DIY Hot Water Shower for when the power goes out!

[@markmonroe7330]

They make a USB rechargeable unit with a 6-7ft hose and a spray head. I use a 5 gallon bucket and have a 500 watt digital aquarium heater to warm the water to 90F. 5 gallons is plenty of water for 2 people to do a good, albeit quick, shower when out camping. Since the unit is battery powered, on hot summer days, you can take it into a creek and shower with no bucket required. It’s a really great set up for car/truck/van camping during extended periods when there’s no showers available.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for sharing your setup, that's a great idea!

[@Card_addiction]

Nice, had something similar during the TX ice storm. Frozen pipes for 3 days but had a gas range to heat water for a comfortable shower, def kept moral high.

[@OffGridBasement]

Glad it helped keep your spirits up! Hope everything worked out during that storm.

[@jeffpeterson9836]

Thanks for sharing. I would suggest a solar bag or the solar tube shower and adding insulation to the non sunny side. An insulated water bag would be easier on your heater. General tip: Those 5 to 7 gal plastic buckets are great. Never leave them in the sun or toss them out until broken! No need to waste that little bit of electric power. Keep playing!

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the info and the comment! Appreciate it.

[@tomdangelica3861]

Thank you so much for this video! I have been thinking of other ways to do this but all were too complex. I didnt know they made 1,000 watt heaters you place in a bucket. Thats a game changer for me and I thank you for showing this and all the details as far as temps and times and watt-hours !

[@OffGridBasement]

You're welcome! My water was too hot, but that's my personal opinion. Thanks for the comment!

[@SolarPunk80]

I’m so glad you explored and shared this solution, thanks! I’ve explored it as well and am happy to say that when it’s that amount of water around 5 gallons you can still pull it off with a 500w immersion heater preferably with a cover over the bucket but definitely opening up more options with smaller inverters 🙏

[@OffGridBasement]

It would probably take about an hour or so the water to heat up, but well worth it if you have the time. Thanks for the comment.

[@SolarPunk80]

@ I’m curious to try again, I remember being surprised, I think having a shower head that only sprays when needed is super important, it means needing less water to heat, which means the water could heat quicker with less power especially if covered, but thank you so much, you definitely got me to want to experiment more with as little as possible 🙏🙏🙏🙏😎

[@chrisreynolds6331]

Thats a great bit of kit. I've often wondered about the impossibility of showers without grid power. I'm in the UK and showers are at least 8.5kw so most off grid systems won't do it

[@OffGridBasement]

Bummer. You would need quite the system to get that going. Thanks for the comment and info.

[@stevenshircliff393]

Excellent video and info!

[@OffGridBasement]

You're welcome! Thanks for the comment.

[@shelley131]

Great, great, video.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thank you!

[@davef.2329]

It works, the task was accomplished successfully, no? Ingenuity at it's best. Just a thought... wonder if you could use the toilet tank as the reservoir, then the shower water quantity and temp. could actually be semi-adjustable after-the-fact. Set the battery-pump and heater element right into the tank.Just don't accidentally try to flush the toilet, or, just simply disconnect the flapper chain to contain the water. Keep the level control valve operable to extend the shower's duration. and for temp. control.

[@OffGridBasement]

That's not a bad idea! Just make sure to be safe about having the heater plugged in at the same time as using the pump. Thanks for the comment.

[@jylfarm1964]

I hope your power station have a GFCI outlet. If not, you should get an add-on.

[@OffGridBasement]

good point. Whenever you're working with electricity and water it's safest to use an AC receptacle equipped with GFCI

[@brokenbravo83]

Turn it on and put the discharging water directly back into the five gallon bucket to preheat all those internal components. Solar, gas generator, lots of battery backups, even an inverter in your vehicle can recharge these devices. Insulate the 5 gallon bucket and save some of that precious battery life, especially when using anything with a heating element

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the info and the comment.

[@brendafosmire6519]

Useful. Thank you

[@OffGridBasement]

You're welcome! I hope it helps.

[@derek361]

I set my on demand water heater at 110F for my shower😊

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the info and comment!

[@ericgoldthrite4196]

I thought about just tapping into the toilet supply line and adding an adapter to screw a short hose and using one of those propane water heaters people use for camping; I know, I know you shouldn't use it inside the house, but if its for a short shower and you leave the bathroom door open, I would think that would be enough ventilation. Emergency situations only,

[@OffGridBasement]

I like the way you're thinking outside the box. It's not something I would do, but to each their own! Thanks for the comment.

[@MrLivewire1970]

The highest temp on a Jacuzzi is 104 and that is hot. Typically right around 100 is more than enough for a quick shower.

[@OffGridBasement]

Yep. The water I used was borderline WAY too hot!

[@viyusavery248]

How interesting it's funny because I bought a electric shower pump last week Sunday from a yard sale from a shipping company

[@OffGridBasement]

That's funny! The shower pump worked better than I thought it would. Thanks for the comment.

[@Scott-ig1zd]

You need to take a Navy shower!🙂

[@tomdangelica3861]

They gave me exactly two minutes in the shower at Moncrief hospital at Fort Jackson lol

[@OffGridBasement]

No thanks! :-)

[@mikehotel4254]

Power outage- no water from fosset/ water to waste. Hope your septic system has no need for a Lift pump

[@OffGridBasement]

This is just a proof of concept video to give ideas. I would hope people would to their due diligence in their own situation. Thanks for the comment.

[@fibber2u]

What no singing!!!! I don't care how clean you got that is not a proper shower.

[@OffGridBasement]

hahah! You don't want to hear singing from me!

[@howardescoffery4950]

Man you first world countries make simple things so complicated, we would just boil some water through it in wash tub add a bit of regular water to your liking and wala. six seven minutes and you are ready to go.

[@OffGridBasement]

I like to be able to show the alternatives. I'm all about being creative with what I have... I do have a fireplace though... :-) Thanks for the comment and the very rational alternative!

[@timrader1260]

When the power goes out lets use all this worthless crap that takes power to recharge 😂😂😂😂. Watch some real camping videos to see how without using power. This is worthless

[@OffGridBasement]

This is a proof of concept video to give people ideas. Take it as you will. I like the idea of using solar to recharge batteries or a power station rather then using cold water or fuel to heat water. Thanks for the comment.