Hot water solutions/DIY solarium

alsxx

alsxx

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Looking for inspiration on DIY solutions for both hot water supply and solarium...

I have a nice indoor space which will eventually be fitted out with tie posts.... electric and cold water supply in place. So far I have one 🤣 poultry heat lamp, which is nice but think I need possibly 10 more to be effective!?

Can I get away with fitting some kind of electric shower for hot water, or would I be better looking at a gas bottle powered solution?

I've seen posts in the past from people so hoping someone comes along with some good ideas or suggestions!
 
I have a standard shower. It was the cheapest one they sell in Wickes and it works really well, unless the water is frozen. This is the second one I've had, after a friend turned it on one day, when it was clear the taps were frozen and killed the first one. It's just connected via a blue pipe to the water supply and lives on the wall in the barn, with the extra long hose coming through the wall.

The benefit of gas is that you can use it in all weathers, but as I live in the South, it's not often we get a freeze, so mine works well.
 
meleeka said:
I have a standard shower. It was the cheapest one they sell in Wickes and it works really well, unless the water is frozen. This is the second one I've had, after a friend turned it on one day, when it was clear the taps were frozen and killed the first one. It's just connected via a blue pipe to the water supply and lives on the wall in the barn, with the extra long hose coming through the wall.

The benefit of gas is that you can use it in all weathers, but as I live in the South, it's not often we get a freeze, so mine works well.
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Sounds promising, I'm SW so we are not frozen all the time! My internal taps still run even if outside is frozen.
 
For the solairum could you use heat lamp bulbs they use for reptiles?

hyperdrug.co.uk

Infra Red Par Bulb 38 ES 175w

175W PAR bulb are more energy efficient producing the same heat as a 250W. Bulbs produce heat and light. Infra-red bulb with a screw fitting
hyperdrug.co.uk hyperdrug.co.uk

Then get a few bulb holders screwed on to a board and wired in together for a switch


Then hang the board from the rafters.

I've thought about doing this in my spare shelter, but I'd have to find a way of running it from solar, battery or a little generator and I lost interest in the project/planning process at that stage.
 
I have a household electric shower from Homebase fitted on the yard. I just replace the provided shower hose with a long piece of regular hose pipe.

As already mentioned freezing is the only issue. Having b*****ed up a couple of showers in the first few years I have now had the shower unit fitted to a board that I can unhook from the wall and take into the house when it is very cold. I have also had a valve fitted to the water in pipe so that I can turn the water off from going into the shower unit. This has worked really well for the last 15 years.
 
Are your horses at home? If so, you could get hot water supply from house connected to an outdoor tap. That's what I have and it is very useful. I just connect a long hose to the tap with a shower head at the end and then you have an outdoor shower sorted :)
 
Miss_Millie said:
Are your horses at home? If so, you could get hot water supply from house connected to an outdoor tap. That's what I have and it is very useful. I just connect a long hose to the tap with a shower head at the end and then you have an outdoor shower sorted :)
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They are at home but house is one side of drive and barn with stables etc the other so would need to rig some kind of pipe up and over that wouldn't be ideal. We are also listed, so getting an outdoor tap fitted on the house will probably a complete PITA 🤣
 
dorsetladette said:
For the solairum could you use heat lamp bulbs they use for reptiles?

hyperdrug.co.uk

Infra Red Par Bulb 38 ES 175w

175W PAR bulb are more energy efficient producing the same heat as a 250W. Bulbs produce heat and light. Infra-red bulb with a screw fitting
hyperdrug.co.uk hyperdrug.co.uk

Then get a few bulb holders screwed on to a board and wired in together for a switch


Then hang the board from the rafters.

I've thought about doing this in my spare shelter, but I'd have to find a way of running it from solar, battery or a little generator and I lost interest in the project/planning process at that stage.
Click to expand...
This is a great suggestion, thanks!
 
I'm following with interest, I've got a gas powered Ecotemp shower (from Shower King). I'd recommend Shower King if you need a non mains shower - I've found this type of showers a bit temperamental to run, but there's a lot of variables! SK customer service have always been great and kept my set up working for many years. Quite a bit past its expected lifespan too. But i do now have mains power, so was thinking when my shower finally dies, to replace it with an electric version. I've seen the Pony Jet one a lot online (it feels like they got the PR aspect cornered?), so interesting to hear the Hippo may be better and the original....
 
Get a non-horse branded shower or a caravan shower and gas bottle. I have an external hot tap and I can switch the water supply at my stables onto hot water.

I am married to heating engineer though so installation costs were zero :D
 
CastlelackSportHorses said:
I have a portable Hot wash, on a trolley with its own gas bottle.
I bloody love it!
Click to expand...
I have one of those too and highly recommend! I love how it’s on a trolley as it can be moved around and also can loan it to people I trust!!

In regards to the solarium I’m after buying 3 heat lamps from Kerbl along with the holders and was just going to fasten them to a wooden board and use a pulley system to mount to the roof of the shed but not sure if 3 will be enough. It will only be used the odd time and just to keep horse warm after a shower. If anyone has similar do you think 3 lamps is enough?
 
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