is tall enough to hide most pool pumps, filters and heaters, and it matches any panels on your deck or patio.
AC Unit Privacy Screen
An outdoor AC unit is easy to hide and easy to get wrong. The unit needs air moving around it and room for a technician to work. Before you plan an AC unit privacy screen, check the clearance guidance from the unit's maker and ask your HVAC pro. Your contractor can then set the panels far enough away to keep that space open. Nature and Linear let more air and light through than Signal; ask your contractor which suits your unit.
Trash Can Privacy Screen with Gate
Bins are the one thing in the yard you move every week. A three-sided screen with a matching PrivacyPlus+ gate on the open side hides the bins and still lets you roll them out. The 48" x 68" gate leaves a wider opening for bins; the 36" x 68" gate fits tighter spots. Each gate includes hinges, a latch and a self-closing closure unit.
Plan the Screen
Leave room to work
Whatever you're hiding, someone has to service it. Keep enough space behind the screen for a pool tech, HVAC tech or you to reach the equipment, and plan a gate or an open end for access.
Fit the run
Panels come in 36" and 24" widths in all three patterns, and posts are spaced to match the panel you choose. Your contractor can mix the widths to wrap a pad or a bin area neatly. Panels attach to the posts, and the posts mount on a concrete pad, a patio, a deck or another solid, secure surface. On concrete, the posts are fastened down with concrete screws (anchors).
Check local rules
Some HOAs set rules for screens and where they can go, and some towns have rules for structures near pools. Check with your HOA and building department before work starts.
Choose a Pattern
Signal gives the most privacy, then Linear, then Nature. For a pool pad or bins you never want to see, Signal hides the most.
Read more in choosing a privacy panel pattern.
Hardware and Installation
Panel hardware is sold separately: 72" black 3" x 3" posts with cap and skirt, brackets, and powder-coated stainless steel fasteners, all on the Hardware page. Gates include their own hinges, latch and self-closing closure unit. PrivacyPlus+ is a modular system, so your contractor can install it in hours, not days.
Using panels elsewhere too? See deck privacy screens, patio privacy screens and the full line of aluminum privacy panels.
See It at a Decks & Docks Showroom
PrivacyPlus+ doesn't sell directly to homeowners; it's available at Decks & Docks. All 10 Decks & Docks showrooms carrying PrivacyPlus+ are in the Midwest, and each one has a display. Visit a showroom to see the panels and gates up close and plan your equipment screen.
Contractors and dealers: building pool decks and backyards for your customers? Contact our team about PrivacyPlus+.
Pool Equipment Screen FAQ
How tall is a PrivacyPlus+ equipment screen? Every PrivacyPlus+ panel and gate is 68 inches tall. Panels sit 2 1/4 inches off the mounting surface, so the top of an installed panel is about 70 1/4 inches above it.
Can I put a privacy screen around my AC unit? Yes, as long as the unit keeps the airflow and service room it needs. Check the clearance guidance from the unit's maker and your HVAC pro, then have your contractor plan the screen around it.
Can I add a gate to a trash can or equipment screen? Yes. Matching gates come in 36" x 68" and 48" x 68" in every pattern. Each gate includes hinges, a latch and a self-closing closure unit.
Is hardware included? Panel posts, brackets and powder-coated stainless steel fasteners are sold separately. Gates include their own hardware.
Where can I buy a PrivacyPlus+ pool equipment screen? PrivacyPlus+ is available at Decks & Docks. Find a location on our Showrooms page, or ask your contractor.
