This shower system costs around $100.

A lot of people visit my site because they are excited about the prospect of having an outdoor shower. However, they soon get turned off by the idea when they realize some of the costs or work involved. The plumbing costs for getting the water pipes to your outdoor shower and for installing a draining system can be over $500.

If you can break down walls, solder pipes together, and build a drain yourself then it won’t cost nearly this much. But honestly, even the most devoted do-it-yourselfer would have a hard time doing all of that.

I present to you my solution. An outdoor shower with unlimited hot water that even the most inept homeowner can put together.  It costs around $100 and you don’t have to deal with any plumbers.

Now, I’m not saying that this is the perfect solution for everybody. But for those of you who want a hot shower outdoors without having to pay hundreds of dollars this is the best solution I know of. People are absolutely delighted when they find out how easy it is to have a nice hot outdoor shower.

Step 1

Go to Amazon and take a look at the Eccotemp L5 tankless water heater (usually costs $99) or the Camp Chef Triton tankless water heater (usually costs around $125).

The average household indoor shower uses about 1.3 gallons per minute. Both of these tankless water heaters can produce more hot water per minute than that (1.4 gallons per minute for the L5 and 1.5 gallons per minute for the Triton).

Buy one of these units. Both work great, the L5 is a little less expensive and it’s #1 selling water heater on Amazon with a 4.5 star rating. The Triton costs about $25 more than the L5, but it also comes with raving reviews. Both work great.

Step 2

Position the water heater where you want it. I’ve seen them placed on trees, fences, and houses (you can put them almost anywhere outside, though I recommend placing them somewhere where they are shielded from the wind because the flame can be blown out if it gets too windy).

Step 3

Attach your water hose to the water heater. So easy a caveman can do it.

Step 4

Attach a propane tank to the water heater (not included in the shower kits above). If you don’t have a propane tank, you’ll have to buy one, but they are pretty cheap and the propane itself is relatively inexpensive.

If you can attach a water hose, then you can attach a propane tank (simply screw it in place).

Money Saving Tip 1: Many people already have an extra BBQ propane tank on hand. No need to buy a new tank, one of these BBQ tanks works perfectly.

Money Saving Tip 2: Instead of exchanging your propane tank each time you need propane, find a refill station near you. The exchange programs at Home Depot and other big supply stores are convenient but they are more expensive than simply refilling your tank.

Step 5

Turn on, adjust the heat to your liking, and enjoy your $100 outdoor shower retreat.

Here’s a great video that shows how easy it is to set up and use these on-demand water heaters. The video is a little cheesy but it get’s the point across.

Click Here to Buy Now or Learn More about the Eccotemp L5

Click Here to Buy Now or Learn More about the Camp Chef Triton

There are no plans included with these designs. You can go here for outdoor shower enclosure plans.

I have even more design ideas inside my review of Ethan Fierro’s book called The Outdoor Shower.

Categories:

• Wood
• Vinyl
• Metal
• Simple
• Luxurious

Wooden Enclosures

Wooden enclosures are the most popular type of outdoor shower enclosure. Those of you with woodworking skills could easily put up an enclosure (it’s very similar to putting up a fence for some designs). Common types of wood used include cedar, mahogany, black locust, douglas fir, southern yellow pine, cypress, bamboo, and teak.

Indented Wall

Vines

With Sliding Door

Beach Towel Not Included

Classic

Limited Privacy but Looks Great

Clean the Kids

Mahogany

Bamboo

Rustic (Great Man Cave)

Cement with Picket Fence

Indoor Outdoor Blue

Vinyl

Vinyl enclosures are becoming more and more popular due to their durability and look. Vinyl is easy to take care of and easy to install. There are many places online that sell vinyl outdoor shower enclosure kits. Vinyl enclosures can come with or without a roof. Take a look at some of the designs below and see if any would be a good match for your landscape.

Outdoor Vinyl Shower Enclosure

The Double

The Double with Brown Shading

Dogs Need Privacy Too!

