3 Off-Grid Shower Systems Compared (AUD $150 to $600)

Jenny Mills, OffGrid Masterplan author

By Jenny Mills · rural nurse & homesteader · health, safety, law and the paperwork of going bush

“After my second winter, I learned that a 200-litre solar tank on a cloudy day leaves you scrubbing in freezing water.”

OffGrid Masterplan

Solar Thermal Showers

I run a solar thermal setup at the house—sun heats the water, tank holds it, that's the whole arrangement. Out here where the sky stays clear most of the year, it earns its keep. I check it twice a year and leave it alone otherwise. No gas deliveries, no meter spinning just to wash the dishes.

Gas On-Demand Showers

Fitted a gas instantaneous unit a few years back - heats water only when the tap's cracked open, so there's no tank to freeze or go stale. Runs off bottled propane or mains natural gas, your call. Hard lesson learned out here: when the bottle runs low or the line pressure dips, the burner cuts out mid-shower and you're left rinsing in the cold. Reliable gas supply isn't optional, it's the whole system.

Wood-Fired Showers

I run a wood-fired system at the place. The stove heats the water directly—no electricity needed, no pump to pack it in. It suits the setup out here where firewood's the one thing I never run short on. I feed the fire morning and night, sometimes more if the southerly's howling. Smells like a campfire when it's running, which I reckon is half the reason I put it in.

How I Installed My Gravity-Fed Shower

I went with a gravity-fed setup. The tank sits high enough on the slope behind the house to push hot water down to the shower without a pump doing the work. It runs itself, needs the odd check, and handles two of us without complaint.

While many off-grid projects are achievable as DIY, certain situations require licensed professionals:

Always check local regulations and obtain necessary permits before commencing work.

Worth a watch: KINGS Portable Gas Hot Water System - HOW TO SET UP & USE! · Adventure Kings

The video walks through connecting the Adventure Kings gas unit to a standard LPG bottle and adjusting the thermostat, which is exactly the kind of step‑by‑step I reference when discussing safe, compliant hot‑water setups in the guide. — Jenny Mills