How to Build a Homemade Water Heater

By cnathan in OutsideCamping

496,111

595
Open Menu
29

Featured circuits
workshop
Save PDF craft
Favorite
cooking
living
Introduction:
outside How to Build a Homemade
Water Heater
Log InSignup

Search

By cnathandamons.pizza Follow More

More by the author:

I'm just finishing up building my wood fired pizza bus. I may make an
instructable on how I built i… More »
I will show you how to build a cheap and easy water heater to use for
camping, hunting cabins, or anywhere that hot water isn't readily
available. I have also include pictures of my finished product. I travel a
lot in my motor home and don't like using LP Gas so I tinkered with some
materials and came up with this. All in-home water heaters use a lot of
energy but the one I built uses less than 1200 watts (10 amps). I
wouldn't recommend using this in a house unless you modify the
directions as standard houses use water pressure (town water or well).
When I camp out, I take a 1500 watt power inverter and hook to my car
battery to heat my water. I went to Wal-Mart and purchased a shower
tent and used cpvc to run into tent and put a valve and a shower head on
and it's ready to go.

Step 1: Step 1

Following

Step 2: Step 2
On this step, you DO NOT have to take the reservoir off of the coffee
maker. You do have to drill (2) 3/4'' holes in the back of the coffee maker
to re-route the water lines and you have to take the bottom off the coffee
maker to disconnect the old lines and hook up the new lines. (See
Picture in STEP 13)

Step 3: Step 3

Step 4: Step 4
Projects
back
All Projects
Circuits
back
All
Apple
Arduino
Art
Assistive Tech
Audio
Cameras
Clocks
Computers
Electronics
Step 5: Step 5
Gadgets
Lasers
LEDs
Linux
Microcontrollers
Step 6: Step 6
Microsoft
Mobile
Raspberry Pi
Remote Control
Reuse
Robots
Sensors
Software
Soldering
Speakers
Tools
USB
Wearables
Websites
Wireless

Step 7: Step 7
Workshop
back
All
3D Printing
Cars
CNC
Electric Vehicles
Energy
Furniture
Home Improvement
Home Theater
Hydroponics
Knives
Laser Cutting
Step 8: Step 8
Lighting
Metalworking
Molds & Casting
Motorcycles
Organizing
Pallets
Repair
Science
Shelves
Solar
Tools
Woodworking
Workbenches
Step 9: Step 9

Step 10: Step 10

Craft
back
All
Art I have the modified coffee maker sitting on top of
As you can see here,
Books
the barrel. I drilled an&extra
Journals
2 holes in the space that the coffee maker is
Cardboard
sitting just in case the hose(s) were to leak from the element and the
water will go backCardsinto barrel and not onto the ground. Mine hasn't
Clay better to be safe than sorry. Don't mind all of the
leaked but it is always
Costumes
cpvc pipes and valves as I & Cosplay
just put together using what parts I had at the
Digital
time. I started with Graphics
using water heater for the shower, then added
DucttoTape
another line to run the kitchen sink.
Embroidery
Fashion
Step 11: Step Felt 11
Fiber Arts
Gift Wrapping
Jewelry
This is the picture of my &
Knitting float. I just used a regular float that goes in the
Crochet
back of the toilet. The
Leather only real problem I've had so far with this set-up
is once a monthMason
I have Jars
to clean the coffee maker element. I just
disconnect the coffee
No-Sew maker from the barrel and poured vinegar down
the hose to the element.
Paper Coffee maker must be on to clean as the heat
and acidity of vinegar cleans
Parties & Weddings it. If you don't clean it at least once a
month, the element will clog up and you will have to purchase a new
Photography
coffee maker asPrintmaking
it is really hard to get thick layers of lime and calcium
out of element. Reuse
Sewing
Step 12: Step 12
Soapmaking
Wallets

