Heated winter shower for a summer cottage: how to make it yourself

Almost all city dwellers have a dacha outside the city, where they go for a weekend getaway with family or friends. To make the time spent on it as comfortable as possible, it is necessary to build all important buildings on the site, such as a bathroom and an outdoor shower. It is best to make a heated shower so that taking water procedures even on cool summer evenings will be pleasant.

Design features of a heated summer shower

A heated summer shower is a unique design when, in warm weather, the water in the tank is heated by the sun, and in cold weather, an electric heating element is turned on. It is quite easy and simple to build such a building on a personal plot with your own hands. The main thing is to know the sequence of all the work being carried out, to have at hand a well-designed plan indicating all the features and nuances of the construction.

Attention: in order for the water to heat up independently under the sun in warm weather, the structure should not be placed in the shade or under spreading trees. Please also take into account that electricity must be supplied nearby for the heating element to operate.

Any outdoor heated shower consists of the following elements:

• foundation;
• plum;
• shower cabin (it includes a frame, a water tank with an electric heating element, a watering can with a ball valve, a tray and casing).

Attention : in order for the water to warm up better under the sun, you should choose a dark (black) color for the tank.

Laying the foundation

The building being erected will rest on a foundation of bored piles. Such supports are very easy to construct:

1. Using a garden auger, you need to drill a well, the bottom of which is located 30 cm below the freezing depth of the soil. The diameter of the well should be 100 - 150 mm.
2. At the bottom of the well, a 30-centimeter sand or gravel-sand cushion is made. It needs to be compacted, pouring generously with water.
3. We lower a plastic pipe of the appropriate diameter into the well. It will simultaneously play the role of formwork and waterproofing for the concrete pile.
4. Inside the pipe, it is necessary to secure a reinforcing frame made of 3 vertical rods with a diameter of 8 - 12 mm, equally spaced from each other, connected by crossbars made of rods with a diameter of 6 mm. All frame elements must be connected with annealed wire - welding is not allowed.
5. All that remains is to fill the pile with concrete. At the final stage of pouring into concrete, you need to monolith the anchor bolt (in the center), on which the grillage beam will be placed.

Foundation for a shower
In soft soil, instead of bored piles, you can use driven piles made from a steel pipe with a diameter of 60 - 150 mm with a flattened end. In this case, the anchor bolt for fastening the grillage beam should be welded to the pile.

Types of warm showers for a summer residence

According to the types of showers for the dacha, they are divided into:

• with or without doors (this option is used only in the spring and summer, when curtains are hung instead of doors);
• with a locker room;
• heated.

A simple structure intended only for use in the summer (usually country houses) is made of metal, polycarbonate, or an awning.

If we are talking about a standard-class cabin, then you should pay attention to structures with a changing room made from more durable materials.

Please note : changing rooms are twice the size of regular ones.

Preparing the base

At the site of construction of the cabin, it is necessary to select all the fertile soil, reaching the underlying layer of soil - sandy loam or loam.

Next, a cushion is built in the resulting recess, consisting of a 15-centimeter layer of gravel and a layer of sand of the same thickness.

Next comes laying the foundation.

Heating selection

When thinking about heating water at the dacha for a shower, you need to decide in advance on its water heating system, which can be:

• portable . That is, water is poured into a special shopping bag, which is hung on a rack. Water with such a system can be filled with either warm or cold (in this case, you will have to wait until it warms up under the sun's rays). The advantages of such a system include: cost-effectiveness (there is no need to use special equipment to heat water). But, the usual volume of a portable bag is only 20 liters, which allows only one person to shower;
• sunny _ In this case we are talking about a tank in which water is heated under the sun's rays. If the tank is dark in color, the water in it will warm up faster. It is also recommended to make a roof with a mirror surface to quickly heat water. This heating method is most common, as it is convenient and economical;
• titanium _ The water is heated not by solar energy, but by coal or wood-burning titanium. In this case, the water in the tank will always be warm, regardless of the weather conditions outside. The only thing when installing titanium is to remember that this equipment is fire hazardous. Therefore, its installation should be carried out by specialists in this field. It is also recommended to purchase a high-quality boiler so that it strictly complies with all safety regulations and standards;
• electrical _ Involves the installation of an electric heating element. The only drawback of this option is the high energy consumption and additional load on the network. But, this is a completely safe and easy-to-use method of heating water in a tank;
• solar (implies the installation of solar panels). This is the most modern method of heating water, which is characterized by high cost. But after spending once, you will no longer have to pay large electricity bills. Consequently, this system will quickly pay for itself. To set up the system, you will need to buy solar panels that are mounted on the roof. They accumulate solar energy and heat the liquid in the tank.