Next to a Blue House

The Inside of these Showers Looks Great

Vinyl Flooring and Benches

Very Inviting

Swinging Doors

Tucked Away

Shower Before Entering

With Louvered Roof

Metal

Metal doesn’t always get mentioned when talking about outdoor enclosures. This is understandable because metal look isn’t usually associated with nature. However, take a look at some of these metal designs and you might change your mind. One look that is becoming more popular is the galvanized metal look shown in the picture below.

Surprising Fit

Very Inviting

Too Fun.

Simple

Sometimes a simple solution is best. A metal rod and a nice looking shower curtain might be just the trick for your shower. Keep it simple, enjoy nature, and save money.

Simple, Fun, and Classy

Cobbled Together

Very Homey

Using Nature for Cover is Simple and Effective

Bright Colors Work in this Situation

Luxurious

These designs aren’t for everybody, but if you have the time or money to pull them off they are well worth it.

Beautiful

Not really an enclosure, but worth seeing.

Interesting

Hopefully you’ve got some ideas from these designs. If nothing else, after looking at all these outdoor showers hopefully your desire to have one of your own has increased. If you are looking for more designs I recommend you read my review of Ethan Fierro’s The Outdoor Shower. Better yet, buy the book for yourself.

Sources for Enclosure Designs

Ethan Fierro The Outdoor Shower.

MSN: http://realestate.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=13108141#1

Lindal Cedar Homes: http://lindal.com/

Callazo: http://www.calazzo.com/

Cottage Life: http://cottagelife.com/20073/diy/projects/how-to-build-an-outdoor-shower

LilyPod Inc.: http://www.lilypodinc.com/

Outdoor Showers of NJ: http://outdoorshowersofnj.com/photos.php

ABCD Design:

http://www.abcddesign.com/archives/2011/07/11/dream-designing-outdoor-shower-enclosure/

Plan #1

This is a great plan created by the people over at Cottage Life. It comes with a sliding wood door (pictured below) and can be adapted to fit your specific circumstances. Here are the complete plans in PDF format. There are even step-by-step instructions. If you’re handy with wood and love DIY projects, then this is my #1 recommended plan. The people at Cottage Life even developed a couple of videos (also below).

This video has some great advice for those who are just starting their outdoor shower enclosure. I really enjoyed the tip that you want your enclosure to feel open while still giving you privacy (the best of both worlds). It’s worth a quick look.

Here’s another video about the same plan. It has some great tips for those building their own enclosure. Some useful tips:

• Use pressure treated lumber for the floor to avoid decay.
• Tips to make your enclosure more structurally sound and avoid racking.
• Sliding door saves space if you’re working in a small area.
• Put caps on the ends of open lumber to slow decomposition.

Hopefully you find this plan helpful. It really is a very detailed plan and even has plumbing instructions.

Plan #2

This plan is a little simpler project but it also doesn’t offer as much privacy (it does look great though as you can see in the picture below. If this is a design that would interest you, you can download the complete plan here. It’s a PDF.

Conclusion

Hopefully you found these plans helpful. If you know of any other detailed shower enclosure plans, let me know and I’ll get them added to the section. If you are just looking for design ideas I recommend you take a look at these shower enclosure designs.

If you’ve looked for a book on showering outdoors, then chances are you’ve come across The Outdoor Shower by Ethan Fierro. The book is chalk-full of useful information and ideas. I highly recommend it for those in the beginning phases of their quest for an outdoor shower. Below I’ve added some of the outdoor shower enclosure designs from the book. After looking at some of the designs I’ll talk about why I found this book useful. I’ll also talk about what I think the book needs to take it to the next level.

What I Loved about this Book

Refreshing Design Ideas

The absolute best part about this book is the large collection of outdoor shower designs. Most people find it very helpful to look at some existing outdoor showers to get ideas for what might work for their own. Ethan does a good job of showing a lot of practical designs that are still fun and refreshing. Occasionally he’ll drop in picture of a shower that will take your breath away. These breathtaking photos are fun to look at but they don’t offer a lot of help for most of us. Still, I’m glad they’re in the book to spark the imagination.

