We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Solar Shower?

By Brendan McGuigan
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 18,014
Share

A solar shower is basically a bag filled with water that is heated by the sun so that a person can take an easy, convenient outdoor shower. The solar-powered shower is a favorite among campers, as it allows for showering while backpacking or in very rural areas. They are also popular among those building a house, as they can be set up before construction is complete, allowing the builders to wash off the grime of the day without having to go home.

The simplest type of sun-powered shower consists of a small bag, generally around 5 gallons (19 liters), usually made of something like a flexible PVC coated black or dark gray. An opening hatch at the top can be put over a spigot to fill the bag, and at the bottom a flexible plastic tube comes out, which allows the user to direct the water where they want. Generally a shower of this design will also have some sort of spigot on the end of the tube, allowing the flow of water to be easily stopped.

The solar shower is filled with water, then hung in a tree, or on the side of a building, in the hot sun. It is allowed to sit for some time to heat up, generally on a relatively warm day, with 70 degree Fahrenheit (21 Celsius) temperatures, a shower will heat water up to a good shower temperature of around 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 Celsius) in three hours or less. Once heated, the user can simply stand beneath it, and use the plastic tube to direct the flow of hot water over their body.

This most basic sun-powered shower, the bag and tube variety, can be found for around $15 US Dollars (USD), making it an economical addition to a backpacking kit. Some more dynamic varieties of the shower can cost in the $40 USD to $50 USD range, depending on the materials used and the additional components. For example, there are types of solar shower that are meant for whitewater rafting campers, which act as a solar shower when filled with water, but are also built to act as a drybag when empty, so that food and valuables can be protected on the river.

A solar shower may also refer to a more ornate, permanent design, which is simply a shower that has a permanent reservoir heated by the sun. This involves placing a large solar collector with piping that can take water from a large water storage container hooked up to a cold water line. Cold water is run through the piping to be heated, then mixed with additional cold water as desired to get the temperature suitable for a shower. In this context, a solar shower functions basically the same as a normal shower, except that instead of using a propane or electric heater, the water is being heated by the sun. Often this type of shower is built outdoors, so that the heating apparatus can be right near it in the sun, but they may also be constructed indoors as a traditional shower.

Share
The Solar Panel Guide is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.thesolarpanelguide.com/what-is-a-solar-shower.htm
Copy this link
The Solar Panel Guide, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Solar Panel Guide, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.