Showering
Hi we are fairly new to touring and my wife and I have no issue with site showers . However we have 5 yr old and would like to use our own shower for her for ease. we ha e noticed we only get around 2 mins of hot water is this normal ? Is there something I'm doing wrong ? We usually have it heated for hours on electric would it be better having it in gas whilst in use ? It is this just reality and I we need to wet then wash then rinse etc ?
Lunar clubman 2001.
Thanks everyone
paul
Comments
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Your hot water tank holds around 7-9 litres of water so a two minute shower sounds about right given a pump flow rate of around 10 litres per minute and a 50% mix of hot and cold. You will have to wait for the water to heat up again for a second shower.
Bear in mind that you shouldn't stand under it and let it run continuously. Wet the body, turn off, soap up, turn on and rinse off. Using that technique there should be enough for two adults.
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Paulette, you don't say what system you have. If Alde go to their web site and look at faq's it explains what your system will deliver. You can get a five minute shower by reducing your flow rate...on the mixer.
I would suggest fitting a thermostatic valve in the shower if young children are using it as Alde water temperature is high.
Ken
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I would agree with KenofKent re the danger of water temperature with a young child. Although what that is, does depend on the heating method and type of water heater. On our previous van if heated on gas, it was possible to select temperatures as low as 40C. Although on electricity it was 60C. On our current van with Alde heating it is 60C minimum, 70C on boost, whatever is used to heat the water. It would be very easy to knock the mixer handle and get scalding hot water.
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Like Steve I would be nervous of the possibility of scalding with a child. When our kids were little we used many sites without facilities - there were many of them. No showers in the caravan and we used a builders bucket for a stand up strip wash. I did the same at home on the back patio when replacing the bathroom and OH used the caravan shower. I was often filthy at the end of 10 hours graft.
In the OP's case I would personally do similar or use the toddlers bathroom.
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We can't because our home shower is thermostatically controlled, as in this day and age IMO they should all be and in other applications, they legally must be.
In no way would I let a 5 year old use the rudimentary showers fitted as standard in most caravans/motorhomes.
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On my second caravan now since returning to the hobby. we use our shower in preference to the sites ones and don't seem to have a problem. We don't even switch it off /on again. just get on with it . then wait 20 minutes or so before it's second use.
Our first Caravan had a Truma water heater 8/9 L and the new one has 13L Whale one. Not had a problem with either when showering.
Having said that, My Water Heater is being repaired at the moment having a new PCB fitted
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Depends on the size and configuration MM. In the quarter circle type one in our Bailey, it would be very difficult to be sure they did not catch the mixer handle, which is not a turn type tap and moves very easily between scalding and cold.
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modern Truma Combis have 2 setting for water temp (40 or 60) irrespective of power source, which should help with the safety issue, 40 deg max should bo OK.
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The van shower doesn't last long as others have said, turn it off between soap and rinse if needed but I expect for a five year old you can manage this in one go. Our eco camel shower head helps to spread the spray a bit and might save a spot of water. Don't wash up or anything before using the shower, save the tank for the shower.
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Hi Paul
I always find gas is better than electricity for heating water for showering and even washing up. On electric I find, like you, that the hot water has run out. As others have said, you need to turn the water off after wetting, soap & then rinse off. With a 10ltr tank I have time to wash and condition my hair as well. We've never, ever used anything but our on board shower. The water heats up much quicker on gas and for a quick boost you can heat water up quickly using electric and gas together. (Don't think you need another lecture on childcare😉)
Chris
PS - if you put the sink plug in the shower plug hole your little girl can have a play in the water!
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The wife showers in our van 2014 Coachman VIP460 she gets easily a 4 minute shower using the booster on the truma combi, regulates it on the thermostat on the shower before she gets in, l use the site facilities just that too big for the van shower
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Posts of a similar nature! This is what we do. Wet, turn off -soap and scrub- wash off. We always heat with gas and the water is piping hot. We also use an Eco Camel head which really helps by sucking in air to make the shower feel more powerful. With this system we have had 3 or four people able to shower. You don't need it on full flow either- a 'Hollywood shower' is sometimes taken but only for one person.
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When our 3 boys were little, we had no shower in our caravan. We carried a small paddling pool which they used outside when hot, and this also doubled up as a mini-bath in the awning (with the curtains closed) in the evening before bed - they loved it ! It also helped to keep their bedtime routine and when they're small, it's not that easy to get to wash them, or get to the shower controls, in an enclosed space.
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We have no problems in two adults showing back to back.
Sounds about right to save water.
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using gas doesnt get the water any 'hotter' merely hets up to temperature quicker than electric only....its a more poweful burner.
two showers back to back are easy provided water isnt wasted.
10ltr of water in tne hot tank (@ 60 deg) mixed with say 5 ltr cold water gives each occupant (of two) around 7.5ltr each....tho in our case, its probably 5 ltr for me and 10 for OH
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We never have a problem getting two adults through the shower first thing in the morning (separately!) but are aware of the potential lack of water.
If my wife announces she is going to wash her hair (and condition etc) she showers first and I go and fill the aquaroll after!
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I was sitting in the awning the other day and decided to time how long my wife was in the shower. It was running for 4 minutes and she used around 12ltr of water. We have a Truma Combi and on this occasion it was just using the EHU. Our Luna came equipped with one of these eco shower heads. Very efficient. To save time she uses Badedas combined shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. I’m not so clean and only use around 10ltrs of water. I shower in the evening so that there’s plenty of hot water for her in the morning. In the winter we use gas and electric together to get the maximum amount of hot water. What a clean couple!!
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Always get moaned at by OH for using too much water but generally use less than half a tank in our Sterling Continental having a good shower & hair wash, but don't rate the Camel handset that highly as can't see it saves water anymore than the previous handset did in last van
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Having switched to a MH, I havre a hot tank 30% larger. That coupled with a big fresh water tank is going to make it an uphill task to prevent OH from becoming profligate.
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Sounds a right palaver, we use site facilities that's what we pay for along with the leccy and water, waste disposal ,pot wash ect😀
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Having chosen to buy a compact motorhome the shower room is used for storage. OK in an emergency or staying at aires I guess.
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Just be careful & properly supervise them.
