Caravan hot water/shower

[KierDurrant16]

Hope okay to post in here. Recently, after a lot of searching, bought a (dry) caravan to live in while we start work on the house etc. I know it would of been much easier to find one with a bathroom fitted but after viewing way too many, this is the only one SWMBO wanted to get.

So my question is, what would be the easiest way to fit a (decent) shower. It will be permanently sited, so been looking at static caravan water heaters but open to suggestions on what might work best.

Tempting option so far is a water heater that uses the heat from a diesel heater, or a gas instant water heater. Trying to avoid a fully electric if I can.

Anyone done something similar? The actual location of the shower is yet to be decided, whether I’ll end up buying a small 2 berth as a washroom type thing or having it all inside this one

 

[hotponyshoes]

I have fitted a few into horseboxes.

Basically, the 2 types are on-demand or tank.
The on-demand ones are quicker to fit, I have only ever used the gas ones.
Fit an on-demand pump as well and then all you need to do is open the shower tap and the pump and heater both fire up automatically and warm water starts coming out in about 15-20 seconds.
But, for what I call an acceptable flow rate for a shower, the water will only be about 40degC from a 30kw heater.
It also varies massively depending on the temp of the incoming water. I have seen them fitted with an immersion in a tank that preheats the water but that's more faffing.

The tank versions work very well, you can use a regular domestic pump with them for a full-on power shower if you like.
But, you need to turn it on well before you want it (or use a timer) or waste fuel keeping it heated all the time.
You will get a 7-8min shower from the bigger ones then you need to wait for it to heat up again.
I have used both the diesel and gas types and they both work just as well.
The only problems I have seen have been from lack of use.
The tank type let you fit a thermostatic control in the shower itself.
Some of the fancy instant ones have remote control options but you are normally limited to just varying the flow of water to make it hotter/colder.

If yours is permently sited then presumably you could do anything you wanted. Even have a little lean-too / shed outside to hold a proper boiler/tank?

 

[AVI_8]

Hi Kier,
I used to have a touring caravan which had a shower/toilet room, the reason I say that is because the hot water for the shower came from the same in built water supply for the sink, water supply being from a large water butt. So if you already have a sink and hot water then you’ve already got the hot water needed for a shower providing you’ve an electric hook up, though you said that you want to avoid electric.
Touring caravan showers and taps run off of the 12 volt system to pump the water which use micro switches on the taps to run a pump on the water butt pick up to pump the water, through I‘m presuming a small immersion heater for the case of hot water, though I’m not sure if the immersion heater is run from the 12v leisure battery or the 230v hookup.

Any static caravans I’ve been in have a mini combi run from a propane tank and mains water pressure.

 

[gaz1]

theres one on the forums up for sale soon

Anyone familiar with old Valiant boilers (butane)?

Hi folks, a bit of an odd situation, I’m trying to use an older (1980s ?) hot water boiler made by Valiant. The instructions are in German which is slightly better than nothing. History is unknown but it’s been unused for many years. It's fed by a (25kg ?) butane bottle which seems to have gas...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

or build a unit

reference for outside toilet and shower you can use other materials for its build

 

[Barking Mat]

If you've mains water and electricity, an on demand hot water heater, seems most obvious to me.

 

[gaz1]

you could use a diesel heater but im not so sure you would have enough flow to get the water hot enough

but would give 2 uses out of it heat for shower room and also hot water for shower

hint for you no ones done it yet

if you want the water hotter pump it towards the heater not away from the heater

 

[sg66]

Instantaneous fan flued room sealed lpg

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Other brands available

Other option would be cheap combi and one rad to fill heating side.

I wouldn't go open flue in a tourer, you will freeze from ventilation requirements

 

[Burdekin]

Mate has a 10l 240 and 12v immersion heater with a coil also for a diesel water heater.

 

[gaz1]

a simple pinlap shed or homemade engineered built shed will be ample enough

 

[Redsailor]

When I was house building I lived on site in an old static caravan. Built a "shed" on the side opening into the van door, painted osb and a felt roof, insulated with some rockwool and lined. Water heating to supply a washing machine and sink was by a small multipoint propane heater unit. This gives you instant hot water when required. Did use an electric shower though as not sure if the multipoint would like being back fed with mains cold water. Don't think you would use a lot of electricity with a shower, unless you are going to spend hours in it!

 

[KierDurrant16]

Think a small lean too/patio thing is gonna be the best option, and will also provide a bit more space. Think we’ll go with a gas heater, it’s only needed for shower as we’ve survived 2 years without running hot water for washing up. Main concern with a electric shower is the amperage required to get a good flow, and the water hot enough as I believe our current electric shower is on a 32amp supply. Not ruling the idea out but my first thought was gas would be a easier option, especially as it’s already going to be used for the cooker etc

 

[KierDurrant16]

Excuse my ignorance too, electrics and plumping are very grey areas for me currently.

 

[Shiny Steve]

If living in it full time I would try to avoid showers in vans due to damp condensation and mold.

 

[gaz1]

id build a seperate toilet and shower area/cabin

it would collect its own rainwater and be heated from that by wood if theres enough around

if not its electric or propane either one is going to have fitted correctly

videos have already been posted but a cheap wood shed well osb and some 2x2s and osb would be plenty enough to build an insulated shed and insulate it

 

[Barking Mat]

Excuse my ignorance too, electrics and plumping are very grey areas for me currently.

It's relatively simple, once you get your head round it.

Electrical leaks don't cause a puddle.

 

[Burdekin]

If outside what we use to have at our beach house before connecting it to gas was a copper tube wound inside a steel tube, open both ends. The water just flowed through this via gravity with a rain water tank above the shower room. All that heated the water was kerosene soaked in rags in a small pot at the bottom. Just lite it and off you go, a cap was used to put over the fire to put it out. It worked a treat and got the water toasty warm. Later dad converted it to gas but it was so simple and worked beautifull.

 

[Wildatlanticwelder]

Search for portacabins, you can get site showers for reasonable money s/h , everything is built in. No faffing about and will be able to sell on again, also possible to get a long term rent on one too.
Im sure most are electric but some may be gas.

 

[willie.macleod]

When I built my house I also lived in a static caravan, ended up building a shed for housing washing machine/tumble dryer as well. LPG was the way to go for me, we had a combi boiler. A toilet/sink/shower and laundry room will be really handy as you will inevitably get quite mucky working on your build and it is good to have somewhere to clean off before going into the van.

 

[KierDurrant16]

Ended up finding a more immediate issue. Appears we’ve bought a Ford caravan

 

[sg66]

Yup that's common, what you doing with it, it's fairly easy to repair