Apart from the high-quality photographs in the book, Ethan also offers a lot of practical advice for your shower’s look. Blending your shower in with it’s surroundings can make for a more natural and invigorating shower. Mr. Fierro gives great advice for making your shower an oasis you can go to when you need to be refreshed.

Helpful Materials Advice

Many people don’t know what materials they should be using. The truth is some materials won’t work well for a shower. Some will decompose too quickly or leave you with an ugly looking shower. The book does a good job of identify the woods, metals, and other materials that are best suited for the showering experience.

Plumbing Tips and Visual Aids

One of the most annoying parts of setting up a shower outdoors is the plumbing. The book comes with tips and visual aids that can help the do-it-yourselfer try to tackle the plumbing challenge. It also offers some ideas for those of you who would prefer not to spend all day installing pipes.

What the Book was Missing

The book was never intended to be a do-it-yourself manual with outdoor shower enclosure plans. The truth is there aren’t many actual plans for outdoor showers because each one is unique. That being said, it would have been nice if the book contained two or three simple cookie cutter plans for those looking to build a simple shower in their yard.

Conclusion

The book doesn’t contain a step-by-step assembly instructions for your shower. The book does contain a lot of useful information on plumbing, lighting, and materials.  However, what makes the book worth purchasing are the high quality photographs and design ideas that will make your outdoor shower a daily retreat for years to come.

Maintain Privacy, but Keep it Open

One of the best parts about showering outdoors is that it feels so open and natural whereas a normal indoor shower is very closed off and very little natural light is available. Now, you’ll want to maintain your privacy, but there are a few tricks you can do to maintain your privacy and still have a fun outdoor showering experience.

One idea is to have the shower walls start about two feet off the ground and end just above your shoulder height. Below is a great picture of what I’m talking about.

Most people really enjoy this type of setup. It allows them to have a fun experience while still maintaining modesty. Having an open shower like this actually prolongs the life of the wood in the shower. It allows the wood to air out and dry after each shower.

One thing you’ll want to be careful of with this type of shower is second floor citizens. Because there is no roof, there is a possibility that people on the second floor will be able to see into the shower. You’ll want to position the shower in a location where second floor citizens can’t see into the shower.

Go with a Louvered Roof

If your outdoor shower enclosure must have a roof, then you might want to consider a louvered (slitted) roof. You can have the slits sloping in one direction and this won’t allow anyone to look into the shower. However, it still allows for the person showering to look up and out into the open sky.

The louvered roof on this vinyl shower enclosure allows for natural lighting while providing privacy.

Match Your Surroundings

Try to make it so the outdoor shower enclosure blends into the surrounding environment. This can go a long way for making you feel like part of nature while showering.

Look for Scraps

You’ve heard the expression, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure right? This is definitely the case when building an outdoor shower that you want to blend into the environment. Sometimes you or a neighbor will have some leftover wood, brick, vinyl, etc. from house building or other projects.  Use these leftovers to your advantage to create a well-blended shower that doesn’t cost much money!

Having a view from your outdoor shower can be a lot of fun.

Place Your Shower Where You’ve Got a View

Placing your shower where you’ve got a great view of nearby mountains, hills, or oceans can really help you unwind at the end of the day. There are very few experiences that beat looking at the beauty of the earth while warm water engulfs you.

Use Existing Building Structures

Do you have an existing fence or deck that you can use as one side of the shower? You might be surprised to find that you do. Take a look around your yard and see what you’ve already got in place to make your shower work. This can save you some money and time. It also helps with the overall look of your landscaping.

Consider Convenience

If your shower isn’t meant to be a remote getaway then consider placing it somewhere close to a door. This way you can quickly shower off and enter your home without having to cross the yard in a bath towel. One other main consideration is the location of the water pipes in your home! Placing the shower close to where the hot and cold water lines are located in the home can save you hundreds of dollars when it comes to initial plumbing and installation.

Conclusion

Chances are not all of these design tips will work for your specific situation. Hopefully you’ve at least learned one new design tip that you can implement to make your outdoor showering experience the best it can be.

