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IcutMetl
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2023 03:34 - Edited by: IcutMetl
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One of my first projects at my new-to-me off grid camp will be building a small shower setup, ideally in the cabin (vs. shower house) to make things easier for use in winter weather. My cabin is in the U.P. of Michigan and will only be used for occasional getaways. The camp has a 5†well with hand pump and no rain water collection yet.
I have purchased a small propane in-demand water heater (similar to a Camplux/Joolca), which as I understand it should be mounted outside the dwelling for safety. That’s no problem in late spring thru early fall when freezing won’t be an issue, but what if I and a want to snowmobile in to my property to stay there in the winter time? Would it be reasonable to have a water container inside the cabin for the pump’s pickup tube to draw from and run that thru a 2nd port in the wall or floor? The second option would be to bypass the water heater outdoors and draw from water indoors that was heated on the wood stove.
I of course understand the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, but what would be the difference between moving the water heater indoors; possibly even by a window, and another gas burning appliance like a stove, heater, or gas lights?
Any input or suggestions would be helpful- thank you!
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2023 08:36
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I have used a Mr Heater Aqua Cube. I set it up in an outside shower enclosure, but just a small amount of propane used when heating, shouldn't be an issue. If its cold, I will just take the unit inside when done.
I draw water from big mouth blue barrel, but on the roof, I have a 50 gallon drum painted black to absorb heat and can refill inside jug with it or shower directly from overhead barrel if its warm enough.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2023 10:29
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You cant keep those heaters outside in the winter, they will freeze. Also there all rated at a flow/GPM to temp rise. So if the water is really cold you may have to do a double pass through the heater if that makes sence. Meaning the heat rise may not be enough flow to actualy shower. They also need a minimum pressure and flow to stay lit. You will really just have to play with yours and see what it does.
For summer use these things are the bees knees. In winter I generaly just heat water on the wood stove and use a small battery shower pump.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2023 11:26
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Ime, if there is ANY chance of the unit being in freezing temps, inside or out, it has to be 'blown down'; ie, All The Water Out.
You may find that an elevated water tank will trigger the flow valve, or not.....if not it shouldnt ignite and go into melt-down. Same with the pressure your little pump may put out. Only way to tell is to try.
Too much trouble, better to use it as a 3-season unit. We have used Brett's solution for about 40yrs when we Need a shower, otherwise its is the old-school 'sponge bath' that our ancestors used for millennia.
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IcutMetl
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2023 12:38
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Thanks, everyone- your responses are falling in line with what I have envisioned. I would bring it inside if I were to use the cabin in the winter or heat water on stove to add to bucket, etc. I would not keep the unit on the outside during the winter months and at some point could see replacing it with a true vented unit. Don’t want to get too far ahead of myself…
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FishHog
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2023 16:52
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I run an Eccotemp heater. Mounted inside with proper CO precautions of course
But I drain my water system in the fall and only use woodstove to warm water in freezing months. Just not worth the hassle to drain each time
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Fanman
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2023 16:55
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I drain the pipes and blow out the water heater in mid October. When we go to the cabin in the winter for a day or three we can skip the shower until we get home. Water heated on the stove suffices for washing dishes.
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gwindhurst
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2023 16:59
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Here's a simple solution I've used and it worked pretty well. USB Rechargeable battery operated shower/pump. Just heat your water on a wood/camp stove, pour it into a bucket and drop this pump into it.
https://www.amazon.com/Ivation-Portable-Outdoor-Battery-Powered/dp/B00IFHFJXI
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2023 17:36 - Edited by: gcrank1
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I even clicked on that! Lol
I like usb recharge stuff and have used an old Coleman camp shower powered by 4 D cells for years. It is far more bulky and we all know about managing old-school cells these days.
But based upon the thread about usb I think new stuff should have the USB-C plug!
Ive found sitting on a 5gal bucket with my stuff at hand makes for an easy shower.
Wet down, turn off
Suds up, turn on
Rinse off, good to go
A couple gal of hot water is good for 2 showers for us that way.
Btw, on shower days in suitable weather I leave a bucket of water sit in the sun to pre-heat. Some days it is warm enough to use as is. If not I pour half in the pot to heat on the stove to mix in.
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FishHog
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# Posted: 6 Dec 2023 07:22
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The old zodi extreme is awesome for cold weather showers warmed up on the stove but I believe they are out of business. But you could make one with a stainless steel garden sprayer. I’ve used mine outside in the worst of winter weather and it’s always worth it to clean up and never as cold as you think it will be
Navy showers as gcrank mentioned of course
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Aklogcabin
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# Posted: 6 Dec 2023 09:50 - Edited by: Aklogcabin
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We enjoy our cabin year round. And will go out for weeks at a time. I have set up a shower this way.
