Showering would sometimes feel like more of a pleasure than obligation, which most likely explains the increasing popularity of outdoor showers. As you can see, these showers can shake up your routine and bring you closer to nature. If you want to create one for yourself, here are plumbing steps that you can take:
1. Securing the Necessary Tools and Materials
These include pipe clamps, worm clamps, hammer drill, masonry bit, pipe cutter, screws, compression fittings, sprinkler pipe, brass tee, copper pipe, quick disconnects, anchors, hoses, hose Y and Teflon tape.
2. Digging a Trench
Starting at the water supply side of your pipe, dig at least 6 inches deep down the ground to make a trench. Then, roll your pipe into the trench carefully not to bend any portion of it.
3. Leaving an Extra Pipe
Leave extra pipes on the front and back sides of the trench, as it will pull in during the time you backfill the pipe, so you will not come up short with extra pipes in place.
4. Backfilling the Trench
Stabilize the pipe ends to ensure there will be no sharp kinks where it comes out of the ground. As you backfill the trench, lay caution tape on top of the pipe and use clumps of dirt to hold the tape and pipe in place.
5. Installing Hose Connector Fittings
With the pipe buried, you can add the hose connector fittings the same way you attach the fitting to one side of the pipe. To connect them to a piece of copper, you can use a transition or compression fitting. To run the copper line, measure the pipe and cut it to length using a pipe cutter.
6. Mounting the Unit
Drill your wall with the right masonry bit, while making sure the holes are properly aligned with the pipe clip. When the holes are in place, tap in the plastic anchor and then screw into it the clamp.
7. Installing the Shower System
With the water supply line ready, you can install the shower unit.
8. Installing a Cold Water Line
To allow the cold water to mix with the hot water, run another line that would bypass the heater, making sure that it will not be exposed to heat from the sun. At the end where the water enters, add a solder-less tee that is secured with a worm clamp to direct water into both pipes. Connect the shower unit to the water line.
9. Assembling Shower Components
Assemble the shower system with the sillcock approximately 1 inch off the ground and the spring-loaded valve approximately 3 inches above the sillcock. Then, install the showerhead to attach everything as a single unit.
10. Making the Tee
Using the Teflon tape, make the connections into the brass tee holding the sillcock. Screw compression fittings into the tee, securing them with a wrench.
11. Assembling the Valve
Insert the cut copper pipes into either end of the tee, tighten the fitting and then move to the spring valve. Following the same procedure, assemble and install the valve. Then, slide the copper pipe from the sillcock into the compression fitting, which should be in the proper position. Install the copper pies to the last piece and tighten the fitting.
12. Adding the Fitting into the Shower Head
With several layers of Teflon tape applied on the threaded end of the compression fitting, screw the component into the shower head.
13. Connecting the Water Supply
With the entire shower unit mounted to the wall using pipe clamps and anchors, connect the water supply line to the bottom of the unit and turn the water supply on.
Like any other home improvement project, a bit of planning will go a long way. This means that you should plan your outdoor shower to achieve the results you desire.