This picture here, beside the float, is the water pump (lower right) I
didn't run the pump outlet hose to the top of the lid as explained in the
Steps. I have the float installed on my tank but I manually put water in
from the top until I set my cold water tank up. I use creek or river water
to fill my barrel when I travel, but I have a sediment filter that filters my
Cooking
water before putting
back into barrel to help eliminate the lime and calcium
build-up. I also All
add 3 drops of bleach for every gallon of water I put in
barrel. Eventually I would like to replace my roof on my motor home so
Bacon
I can collect rainBBQ
water.
& Grilling
Beverages
Step 13: Step Bread13
Breakfast
Cake
This picture shows
Candywhere I drilled the 3/4'' holes for my new hoses to
connect to the heating
Canning element
& Preserving
inside of the coffee maker. My first try I
actually took theCocktails
coffee maker
& Mocktails
apart to hook the element up but I had
nowhere to put Coffee
the element so I bought another one and drilled holes
and kept assembled.
CookiesI also put a small valve on the outlet line going into
the barrel. ThisCupcakes
is to control the water flow if you have a bigger sized
pond/aquariumDessert
pump. I don't recommend using a bigger pump as with
this particular valve,
Homebrew
I have to clean the lime and calcium build-up every
2 weeks when itMain
isn't completely
Course open. I don't have a big pump in my
set-up but I had Pasta
the valve laying around so I installed it just as an
example. Pie
Pizza
Salad
Participated in the
Sandwiches
UP! Contest Snacks & Appetizers
Soups & Stews
View Contest Vegetarian & Vegan

Participated in the
Instructables Design Competition

View Contest

Be the First to Share

Living
back
All
Beauty Did you make this project? Share it with us!
Christmas
Cleaning
Decorating
I Made It
Education
Gardening
Halloween
Health
RecommendationsHiding Places
Holidays
Homesteading
Make Your OwnKidsLongboard by Craftyamigo
Kitchen
LEGO
RAV4 Car Camping & K'NEX With Folding Legs by Fisherck
Platform
Life Hacks
Music
"Sun-Brella Greenhouse Effect Cooker": Working Solar Cooker for
the Vulnerable,Office Supply
Refugees, Hacks
Eco-Enthusiasts and Creative Cooks by Do-
Or-Diy Organizing
Pest Control
Freeride WoodenPetsSki, Free Heel Edition by satakroken
Pranks, Tricks, & Humor
All ThingsRelationships
Pi Contest
Toys & Games
 Travel
Video Games
Books and Bookshelves Contest

Engineering in the Kitchen - Autodesk Design & Make -

Student Contest
Outside
back
All
Backyard
Beach
Bikes
Comment I Made It
Birding
Boats
Camping
We have a be nice policy. Please be positive and constructive.
Climbing
Fire
Fishing
Hunting
Kites
Knots
Launchers 29 Comments
Paracord
Rockets
Siege Engines
Skateboarding
RyanM461
Snow5 years ago
Sports
Survival
With regards Water
to the 12 vdc pump, what are the recommended specs so
there is enough water pressure for a shower head?

Reply

celsafarini 6 years ago

Teachers
back
Hello! I am a grandmother building a camper to take my grandsons
All
camping and have been scouring the internet for something like this to
help me in myELA quest for a hot water system that is affordable yet
Math
effective. I've watched a lot of videos and read a lot of tutorials but yours
Micro:bit
is the most straight forward and detailed and I really want to do this!
Science
I had an idea of
Social
my own
Studies
and have searched google extensively but can
not find any reference
Engineering to anyone ever doing what I am thinking about
and without enough
MakeyMakey
knowledge am afraid to attempt it without
someone's input.
Coding
Electronics
I have a hot tub on my deck - an older one with pneumatic controls. It's
Robotics
able to be set up as 110 or 220. I was wondering if there was a way to use
Arduino
the in line water
CNCheater and controls from the hot tub instead of the
coffee maker?Laser
Would it essentially work the same?
Cutting
3D Printing
I would buy a3D different
Designpump however because the one on the hot tub is
very loud. WithArt control panel from the hot tub I could set the water
the
temperature also,
Musicalthough it wouldn't be very accurate as it's a dial type
not digital. Theatre
Wood Shop
I would appreciate your thoughts and any input.
Metal Shop
Resources
Grades K-2
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Reply
Grades 9-12
University+

scouttster 11 years ago

I like your idea for my camp, but I found a much easier and less
expensive way. Tractor Supply sells a farm animal drinking water trough
de-icer that puts out 1000 watts. It comes with a metal guard that places
it above the plastic bottom of a barrel and the instructions say it is fine
for use in plastic. I will just drop that into my 55 gallon barrel on a timer
and use gravity ( it sits up high ) to supply the pressure to my sink.
Anyone out there that can poke holes in this idea? Much appreciated

Reply

6 replies

JamesY23 8 years ago

With the materials and time required to be invested in this project and
with electricity already onsite, why would you do this instead of just
buying a small water heater?

