How long does a shower last

[EdRedBird]

HI

Next step on the list is putting in some way to shower or rinse off at least
I came acroos some of the US sites where they go on about Gallons per minute ...but i cannot find that rating back anywher

Looking to put in a 24 L or 57 L watertank ( I prefer the first as it will take up storage space) but might have to resort to the second model

But how do I find out about UK flow raytes on showerheads and pumps

 

[Figaro]

I think a 24 litre tank would give you a modest shower but not much else especially if your using the water for other things, I'd go bigger if you can. The other consideration is the capacity of the water heater.
For comparison my 2003 Hymer has a 100 litre fresh water tank and 10 litres of hot water from the boiler.
The water pump has a stated flow of 19 litres a minute, but I'm not sure that equates to 19 litres a minute out of the tap head.

 

[pappajohn]

The shower flow rate is more important (to an extent) than tank size.
The flow rate is governed by the pump output.
The recommended way to shower is
Get wet, turn off shower
Soap up and wash hair
Turn on water and Rinse.
10 litres of hot water doesn't go far and certainly not enough for a leisurely shower.

 

[Sue and Rick]

The flow rate of the shower is regulated by the holes in the shower head. The finer, the lower flow rate. As above, a great showering technique.

 

[bigwood]

The fresh water tank fitted to our first van and the current coachbuild is 60 ltrs . Two of us using the shower , pot washing and brewing up it lasts about two days.
This means we can only manage two nights off grid before needing water. We have the room to carry a 20ltr water container now but not in the van.
I noticed a van builder that fitted a 100 ltr water tank . It would give you lots of time off grid but must have depleted the payload.

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[nicholsong]

The shower flow rate is more important (to an extent) than tank size.
The flow rate is governed by the pump output.
The recommended way to shower is
Get wet, turn off shower
Soap up and wash hair
Turn on water and Rinse.
10 litres of hot water doesn't go far and certainly not enough for a leisurely shower.

Ten litres for a shower? Get off my boat/MH!

The leisure is in the countryside not the shower

We have a 8lt Truma boiler. We turn it off when it is at 40C and we both have hot showers from the tank.

 

[Lenny HB]

24 or 57 Lt is a wast of time, our last van had a 100 Lt tank I used to carry 2 x 20 Lt containers in the garage because the tank was so small. Current van has 160 Lt does us 4 days.

Flow rate and pressure is a bit of a black art. Original pump was 19 lt/min I think it was about 13 psi, new pump I fitted is 30 psi with 10 lt/min, despite the low flow rate we get a much better shower with the new pump

 

[PP Bear]

I have 136 litres on board tank and carry an extra 80 litres in jerry cans. Means we can be away from water for quite some time and still both shower daily.

Pump is set at 19 psi and it’s a 10 litre hot water tank that heats up to around 70* on gas, so plenty of hot water once the cold is added via the mixer tap.

I‘d go biggest you can for fresh water.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Showering in the MH is not the same as showering at home where you have nice big pipes. As the second post it's all about a quick dunk. I suspect, but have no proper measure, I use 15 litre or so.

But fit biggest tank the van and payload allows. You want versatility and even if you are on a basic site with plentiful water you don't want to be going to that tap every few hours.

 

[Reallyretired]

I set the boiler to 60c which is far too hot undiluted. We are thus using about 50/50 hot and cold so at least 20l available.

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[TOAD on Tour]

We have Alde continuous flo, set Alde on to gas (and electric if on EHU) and you can pretty much have a hot shower for as long as you have a water supply.

 

[Sue and Rick]

Ten litres for a shower? Get off my boat/MH!

The leisure is in the countryside not the shower

We have a 8lt Truma boiler. We turn it off when it is at 40C and we both have hot showers from the tank.

Don’t forget you need to heat your water up to 60 C to kill any bugs in the water that grow best at 37C.

 

[CutThroatJake]

We have Alde continuous flo, set Alde on to gas (and electric if on EHU) and you can pretty much have a hot shower for as long as you have a water supply.

We also have had the ALDE Flow fitted to our M/H.

Not cheap but the best mod we have done as we can both shower for as long as we like assuming we have enough water. Mrs CTJ loves it as she can wash her hair like she does at home. Had the TMV3 fitted at the same time which regulates the hot water to 42 degrees...perfect

 

[PP Bear]

I use this as my shower head and also reduces the amount of water used.

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[cyberyacht]

Eco-Camel shower heads reduce the flow rate by introducing air into the shower head. Seems a better bet than filling the pipe up with chickpeas to reduce the flow.

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[peterc10]

Another vote for the Eco camel shower head.