We have a 4-5 gallon pot that is used for boiling water bath canning. It sits on the woodstove and get warmed up. I have a surflow 12v pump that runs off a 12v battery. I ran a plastic shower line so that it can draw from the hot water bath pot and to a small sun shower head in the bathroom. We have a 4' long plastic tote that normally holds sleeping bags while we are not there for a catch tub. Set up under the shower head. I staple a clear plastic shower curtain to the walls and it diverts water into the tote. To shower I installed a toggle switch to run the pump in a convenient spot to turn on n off. Turn on n get rinsed off. Then off. Then soap up , and rinse. I also put a quarter turn valve in line to control flow volume.
It's a simple system and my beautiful wife n me can get cleaned up. If you want you can add another water pot to the woodstove.
A picture of the shower set up. And the view while taking a shower is kinda nice too. You can see the pump . I have it under the sink and will use another one to lift water from the sand point well under the sink. That hopefully will get finished this winter.
Having access to the cabin year round is really nice. Actually easier in the winter when we can use snogos. In the summer we need to charter a bush plane on floats n land on a small lake 2 miles south of the cabin . But it's all great. Because it's more cabin time
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Shower ready to use
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IcutMetl
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# Posted: 6 Dec 2023 17:34
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Thanks for your replies- Aklogcabin, that's a great idea- it sounds like you've got a pretty awesome place. I found one place that was in an amazing setting but only accessible by a small river but outside of my price range and in reality, would be too remote for my wife's (and others) comfort zone. I will be up near my cabin (in a VRBO I already had rented) after Christmas and will have my snowmobile (Skidoo Freeride 154") with me so I will take my wife back to the cabin so we can take a better look at things and get an idea of what we're working with.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 6 Dec 2023 18:02
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Wife and I built our first hunting/recreational cabin in 1983-84, with hand tools and much repurposed lumber from an 1897 barn on my family farm. We were totally offgrid 1/4mi. from the farmhouse (sc WI). The old '49 Ford mdl 8N tractor made a lot of trips back&forth to that mixed woodlot hill site.
We did well offgrid for 30+ years, pit privy, no shower (except for an occasional warm summer rain under the eavestrough) and used it a lot for years as a 3 season and some winter (snowshoe in with a sledge). The antique woodstove kept us warm with wood from the mixed forest and propane did the cooking.
We lost that cabin when the folks died and we had to sell the old estate, but found another offgrid on 9+acres in 2019. We are in our 70's now and still doing much the same. The LED lights are faarrr better than the old kero lamps and the diy compost T is better than the pit though still outside. No shower 'house' in or out but we have showered sans room just fine.
Thing is, there have been so many other things to do that making a formal shower has not been a high priority (I respect that it may be for you). And we've found priorities change up rather quickly, so be flexible.
And Make It All Fun!
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909
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# Posted: 7 Dec 2023 21:24 - Edited by: 909
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My temporary indoor shower is made of a 5 gallon bucket and a few random plumbing parts. I raised the bucket above my head with a few scraps of 2x6 . For the shower pan I used a hot water tank pan. To heat the water it takes minutes using butane and one of these :
A 4 pack of fuel is under $6 and will literally last months. It's also great for cooking breakfast or a late night snack when I want something quick & feeling lazy.
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darz5150
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# Posted: 7 Dec 2023 23:43
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Quoting: 909 A 4 pack of fuel is under $6
Where do you get yours? I recently got a 12 pack for $29 bucks off Amazon. They're $3 bucks a can at Wally World I think. $1.50 per can is a good deal.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 8 Dec 2023 08:38
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I mean if your just going to heat the water in a pot over the stove why not just bring the on demand water heater inside and hook it up? It should really take nearly the same BTU/propane being burnt.
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909
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# Posted: 8 Dec 2023 10:03
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Quoting: darz5150 Where do you get yours?
Supermarkets. Focus on food suppliers. Here's an example of $9 for a 4 pack which is overpriced IMO.
https://jbcfoodservice.com/products/copy-of-butane-fuel-gas-cartridge-4-cans?variant= 43443875184884¤cy=CAD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag _organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOoo5id99c-ASPoRPOiGq0p5nmJrbn60mLmlvMif wwD_uuiL22R9aI7o
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dkay173
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# Posted: 10 Dec 2023 06:01
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We've been using this for years and it's great.
http://zodi.com/hot-showers/extreme-sc
In addition to heating it with the propane we put the can on the woodstove to heat it.
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IcutMetl
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# Posted: 13 Dec 2023 06:17
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Thanks, everyone- I appreciate the feedback. I think once I get to spend some time wrapping my head around what I've got to work with, I'll have a clearer picture of what I'll want to do.
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