Plumbers, Useful but Expensive

Connecting to the Sewage System

You’ll want to connect to a sewage system if you live in an area with hard soil and you are concerned about water pooling up in the area where you shower. If you are going to connect your outside shower to a sewage system, then you are likely going to need a plumber. The cost of having a plumber install this drainage system will vary depending on where you live, how close your shower is to the sewage system, and how easy it is to connect pipes from your shower to the sewage system. The average cost would be about $250.

If you are planning on using soap, shampoo, and other cosmetic products in your shower (on a regular basis), then you might want to consider draining to a sewage system.

**Money Saving Tip: If you are already having a plumber come out to your house to run the water from your house water lines to your outdoor shower, have the same plumber install the sewage system. This saves money because plumbers usually charge a fee just to show up at your house!

If you do decide to use this method, keep in mind that most sewer systems don’t allow storm water so you’ll need some sort of cover to make sure rain, sand, and other debris don’t get into the system.

Do-It-Yourself Draining System

Many people don’t connect their outdoor shower to the sewer. Instead they set up some sort of simple draining system. If you live in a sandy area where the water percolates well (sifts down through the earth well) then you may not have to worry about drainage at all. If you have harder soil, then you’ll just have to decide if you have a place for all the water to go from the shower. One of the most common outdoor draining systems I see is gravel.

Gravel Pad Approach

One common approach to the outdoor shower drain problem is a gravel pad. The gravel serves as a filter that will collect any large objects that shouldn’t go into the ground. Of course, standing on gravel isn’t that comfortable so you’ll want something smooth to stand on. People use large rocks, cement pads, and wood pads as a buffer between their feet and the gravel.

If you live in an area that is sandy and the water percolates (or seeps down through the earth) well, then you might not need gravel at all (or you may just need a small amount of gravel). If you live in an area with hard soil, then you’ll want to consider a dry well. A dry well is where you dig a hole (a little larger than the the size of your shower) about four feet deep. You fill the hole with gravel that serves as a natural drain. You’ll want to make sure that the water has some place to go once it gets to the bottom of the dry well. Some people add a pipe at the bottom of the well that drains off into a different area. It all really depends on your specific situation.

Water Your Trees, Flowers, Grass, Etc.

One environmentally friendly way to drain the water from your shower is to have it drain to your trees, shrubs, and other plants. Simply connect your shower’s drain to a pipe that leads to an area that needs watered. Or set your shower up in a way that gravity will naturally take the water from your shower to the areas needing watered.

Water that comes from a shower drain is known as greywater or graywater. There are specific rules about what plants should be watered with greywater. Flowers, grass, and trees are pretty safe (vegetable gardens and plants that you eat are not so safe!). If you want to learn more about installing a greywater system (and when it is safe to use greywater) here’s a great site: http://greywateraction.org/greywater-recycling.

Conclusion

Installing a shower drain ain’t sexy, but it’s something you’ll want to think about beforehand. Most people use simple gravel drains. Others set up the shower so excess water goes to their plants. Others who shower outside regularly with soap and shampoo install a drainage system that leads to the sewer.  If you have any questions about outdoor shower draining that weren’t answered here, let me know by leaving a comment below.

Getting Water Straight from the House:

Pros: Looks good (no hoses lying around), Problems are rare after initial installation, Water is heated using your home’s current water heating system.

Cons: Difficult to install, Expensive, Will likely need to hire a plumber.

If you are the type of person that wants to spend a bit more money upfront so that you rarely have to worry about the shower again, then this is probably your method of choice. The idea here is that you run both cold and hot water lines from your home to your outdoor shower. The water is heated using your house’s current water heater. After you’re all set up, you’ve got an almost unlimited amount of warm water at the turn of a knob.

Very few people can do this by themselves so you’re likely going to need a plumber.

Plumbers cost anywhere from $50 to $200 an hour depending on where you live. Unfortunately I can’t tell you how long it will take the plumber to run the water lines to your outdoor shower because that depends on several factors including the efficiency of the plumber, where you will be placing the shower, and the current location of your water lines (and how easy it is to access them).