 

[EdRedBird]

As I am converting and I need my space I am not fitting a boiler I am going for a kettle solution
Starting at a room temperature of 15 .... a 2 liter reheat of the contents of my water tank should get me15->22->28->39 so between 3 and 4 kettles should get me 24L of shower water.
I also figured that the 57L tank would take to many kettles of water

But does anyone have a flow rate calculator what flow do i need .... and that eco camel thing...what is the flow rate on that.
I want to be able to have 4 showers without having to run for a tap.
As I am stealth camping and this thing will be run most of the days refilling 24l ow water should not be a big chore .
Also as it will not be used for drinking water it could be refilled from any clean river /stream

pappajohn thanks for that 8l 2 ppl 2 days at 40c
nicholsong right and wrong you need over 64 to kill legionaires which actually thrives just under 60... However if its shower water use only and not drink water thats not nescessarely a concern (You can always fill a kettle and boild the shit out of those legionaires hiding between them water molecules

 

[Wildbill]

I have 136 litres on board tank and carry an extra 80 litres in jerry cans. Means we can be away from water for quite some time and still both shower daily.

Pump is set at 19 psi and it’s a 10 litre hot water tank that heats up to around 70* on gas, so plenty of hot water once the cold is added via the mixer tap.

I‘d go biggest you can for fresh water.

Though with your experience you would manege on a mess tin full
Bill

 

[IRHP]

If you can't shower with less than 10 litres you're doing it wrong.

 

[ianp]

nicholsong right and wrong you need over 64 to kill legionaires which actually thrives just under 60... However if its shower water use only and not drink water thats not nescessarely a concern (You can always fill a kettle and boild the shit out of those legionaires hiding between them water molecules

I think you need to revisit the risks posed by legionella..........
This may help........https://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/legionella.htm#:~:text=Stagnant%20water%20favours%20Legionella%20growth,and%20hoses%20at%20least%20quarterly.

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[A S R]

When showering in my motorhome I get myself wet, turn the shower of, soap up then turn the shower on again to rinse off. I get nice and clean but hardly use any water.

 

[Sundowners]

Whichever one of you wants to take a leisurely shower, then that person needs to fetch the water. They will soon change their minds and get used to a sailors shower.

 

[gus-lopez]

However if its shower water use only and not drink water thats not nescessarely a concern (

It is a major concern as showers produce atomised,aerated water which is the quickest way to get legionnaires outside a commercial environment.
Unused or last in line holiday accommodation is the main culprit for it and why if unused for sometime,needs cleaning at high temp/Bleach before use and in to a plastic bag to prevent atomisation.

 

[pappajohn]

Don't forget, as you use hot water from the boiler it is refilling with cold water so the last couple of litres may only be Luke warm

 

[Spriddler]

........needs cleaning at high temp/Bleach before use and in to a plastic bag to prevent atomisation.

Hmm, but I don't fancy showering inside a plastic bag.

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[ivorantony]

When showering in my motorhome I get myself wet, turn the shower of, soap up then turn the shower on again to rinse off. I get nice and clean but hardly use any water.

Exactly the same but use a trigger spray head, so very simple to stop flow and restart to rinse, user’s very little water,

 

[WESTY66]

I use this as my shower head and also reduces the amount of water used.

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View attachment 640757

Brilliant shower head, it makes for a great shower in the Carthago!!

Eco-Camel shower heads reduce the flow rate by introducing air into the shower head. Seems a better bet than filling the pipe up with chickpeas to reduce the flow.

I’ve had both the eco camel head and the “chick pea“ head and the chick pea head is a hundred times better, I was sceptical at first but Mrs Westy insisted on one and now I wouldn’t use anything else

 

[Verteuil Man]

Our Alde water heater has 10 litres of hot water which is enough for a shower. You cannot stand there with water running down your back contemplating the world, you have to get a wriggle on. Mrs B and I use about 30 litres a day showering, brewing (yes shock horror) washing up and flushing.

If you go to a caravan dealers shop the pumps will be rated on flow. Shower heads. Go to the website they will tell you.

Or you could do what the maintenance chap father in Dinner Ladies did during the war. He was a Desert Ram and would wash and shave in a hub cap.

 

[Landy Andy]

Had chick pea head. Tried it on one trip out in the van, binned it. Eco-camel now been in place for three years. Far better.

 

[Sheddy]

Eco camel head, we use about 7L per shower, I measured it with the grey tap open into a bowl. So with both of us showering every day we would be Ok for roughly 20 days on showering alone but realistically 15 days taking into flushing and washing up.
Edit: 300L tank.