I have found solar heaters alone useless because it is on colder/overcast days that you need warm water when solar heaters aren't producing. Instant/tankless heaters seem to be the most practical and efficient.
- Thread starter jabejuventus
- Start date
Cold Showers
I have found solar heaters alone useless because it is on colder/overcast days that you need warm water when solar heaters aren't producing. Instant/tankless heaters seem to be the most practical and efficient.
The water from our cistern is freezing cold, but the water in the tinaco gets nice and warm in the afternoon, and is a pleasant shower. When it's hot enough outside/sunny day, I actually prefer the tinaco tepid water to the warm/hot water.
We have an on-demand propane hot water heater, we paid about $150 for it, works like a charm. We have a 50 lb. propane tank connected to it - used it about 6-8 months, still not empty. The only clincher with the heater is you need good water pressure [the pressure from a tinaco isn't enough], so when the electric is off it doesn't work [pump is 220, not connected to the inverter].
We have an on-demand propane hot water heater, we paid about $150 for it, works like a charm. We have a 50 lb. propane tank connected to it - used it about 6-8 months, still not empty. The only clincher with the heater is you need good water pressure [the pressure from a tinaco isn't enough], so when the electric is off it doesn't work [pump is 220, not connected to the inverter].
Cold shower is the best you can do when you are all sleepy on Monday morning. With hot shower you would just stay there... and stay ... and stay ... until it all runs out ...a nd you would still be sleepy. With a cold shower, it's quick in and quick out. Now I actually enjoy Monday mornings ...
I have a design bouncing around in my head that would passively insulate a black tinaco at night, and open it to the sunshine during the day. And if it works right, would even close it (insulate it) during cooler temps, rain, etc. No motors, timers, nothin' I'll be building it one of these days but would possibly share if someone wanted to try it.
In THEORY it would work so good that you would need two tinacos. One for Hot, and one for Cold.
I have not adjusted to cold showers - and do not think I will. Well, I still travel back to the US for work so I am not forced to have to fully adjust.
But it is surprising how cold the water can be - I thought it would be warmer out of the tinaco. It must be the cistern that keeps it cold, before it is pumped up to the tinaco. But I still find myself taking a very quick shower when only having cold water. I only have a small hot water heater, so if someone uses the hot water before me, then I get stuck with a cold shower :-( Oh well.
But it is surprising how cold the water can be - I thought it would be warmer out of the tinaco. It must be the cistern that keeps it cold, before it is pumped up to the tinaco. But I still find myself taking a very quick shower when only having cold water. I only have a small hot water heater, so if someone uses the hot water before me, then I get stuck with a cold shower :-( Oh well.
I don't have an (electrical or gas) heater, only a solar heater and it works fine. Yes, when there is an overcast day, the water doesn't get warm, but how often we have a complete day without sun? Two or three hours of sun are enough to warm the water so hot you can't stand it and need to add cold water.
Exactly the same as me!!!!! Except it is an electric heater. At 4 in the afternoon the water from the tinacoa is too warm for me!!!!!
I love cold showers...... when it is hot.....
I love hot showers ......when it is cold ( like twice a year in the dr....).
Where did you get an instant water heater for USD150? I have been looking at the electrical heaters (for the laundry machine) but they start at about 15,000 pesos. If I can find a propane heater for less than half of that, that would be perfect!
I have an instant water heater that uses gas and it cost me about 7000 pesos a little over a year ago. I have since seen then about 1000 pesos less if they are on sale. I got it at ochaA. Mine is battery controlled to start the flame so if the power is out it will still work. But it must have a certain preasure to operate so if you have no pump working neither will the heater
We bought it on Ebay from a company in Miami who manufacturers them. It was 3-4 years ago, and I don't remember their name, sorry. Might have been Excel.
"Hot & Sticky" is GOOD!!!!!!!!
But I like a hot shower afterward.
It seems to get the clothes cleaner too.
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But I like a hot shower afterward.
It seems to get the clothes cleaner too.
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The ideal situation would be a solar heater with a backup instant heater, backed up by an inverter for blackouts. The only problem would be paying for it all.
Could also be a busted manual valve. Might not be opening all the way. Most valves will come apart at the knob. Find the highest one and take it apart to see if water gushes out. Then move down the line.
Maybe for guys it's ok, but women like my wife NEED a warm shower to do whatever they do in there to look and smell their best!
You can increase the pressure from your tinaco by increasing the size of your PVC downpipe. There is a lot more resistance to flow in a long 1/2" pipe than in say 1-1/2" or 2". Especially if there are a lot of elbows in it.
Maybe another 10% that hits the button and then replies to an unrelated post.
Maybe another 10% that hits the button and then replies to an unrelated post.
Exactly, I've mentioned this before. The only downside to a 2" pipe is if your hot water source was on your roof (solar) then you would be using the large amount of water (about 2 gallons) standing in the supply pipe before ever getting to the hot water. But still very do-able.
To help with the 45 degree elbow problem, you could use 45 degree long sweeps. I can't wait to try it.
..............................................WATER FLOW RATE IN GPM.............................................
...................... ..................................Pipe Diameter in Inches............................
length, ft........0.5.......0.75........1.........1.5.........2.........2.5.........3..........4..........5............6
....5................23........66........140.......407.......868.....1560......2520....5371.....9659......15,601
...10...............16........45.........96........280.......597.....1073......1733....3694.....6643......10,730
...15...............13........36.........77........225.......479......862.......1393....2968.....5337........8620
...20...............11........31.........66........193.......410......738.......1192....2541.....4569........7380
...40................7.........21.........46........132.......282......508........820.....1747.....3142........5076
..100...............4.........13.........28.........81........172......309........500.....1065.....1916........3096
Two very good points, not very practical for hot water if your hot water is stored on the roof, but it might help you push the cold water from a tinaco through your hot water heater fast enough to heat it. It is a balancing act between the height of the tinaco, the pipe length and diameter to the heater, the minimum flow rate of the heater, and how much small pipe between the heater and the shower head. Both the bigger pipes and the long sweep turns will improve the cold water flow with no problems. If you are careful you can make the long sweep turns in the pipe with a heat gun. You can also expand the end of a pipe to make a connection fitting. The connectors on the large diameter pipes are kind of pricey.