If the stars align and your outdoor shower is close to your water lines then you’ll probably be looking at around $250 for plumbing (more if you live in a more expensive area). If things go south and the plumber has a hard time getting the hot and cold water lines to the right area, then you’ll be looking at a lot more than that. Try getting a free estimate if you can!

Getting Water from the Hose:

Pros: Extremely easy installation (so easy a caveman can do it), Inexpensive, Great for outdoor showers not connected to the house, Very portable

Cons: Have to find a way to heat the water

There are many standalone and wall mounted shower modules that simply require you to run a hose to the module and you’ve got yourself a shower (see the picture above to get an idea of this type of shower).

Installation for these types of showers is a breeze. You won’t need to hire a plumber as long as you can use a screwdriver and connect a water hose.

The challenge with this approach is getting hot water (we talk more about how to get hot water to your outdoor shower in the next step). There are two popular methods for heating up water from the hose: gas heating and solar powered heating. The picture above is using a tankless water heater powered by propane. These tankless water heaters can be expensive, but surprisingly the most popular one for outdoor showers (the Eccotemp L5) only costs $99.

One of the more popular outdoor solar showers (pictured to the right) costs around $200. In general these solar powered units don’t provide you with as much warm water. They are easy to use though.

Another disadvantage to this type of shower is that it can be unsightly having your hose drawn across your yard. However, I’ve seen some great shower designs using this method (you just have to be a bit more creative).

Lastly, keep in mind that these gas heating units put out plenty of hot water (over 1 gallon per minute). So don’t think you are sacrificing quality and quantity of shower because you are using a hose instead of connecting directly from your house.

Getting Water From a Tank, Pond, or other Natural Body of Water

Pros: Flexibility (get water anywhere), Great for Camping, Conserves Water

Cons: Need a water pump, Have to heat the water

The last way to get water to your shower is from a tank, pond, or other natural body of water.

The downside of this method is that you’ll probably need a water pump of some sort so that the water pressure can be controlled. Also, it can be difficult to find a place to put a cistern or tank and installing one is no easy feat.

Keep in mind you’ll need a way to control the temperature of the water.

If you have a clean source of water nearby, then this approach might be a good fit for you.

In the next section we’ll talk more about how to heat up the water for your outdoor shower.

Heating it in the Home

If you have water coming directly from your home’s water pipes to the outdoor shower, then you don’t have to worry about a water heater (this is the main advantage of connecting water pipes from your house to your outdoor shower). The downside of this approach is the expense of having to hire a plumber to do the job.

Important Note: Location of your outdoor shower is very important when considering your water heating method. If your shower is more than 120 feet away from your water heating unit, then chances are by the time the water reaches the shower it won’t be as warm as you want it. You’ll need a different water heater close to the shower if you’re planning on building it more than 120 feet away from your current heater. In these situations I’d recommend a tankless or on-demand water heater.

Tankless or On-Demand Water Heaters

Outdoor gas water heaters (also known as tankless or on-demand water heaters) are a very popular option for those wanting a warm outdoor showering experience. The main advantages of this type of heating unit include portability and installation.

Portability

You can set up one of these tankless water heaters anywhere outside. You want to put a shower up at the far end of your backyard? No problem, just hang up one of these gas water heaters, attach a propane tank to it, run a water hose to the heater, and you have yourself a warm shower for years to come.

Pictured below is the Eccotemp L5 Propane water heater. This along with the L10 series is one of the most popular outdoor showers on the market (it’s used to bathe dogs, horses, and humans alike!).

Installation

No plumber needed! For those of you do-it-yourselfers out there who don’t want to mess around with the plumbing in your house, this is an excellent option. If you can attach a few hoses to a machine, then you can have yourself an outdoor shower.

I recommend an outdoor heater like this for those of you who want a simple outdoor shower that works.

