Mixing valves seemed like overkill to me at first, but after reading up on solar shower temps, I get why people insist on them. I’m still figuring out the best materials for the coil—some folks swear by PEX, but I’ve read it can degrade in sunlight too. Anyone tried copper? It’s pricier, but maybe worth it long-term? My main worry is balancing cost with durability since I don’t want to rebuild the thing every summer...
“Anyone tried copper? It’s pricier, but maybe worth it long-term? My main worry is balancing cost with durability since I don’t want to rebuild the thing every summer...”
Copper’s the gold standard for a reason, but yeah, your wallet’s gonna feel it. I’ve patched up more than a few solar shower rigs where folks went cheap on materials and ended up with leaks or brittle lines after a single season. PEX is fine if you’re keeping it shaded, but direct sun will cook it over time—UV just eats that stuff. Even the so-called “UV-resistant” PEX isn’t immune if you’re in a spot with brutal summers.
If you’re set on not rebuilding every year, copper’s hard to beat. It’ll outlast most of the other parts, honestly. Only real downside is the upfront cost and maybe a bit more hassle bending it into shape if you’re doing a DIY coil. But once it’s in, you’re not going to be chasing pinhole leaks or weird plastic taste in your water.
One thing to watch: copper gets hot fast. That’s great for quick showers, but you’ll definitely want that mixing valve. I’ve seen people skip it and end up with water hot enough to scald. Not fun when you’re just trying to rinse off after mowing the lawn.
If you’re really pinching pennies, black poly irrigation tubing is another hack, but again—sunlight will eventually win. You might get two seasons if you’re lucky, but then you’re back to square one.
Long story short: copper’s expensive, but unless you like fixing stuff every summer, it pays off. Just don’t forget the mixing valve unless you want to turn your shower into a lobster pot...
I get what you’re saying about copper, but man, the price jump is tough to swallow when you’re trying to keep costs down. I’ve used black poly tubing for a backyard setup and yeah, it only lasted me two summers before it started cracking. Still, for the price, I didn’t mind swapping it out. Not ideal, but it got the job done for a while.
“If you’re set on not rebuilding every year, copper’s hard to beat.”
That’s fair, but I wonder if there’s a middle ground. Has anyone tried running PEX inside some kind of cheap conduit or even PVC pipe for shade? Seems like that could give you a few more seasons without going full copper. I’m all about not having to fix stuff every year, but at the same time, dropping a couple hundred bucks up front is a hard sell.
Mixing valve is a must though—learned that the hard way after nearly burning myself last July. If anyone’s got a hack for keeping costs down but still getting decent durability, I’m all ears.
Has anyone tried running PEX inside some kind of cheap conduit or even PVC pipe for shade?
Funny you mention that—I actually did something similar last year. Ran PEX through some leftover 1.5" PVC I had lying around, mostly to keep the sun off it. It’s holding up way better than the poly ever did, and wasn’t a wallet-buster. Not as bulletproof as copper, but for backyard showers and rinsing off after mowing, it’s more than enough.
Mixing valve is non-negotiable though. Nearly gave myself a lobster tan before I figured that out...
I did almost the same thing, but used some black ABS pipe instead of PVC since it was what I had on hand. It’s not pretty, but it keeps the PEX shaded and seems to help with durability. I’m with you on the mixing valve—first time I tried it without one, the water was way hotter than expected. For a backyard setup, this hack makes a lot of sense, especially if you’re watching costs. Haven’t noticed any issues after a year, but I do check for leaks every now and then just in case.