Man, you nailed it with the “use it now or lose it” on those hose coils. I tried rigging up a black garden hose on my shed roof once—thought I was a genius until I realized the water went from scalding to lukewarm in about ten minutes flat. And yeah, those cheap hoses are basically single-use if you leave them out in the sun. I learned that the hard way when mine split right down the middle mid-shower... nothing like a surprise cold rinse to wake you up.
Irrigation tubing’s a solid call. It’s meant to bake in the sun all summer, so it holds up way better. As for the slime factor, flushing helps, but I’ve found a splash of vinegar every now and then keeps things from getting too swampy. Not exactly spa-level luxury, but hey, it beats hauling buckets. Backyard DIY is all about embracing the chaos anyway, right?
Yeah, those cheap hoses just can’t handle the heat—UV eats them alive. I’ve had better luck with PEX tubing for solar setups. It’s a bit pricier but way more durable, and you don’t get that weird plastic taste in the water. Vinegar’s a good call for slime, but I’d also check for any spots where water sits too long... that’s usually where things get funky fastest.
Vinegar’s a good call for slime, but I’d also check for any spots where water sits too long... that’s usually where things get funky fastest.
Totally agree—standing water is just asking for trouble. One thing I learned the hard way: don’t skip insulation, even on the “hot” side. If you’re running PEX outside, wrap it up or you’ll lose a lot of heat before it hits your shower. And yeah, those cheap hoses get brittle and leak after a season or two in the sun... not worth the hassle. For anyone DIYing, I’d add a pressure relief valve just in case—better safe than sorry with solar setups.
Insulation on the hot side’s a must, but I’d argue it’s just as important on the “cold” side too—especially if you’re in a place with big temp swings. I learned that the hard way last winter when my supposedly “frost-resistant” PEX lines froze up overnight. Not a fun morning.
A few more things I’d throw in:
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those cheap hoses get brittle and leak after a season or two in the sun... not worth the hassle.
Couldn’t agree more. I tried to save a few bucks with bargain hoses and ended up with a muddy mess under my deck. If you’re going solar, just bite the bullet and get UV-rated stuff.
- Pressure relief valve is smart, but don’t forget about a proper drain setup. My first DIY kit didn’t have one, and draining for winter was a nightmare. Now I just pop a valve and let gravity do its thing.
- If you’re using a black hose coil for heating, keep an eye on the temp. Mine got scalding hot mid-July—like, burn-your-hand hot. Ended up adding a mixing valve to keep things sane.
- On the cleaning front, vinegar works, but I’ve had luck with a little hydrogen peroxide too. Doesn’t leave that weird smell behind.
One thing I’m still skeptical about is those “all-in-one” solar shower kits you see online. The reviews are all over the place. Some folks swear by them, others say they leak right out of the box. I’m tempted to just cobble together my own setup again, even if it takes longer.
If anyone’s thinking about mounting panels or coils on the roof, check your local codes. I almost got dinged for not having the right backflow preventer. Didn’t even cross my mind until the inspector showed up...
Anyway, yeah—avoid standing water, insulate everything, and don’t trust anything labeled “weatherproof” until it’s survived at least one season outside.
Honestly, your point about insulation on the cold side is spot on. I thought I could get away with just wrapping the hot lines, but after last winter’s freeze, lesson learned—now I’m paranoid about every exposed bit of pipe. And those “weatherproof” labels? Yeah, they don’t mean much until you’ve seen what a real storm does. I’ve also been burned by cheap hoses—literally had one burst mid-August and it was a mess. It’s tempting to go for the quick kit, but I’d rather spend more time upfront and know it’s safe (and not leaking all over my crawlspace). Your tip about local codes is a lifesaver—nobody wants a surprise visit from the inspector...