What Is An Outdoor Shower?

Just as the name implies, it is a shower that is installed or used outdoors. Outside showers can be either fixed and permanent installations or portable units, depending on the specific need they are designed to meet.

Fixed Outdoors Showers

The most common reason people choose a fixed outdoor shower installation is to provide a bathing area convenient to their pool or spa. Since the water used in the pool contains so many various chemicals, many people prefer a quick rinse off each time they exit the pool in order to wash the chemicals off their skin and out of their hair. These units can also be found on public beaches to allow swimmers the same chance to wash the salty ocean water from their body before leaving the beach for the day.

These types of showers also come in very handy after a long day of working outdoors, perfect for washing away at least a portion of the dirt before going back inside to finish cleaning off. This quick wash off can also help to avoid tracking excess dirt or other debris into the house.

In the Japanese cultures, the use of soaking tubs is very common. These are large bathtub like fixtures designed for bathing and relaxation. The majority of the actual bathing, however, takes place in an outdoor shower as the people of the country prefer to enter the soaking tub with their bodies already having been cleaned. The cleansing process that occurs in the soaking tub is designed more for the mind than it is for the body.

Many environmentalists are also starting to realize the benefits of showering outdoors. While most people believe that the soaps and shampoos used during the bathing process would be harmful to the environment, many products are available that have no negative effects when exposed to plants or trees. This allows consumers who wish to conserve water to use the run off shower water for other purposes, such as watering flowers and plants to caring for their lawns. The water can either be collected into a bucket or other container via a drain, or it can simply be routed into a run off drain that disperses onto the yard.

These various types of permanent outdoor showers are connected to standard plumbing lines and typically have the same hot and cold water features that an indoor shower would possess. Some beach and pool showers may be limited to cold water, but after a day of being in the heat of the sun, the cold water can be quite refreshing. Home installed outdoor showers are often build with some type of enclosure that surrounds them offering a level of privacy to the bather. This may be anything from a basic shower curtain on a circular rod, to an elaborate and decorative fenced in area.

Portable Outdoor Showers

A portable outdoor shower is most often found in the possession of an avid camper. Outdoor camping showers are a perfect way to bring a small bit of the luxuries from home out into the wilderness with you. While most people use a basic outdoor camping shower that contains a water reservoir that can be filled at local streams or rivers, other prefer to bring their own water with them. Many high end camping shower can also be purchased with a built in propane water heater, allowing the campers access to hot water while out in the wilderness. The reservoir tanks are typically designed to be broken down into a flat configuration to make storage and transportation easier.

While the number of outdoor toilets has declined significantly over the years, aside from the units used for large sporting events or other public gatherings, the number of outdoors showers seems to be rising. Many consumers simply enjoy the feeling of being able to bathe outdoors, regardless of the environmental or practical benefits. Others value outdoor showers for the various conveniences they do provide. For campers outdoor showers are just another way to make their camping experiences slightly more comfortable, while still allowing them to enjoy the outdoors for all its beauty and wonder.

Related posts:

1. Handicap Showers
2. Portable Propane Water Heaters
3. Walk In Showers