Pricing

The L5 from Eccotemp (pictured above) only costs $99 on Amazon. The L10 (the bigger brother of the L5 goes for around $180 on Amazon). You will have to buy some propane as well, but the price of propane is relatively cheap—you’ll have to check your area for pricing. Keep in mind that a standard-sized BBQ propane tank will last around twenty to forty hours of showering (Which means your wife will need a new tank each time she showers! Kidding of course.).

Keep in mind that there are much more expensive tankless water heaters that are a bit more heavy duty than the ones pictured above. These heavy duty options should be installed with the help of an expert plumber for safety reasons.

Solar Water Heating

Solar water heating is easy, inexpensive, and good for the environment. There are many different types of outdoor solar showers ranging from a basic black container to stand alone shower units.

What they all have in common is that they are in some sort of container that absorbs the sun and heats up the water inside. Finding a big black container to hold some water is pretty cheap (you might be able to find something around the house or at a garage sale).

The standalone solar showers (shown above right) cost around $200.

One downside to this type of heating is the amount of showering you can get done. Both of the solar showers pictured above hold about 10 gallons of water. This means that you only have 10 gallons of warm/hot water. On average you can only get about two rather quick showers out of this amount of water.

Another issue with solar heated water is that if the shower isn’t used regularly (about once every other day) then hazardous bacteria can form in the warm water.

Solar showers are a great option for many people, especially those who live in warm, tropical areas. Those living in cooler areas with less sunshine and those looking for something with more control over water temperature and longer periods of hot water should probably look at tankless heating or running pipes from the home.

Note that the best solar showers I’ve seen are custom built by the owner.

Conclusion

Using your home’s heated water is a sure bet but will require a plumber ($$). Tankless outdoor water heaters provide plenty of warm water and they are easy to install by yourself. In addition you can mount the water heater just about anywhere you want. Solar powered heaters are another flexible option, but they don’t provide the same amount of warm water as the other two methods. Choose the method that best fits your situation and let’s start talking about outdoor shower enclosures.

In general, there are three types of water heaters: Traditional Tank Heaters, Tankless or On-demand Heaters, and Solar Heaters.

Traditional Tank Water Heaters

The chances are you have one of these tank water heaters in your house somewhere. They are really quite simple devices. Water comes in from the main water supply of the city you live in. This cold water comes in through a pipe and fills up your water heater’s tank (see below).

At the bottom of the tank there is a heating element that is powered by electricity or fuel. This heating element heats up the cool water. As the water heats up it rises to the top of the tank and exits through the heat-out pipe. There is usually a pump nearby that moves the water to the desired locations (like your outdoor shower).

Pretty simple right?

Tankless Water Heaters (On-Demand)

Tankless water heaters are gaining popularity due to the movement to conserve energy and save money on utilities.

The traditional tank water heaters (discussed above) keep a large amount of water constantly heated so it’s ready at any time. The tankless water heater on the other hand will only heat the water once it is demanded. In other words, the water stays in the cold water pipe until you ask for hot water by turning the hot water faucet at your shower.

These on-demand water heaters are powered by propane or electricity in most cases.

Because the heater only runs when hot water is needed, it does not use as much energy as a tank water heater that is constantly maintaining a certain level of hot water within the tank. These on-demand water heaters are a bit more expensive than traditional water heaters initially (though they can save you money in the long run). The tankless heaters usually last 5-10 years longer than traditional water heaters.

Solar Powered Water Heaters

A solar powered water heater can be extremely simple or rather complex. The simple systems which only use some sort of black container to hold water that gradually gets heated by the sun are known as passive solar powered water heaters. These can be great if you have a place to store a large container and live in a warm, sunny area.

An active solar powered water heater is more complex. These systems have photovoltaic panels (those large black panels you see on people’s roofs) that convert energy from the sun into electricity. This electricity is used to power a water pump that pumps the cold water from your water tank to a solar water heater. The solar heater warms up the water and then sends it back to the tank for distribution.

Here's a good look at a standard solar powered water heater.

Conclusion

Hopefully these brief explanations help explain the options you have for heating the water for your outdoor shower. Keep in mind that there really is no one best option. To find out more information about what’s the best heater for your situation I recommend this resource by Home Depot.