Attention : when installing an electric heating element, all sockets and switches in the shower will need to be protected from moisture and grounded.

Which water heating option to choose is up to each owner of an outdoor shower to decide for himself, based on personal preferences, construction features and financial capabilities.

Choosing an installation location

A warm shower in a country house should be placed correctly so that it is comfortable and functional. Particular attention is paid to the method of heating water:

• if we are talking about solar energy, then the booth is located in a well-lit area;
• if the water is heated by a solid fuel boiler using firewood or coal, or using an electric water heater, then the location of the cabin does not matter much. But again, it will be much more comfortable to get out of the shower into the pleasant rays of the sun than in a cool and shady place.

It is also advisable to choose a place for the shower in the backyard so that the outbuilding does not spoil the neat appearance of the garden plot. Although some craftsmen come up with original booth designs that harmoniously fit into the surrounding landscape designs.

Attention : the shower should not be placed in a drafty place. Even in the summer heat, after taking water procedures with hot water, you can easily catch a cold from a slight breeze.

Construction of the frame

Grillage beams should be laid on the foundation piles, which will simultaneously play the role of the lower frame. Next, using corners and self-tapping screws, racks are attached to them, the upper ends of which are connected by beams of the upper frame.

If the frame is assembled from wood, all elements must be treated twice with a water-polymer composition, then with biocides. The last stage of preparation is treating the wood with hot bitumen.

Wood frame

It should be borne in mind that even with such precautions, increased humidity will soon lead to the appearance of fungus on the wood. To delay this moment, the wooden shower should be raised above the ground by 200 - 250 mm.

The frame is sheathed with moisture-resistant plywood or plastic, then the walls are covered with foam plastic, on top of which colored polycarbonate is fixed. At the top of one of the walls in the locker room and shower there should be an opening covered with transparent material.

It will be better if such a window in the shower stall is opening - this will make it possible to quickly dry it after water procedures.

What you will need for work

A heated outdoor shower can be built with your own hands in a fairly short time, if you have all the consumables and tools at hand. To make the booth you will need the following materials:

• timber, profile pipes, and a special profile are used to construct the frame;
• any sheet materials are suitable for covering the frame (moisture-resistant plywood, corrugated sheets, polycarbonate);
• for arranging the foundation (if necessary): cement, sand, crushed stone;
• for organizing drainage: roofing felt, PVC film, concrete with the addition of PVA glue;
• Pallets are perfect for arranging the floor. It can also be made of either concrete or plank;
• to arrange the drain you will need PVC pipes;
• Various materials are used for roof installation. The main thing is that they can withstand the entire water tank itself.

When building a shower, special attention is paid to the choice of tank. It should be roomy if several people live at the dacha. On average, one person uses from 20 to 40 liters of water. That is, if 5 people live in a country house, you should choose a tank of at least 100 liters.

Also, the tank must be made of durable materials that do not corrode. The best option is stainless steel or plastic. If we are talking about purchased products, then the tanks supplied for sale are mainly plastic. They have a comfortable flat shape, which helps to better warm the liquid inside. It is also worth considering that the tank must be equipped with a lid to prevent dirt and various debris from getting into it.

Tools in the workflow you will need:

• Bulgarian;
• sander;
• drill or screwdriver;
• concrete mixer (for arranging the foundation);
• building level;
• hammer.

Purchasing the necessary materials

In addition to making or purchasing a heating tank, you must purchase plastic water pipes D 50 mm. It is convenient to use a flexible silicone hose to supply water.

To set up a system of materials you will also need:

• gutter reinforced with metal mesh;
• ball valve;
• valve with float;
• divider

To make a foundation pour when constructing a cesspool, you will need cement marked M150 and higher. The drain can be covered with waterproofing roll materials or hydroglass insulation.

To make a wooden floor in the shower, it is best to use a tongue-and-groove board, treated with a water-polymer emulsion or oil white.

For the final finishing and arrangement of the bathroom, you will need paint for exterior and interior work, spacious shelves for bathroom accessories and hooks for clothes.

