Who Says Heating Water is Expensive

[Rick]

We are using the late summer sun to heat 15 or more gallons of bath water in 275 feet of garden hose by draining the HOT water into "coolers" (warmers in our use). We get 6 gallons at a time.

Of course this is only of interest if:

1) you don't HAVE conventional hot water.

2) You are cheap and/ or enjoy looking at the sky while soaking in a nice hot tub of muscle relaxer.

[tickranch]

cool

I've been heating water for free all summer using the sun also. I'm using a 32 gal. black trash can. After working and sweating all day I can then take a nice outside shower and wash a load of laundry. I love it.

I just acquired several rain barrels so now my water is free too.

[elevenpoint]

Same here, water out of a black hose is hotter than a water heater.

[JuliaAnn]

I couldn't fathom taking a hot shower this time of year....

[SquashNut]

We built a plastic lined box, with a shower door on it to heat our water. (think cold frame) We get about 20 gallons of hot water a day.

[taylorlambert]

Im building a super hot compost pile at the moment that will be taprped for the mild winter here. I want to pipe water throug a 500 foot coil of black water pipe to a heat exchanger from an heater from an RV. Its justa big heater core with 2 12 V Fans behind it.

[houndlover]

We have heated our hot water with sun power (year round) for all of the 25 years we've lived here - in rainy NW Oregon. We were progressive before it was trendy.

[katlupe]

We use green 2-liter bottles for showers. They are outside right next to our pump and get heated by the sun. Sometimes they are too hot! Using the hose sounds like a good idea. Presently, we can't use a hose. Soon though.

[Bentley]

I have considered installing a 30 gallon galvanized tank in my attic. I would plumb it between the hotwater heater inlet, and the cold water supply. This tank would heat up to near attic temps, and pre-heat the water.

These tanks cost aprox $150, plus the fittings, so I'm not sure how long it would take to pay for itself. But this is definitely a spring or late fall project.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by JuliaAnn

I couldn't fathom taking a hot shower this time o f year....

Hi Julia Ann

Does it cool down where you are at night? Are you close to your 50's ?

By 9PM around here, some hot water in a clawfoot tub to soak our tired bones and muscles in is God Sent! It hasn't been 100 deg for a few weeks now. Those dog days we were not harvesting water.

Even cold blooded Ann had to add cool water to our harvest of 16 gallons of 108 deg F water yesterday.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums

[HeelSpur]

Originally Posted by Bentley

I have considered installing a 30 gallon galvanized tank in my attic. I would plumb it between the hotwater heater inlet, and the cold water supply. This tank would heat up to near attic temps, and pre-heat the water.

These tanks cost aprox $150, plus the fittings, so I'm not sure how long it would take to pay for itself. But this is definitely a spring or late fall project.

This is a good idea, are you gonna put a valve on the water heater inlet side to keep the cold water from going into the tank? You could actually use some black roll pipe too instead of a tank. I've been thinking about doing this for a good while, but so far its just thinking.