Picture Credits:

Traditional Tank Water Heater Courtesy of FireCatStef at Flickr.

Tankless Water Heater Photo Courtesy of Roger Mommaerts at Flickr

Solar Powered Water Heater Photo Courtesy of Gmourits at Flickr

In the plumbing world this is usually a heated discussion. It seems like every plumber has his/her favorite material and swears that the other materials are complete garbage. Today, I won’t be taking sides, but we will look at whether your outdoor shower will be better off with Copper, CPVC, or PEX.

Copper Pipes

Let’s start with the traditional method, Copper. The two main advantages with copper are that it looks nicer and in general it lasts longer. What looks nice to you might not look nice to another person, but in general most people seem to like how copper looks when compared to CPVC or PEX. This can be a big issue when dealing with an outdoor shower. If your lines are going to be exposed, then you might want them to look nice.

The two major disadvantages with copper are price and difficulty of installation. Copper prices have been on a steep incline for the last decade or so. Depending on the size of pipe you get (I recommend a ½ inch or ¾ inch pipe) you’ll be paying around $3 to $5 per foot.

Using copper for your plumbing will require soldering. This is a big turn off for a lot of do-it-yourselfers.

Corrosion Issue

Advocates of copper claim that it doesn’t corrode as quickly as CPVC or PEX. However, advocates of PEX or CPVC say that copper corrodes quickly and the minerals in the copper lines can be harmful to your health. Copper enthusiasts respond by saying that the CPVC and PEX are plastics that are harmful not only for your health but also for the environment. I choose not to take sides on this issue because I think that they all corrode to some degree over time and it really depends on your local water and environmental situation. If you’re really worried about the corrosion issue check with the builders and homeowners in your area to see what they recommend.

PEX Pipes

PEX has been increasing in popularity over the last decade though it has been in use for around 40 years or so. The main advantage of PEX over copper is its flexibility. PEX kind of looks like it is made out of the same material as your garden hose, but the truth is it’s a bit more rigid than that. You can make wide radius turns with PEX piping, but you cannot make a 90 degree turn without connecting two different PEX pipes.

The PEX pipes themselves are much cheaper than copper pipes, but there are other considerations. The rings and fittings for PEX pipes are rather expensive. Also, you’ll need a special crimping tool if you plan on installing the PEX yourself. That being said, at the end of the day you can save a lot of money going with PEX when compared to copper. Try finding a plumber in your area who works with PEX and copper and he or she will do the job for a lot less if you go with PEX because it saves so much time.

On other assumed benefit of PEX is that it can last through freezing temperatures better than copper. The flexibility of the material allows for it to expand and contract without issue. While there is some truth to this statement, there are still many documented cases where PEX pipes have split just like copper pipes in freezing temperatures.

The one downside with using PEX for your outdoor shower is that the PEX pipes are not resistant to the sun. In other words if they are exposed to the sun they will degrade rapidly (they become brittle and break). Most manufacturers of PEX recommend that the pipes not be exposed to either direct or indirect sunlight. One way plumbers get around this is running PEX through the walls and underground and then connecting it to copper when the line goes above ground and to your outdoor shower. This way the copper is exposed to the sunlight and not the PEX.

CPVC Pipes

Most people have probably heard of PVC before. CPVC is basically like PVC on steroids. CPVC has been built to be able to handle hotter water than traditional PVC (it is also more flexible and crush resistant than PVC).

CPVC is similar to PEX in that it costs less and is a bit easier to install than copper. CPVC and PEX are fairly similar in price.

PEX will take less time to install than CPVC in most cases because PEX is more flexible. CPVC requires some gluing when connecting the pipes.

Conclusion

If you get one thing out of this article, I hope that it’s you’ll take the time to shop around when dealing with the plumbing for your outdoor shower. Try getting different quotes from plumbers using PEX, CPVC, and copper. If you are running water lines from your home to your outdoor shower I recommend hiring a plumber (there are just too many mistakes you can make doing it yourself). If you must do it yourself then I’d recommend PEX (but remember not to expose it to the sunlight).