To erect the structure you will need the following tools:

• building level;
• roulette;
• corner;
• screwdriver;
• self-tapping screws

To pre-mark the area, you also need to stock up on a skein of twine and wooden pegs.

Self-construction procedure

Building a shower with your own hands begins with:

1. Site preparation. All debris is removed from it and the site is leveled. As noted earlier, the construction site should be located in a sunny and wind-free place.
2. Next is the draining. Experts recommend making it several times larger than the volume of the water tank. The easiest way to drain is by laying an inclined pipe from the cabin. And install a septic tank and drainage next to the drain.
3. After this, you can begin installing the pallet. To do this, a small trench is dug, which is first covered with roofing felt and covered with crushed stone on top.
4. Next, the frame is constructed. It should be installed very carefully and firmly, since a rather heavy tank of water will rest on it. The selected material for the frame is attached using self-tapping screws (if we are talking about timber). And if a profile pipe is used as it, it is better to use a welding machine. Although some home craftsmen fasten metal pipes with bolts.
5. The next step is covering the frame with any materials (polycarbonate, wood, metal). Here it is important to consider how important the aesthetics of the building is (if it is in the front yard, then its design should match the design of the house and other buildings).
6. Next, the roof is mounted, and a heated tank is installed on it. Some summer residents do not install roofing materials on buildings if the area of ​​the tank completely covers the roof of the building.
7. The final stage is the installation of doors and interior finishing work. The booth has shelves for shampoos, masks, scrubs, hooks for towels and clothes.

Attention : it is recommended to use natural and environmentally friendly materials that are easy to care for as finishing in the shower room.

That's the whole simple workflow for building a simple heated summer shower. The only thing is, if you plan to use the room in the cold season, you need to know how to insulate a summer shower. For this, various materials are used: mineral wool, polystyrene foam, expanded polystyrene.

Drain pit equipment

From a biochemical point of view, draining wastewater from the shower and street toilet into a common pit is a gross mistake. It is necessary to build a separate pit under the cabin. To equip a summer shower, which is supposed to be used only from time to time, a drainage hole with a capacity of no more than two cubes is sufficient.

When calculating the required volume of a structure, adhere to the rule that its capacity should be 2.5 times greater than the contents of the water tank

The drain should not be located under the shower building itself or even near its walls, but two to three meters from the building.

This arrangement allows you to solve two problems at once:

• prevent the appearance of unpleasant odors of decaying organic matter;
• minimize the risk of foundation failure.

To construct a drainage pit, dig a pit 2-2.5 m deep. At this depth, wastewater will be discharged into the soil below the fertile layer. Thanks to this, soil microliving creatures will not suffer from such a “neighborhood”.

To make drainage, the bottom is lined with gravel and sand. The thickness of the drainage layer should be 20-30 cm.

When creating a waterproof layer, you should not use clay, since during operation, as a result of the natural erosion process, it can simply break the drainage system.

To avoid shedding of the walls of the drainage pit, they must be laid out in several rows with bricks or decorated with used tires.

The upper part of the drainage pit must be tightly closed. The lid can be made from a wooden panel or a piece of sheet metal.

The technology for constructing a tire drainage pit is described in this article.

Rules for using a warm shower

Despite the fact that a country shower is mainly used in the summer, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules for its operation:

• protect yourself as much as possible from drafts;
• if the tank is installed on the roof without a heating element, the cabin is located in such a way that direct sunlight falls on the tank;
• If the cabin does not have a cesspool, it is equipped with a well-designed drain. Just keep in mind that if several people use the shower, then flushing alone will not be enough, since the water simply will not have time to dry out in such a short period of time;
• the cesspool is located at a certain distance from residential buildings and recreation areas.

As can be seen from all of the above, it is quite possible to build a warm country shower with heated water with your own hands. With a little effort and diligence, you will have a practical, durable and easy-to-use place for taking water treatments at any time of the year.

Features of the construction of the heating system, floor

To heat the washing room, you need to install an old thin-walled radiator connected to a closed circuit with heated water circulating through it.

The movement of water in the circuit is ensured by a circulation pump.

In the washing room, instead of the floor, you should install a commercial shower tray (low version).

It is installed inside a frame made of wooden beams.

The floor in the locker room is made in the form of a grid, which is assembled from beams with a cross-section of 40x40 mm or polypropylene pipes. In the latter option, the holes in the pipes should be filled with foam so that moisture does not accumulate in their cavities.