Cold Shower

[desimulacra]

Trying to stretch the budget so had the gas turned off. Everything is electric except the HVAC and cold water heater  It actually is kinda invigorating taking a cold shower. Sometimes though I dread it.

Thought about putting a 100watt bulb under the heater to see if that would warm it just a little. So that would be a warm water heater

Thought of you guys and thought someone might have a brilliant idea!!

[archimedes]

Considering that an electric water heater uses 4500 watts,  it's not likely that a 100 watt bulb is gonna do much.   

This website has a lot of nifty DIY solar stuff.  Once built,  solar is free.
http://www.builditsolar.com/index.htm

[rick91351]

Those 'black bag showers' like Cabellas or Bass Pro Shops sell will work but you got to be very quick and conservative.  Something like a small black or blue barrel would warm fairly quickly if you have plenty of sun and summer! 

[alex trent]

100 feet of 3/4" black rubber garden hose on the roof or even on the ground...you will need to tie it into the cold water as in the summer after a few daylight hours it's warm and at noon it is scalding. .

Spring and Fall on warm sunny days will get you warm water.  You can use straight.

That is only about 2.5 gallons, but with the dilution factor you get a bit longer shower than a bag.  If you run 50-50 that is 5 gallons and that is a really decent shower.

[JRR]

Our elevated black plastic rain barrel is located where it catches the sun all day.  By sunny afternoon in Tenn, plenty of warm water is available for showers.  We have a regular garden hose hooked up, which makes it convenient.  Just dump enough water to empty the hose ... and the warm water begins!  I find I use about 5 gallons, total, per shower.

[desimulacra]

Thanks 

[Ernest T. Bass]

This is our solar shower setup.. The "collector" is 100' of black hose sandwiched between an old sliding door glass and a piece of tin. It provides steamy showers even when the temps are in the 60's!



A blog post we did on it: http://lundkids.blogspot.com/2011/05/showering-in-sun-with-free-hot-water.html

[alex trent]

That is one cool (OK, Hot) system. Beats the hose only system i use buy a lot.  Going to rig one.

[alex trent]

Will clear PVC roofing work instead of the glass?

[Ernest T. Bass]

I would guess that if the pvc is very clear than it would work fine--if it was 'frosted' or translucent than it might not let all the potential heat through..

Just wanted to mention how important it is to get all of the air out of the system in order for it to thermally-siphon.. It really works great when it's set up right--our whole family of 11 can take nice long showers after a sunny afternoon. The only thing that is ever trips it up is when someone disconnects the hose without shutting off the tank and lets it drain enough to break the siphon.. A check-valve at the inlet would be a nice measure against that sort of thing.

[UK4X4]

I'll try again for the big red X that i can see......

http://www.amazon.com/Camp-Chef-Triton-Water-Heater/dp/B001J4AU2E/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

[John Raabe]

That Triton unit is a nifty low-cost propane heater and a great adjunct for a backwoods camp. The simple solar system that Ernest shows would work well (and for free) during the summer. Together they make a great combo for a low-load option. You might do the solar first and then boost with the propane as needed.

[flyingvan]

I guess I couldn't directly import it from Northern Tools' ad.  It's on sale right now for around $150.  I don't ask for much after hitting dead trees with hammers all day, but I DO want a hot shower, a warm woman, and a cold beer.   If the first two are cold, it doesn't matter what temp the beer is

[desimulacra]

Hey guys I been taking "warm" showers all summer.  I tried the light bulb thing and it works!!!!! It raises the temp by about 25 degrees F. Actually added cold water a few times to the shower. Dunno what will happen this winter but doubt I will be in this house anyway. Going to live on a Houseboat, bet that will be toasty Brrrrrrr 

Oh the only thing I use the warm water for is showers and sometimes a clothes wash. Re-coop is slow of course but because of low usage this has never been a problem.

[Checi]

This is what I saw out in Arizona in the early 1980's: Along the south side of a conventional house were two long wooden boxes with glass tops. The inside of the boxes were painted black. Inside each box was the water tank from an old electric hot water heater. The two tanks inside the boxes were piped in series. The owners said they had plenty of hot water. 

[Huge29]

I'll try again for the big red X that i can see......

http://www.amazon.com/Camp-Chef-Triton-Water-Heater/dp/B001J4AU2E/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Pretty nifty unit and Prime eligible!  Would that not work in an interior application; would the venting be different?

[Rob_O]

If you're going to have grid power, try one of these...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Coral-Tankless-Hot-Water-Heater-Electric-Shower-Head-110-Volts-Showerhead-/261090159346#vi-content