How to Tips

St. Louis Handyman on Outdoor Shower

August 3, 2009
Hot August, Cool Shower
An outdoor shower is cool for a pool, dock or beach place — and especially for camping.

But it’s even cooler (literally) during these dog days of summer when you’re so sweaty and dirty from working in the yard, on the roof, in the hayloft, in the shop, wherever. You’re filthy and you don’t dare drag all your grime into the bathroom. So you shower in the shade of the old apple tree. Aaaah!

Your outdoor shower could be as simple as draping a hose over a tree limb and turning on the water. Cold but refreshing in August.

More sophisticated hot-and-cold-water units are available as well. Some use solar power to warm the water, some use electric power, and some use propane to fuel a tankless water heater. There are even units that use a standard outdoor-grill propane tank and connect to a garden hose.

And don’t forget that tankless water heaters are excellent for indoor point-of-use purposes too.