Reply

1 reply

JeranR 7 years ago

hi, i'm planning to make a water heater to produce a little but

sufficient steam at moderate rate by converting DC battery of
12v,7.2AH,(15*6.5*9.5)cm to AC of 220v to propel a small boat for the
project, but the other shows the drawback that we wont be able to
generate a power, current e.t.c. to heat up the water....... we
just want our boat to run for a few minutes for a demonstration purpose,
so please help me to work it out, i'm just having a very time ti figure
it out what the others are saying, any kind of idea/circuit diagrams
& components will be highly admired and appreciated .......

Reply

JerryY1 8 years ago

Contests
Teachers
This is interesting and good information to have but for the cost and
hassle you can buy a small electric or gas water heater or you can buy an
under the counter water heater that has no tank and then again they sell
portable propane water heaters that start at just over $100, I've also
looked into water heater attachments for wood burners that you can
make, again good information to keep in mind for future use when
needed

Reply
 jmb4 9 years ago

Hi,

The idea of a coffee maker is just great.

Some additional thoughts:

- insulate the plate with some fireproof insulation

- did you try using the percolator from the coffee maker instead of the
aquarium pump?

As long as the temperature does not go over 120 °, there will be not too
much steam formed.

Disadvantage: the cold water has to flow by gravity to the plate.

With a working prototype this is worth a test (use a hose to siphon in

order not to make additional holes)

Reply

brewmaster15 9 years ago

Great idea here. Not sure if this is helpful but aquarium supply sites sell
300 watt submersible heaters ...we use these to heat storage water for
our fish tanks. Some go to 92 F....they willl usually heat 42 galf water in a
rubbermade storage pail to temp wiin 2urs....need it faster...add
heater....that plus a a submersible pump should work well at least for
some applications..the heater brand to loos "ebo". There are also other
brands that make inline h

Reply

wpierce3 10 years ago

Add a bit of vinegar to the water. About 1/2 a cup per gallon. It will help
the water not go stale and not effect the taste.

Reply

avanish1 10 years ago

How many watts does the the water pump draw? The coffee maker? This
is a very nice idea, but I am curious. You mentioned that you are running
the electricity from an inverter, which must be running off your
car/truck battery. This means either: A) you have to leave your engine
running to keep powering the whole thing; or, B) you have a portable
solar charger to keep you batteries going? Which are you using? It seems
like heating your shower water like this would burn a lot of gas or diesel,
if you're running off of your car batteries. Since you have already
invested in a1500 watt inverter, would it be easier to keep your batteries
recharged with a couple of portable solar panels and a charge
controller? On ebay, for about $30, you can buy a 12 VDC 600 watt
immersible water and run it off your batteries all day long, without an
inverter and you don't need to worry about the core getting blocked with
calcium/lime or sediment. All you need is the solar recharger for your
car battery.

Reply

Schmidty16 11 years ago

Yea you could do this if u didnt have a lot of cooper around. :)

Reply

Transquesta 11 years ago

Impressive! Five stars for innovation!

Reply

baudeagle 11 years ago

Just a thought there are many instructables on bubbler pump. I imagine

that this may find a home in this type of application

Reply

dualqual 11 years ago

Again, NEAT project. However, heat will be lossed at the warmer plate
(where carafe sits). A safety concern. As you well know, there is a
Thermal cut out switch that is an intrical part of the element/warmer
plate which, shuts off electricity to the heater element once the brew
cycle is complete. It then, cycles on and off to keep the coffee in the
carafe at a certain temperature.The entire project is going to have to rely
on this switch. I would be concerned with using a coffee maker to heat
up the water in the tank. Good job!

Reply

1 reply

dualqual 11 years ago

Your idea is really neat! However, I would like to point out something
that concerns me with the above photo. In household water heaters, the
inlet line (cold, street pressure) is positioned several inches from the
bottom of the tank. The outlet line (hot water to user) is positioned
towards the top. Reason being, heat rises. In your photo, any cold water
entering the tank will null out any hot water going to user. All in all, this
is a really cool project!

Reply

ggmex4wd5sp 11 years ago

Why do you need to heat hot water? :)

Reply

Control Issues 11 years ago

Brilliant!!!!!!!! I must do this!!

Reply

itobor2525 11 years ago

If it is 'HOT' water, why heat it again? ;-)

Reply

breeeez 11 years ago

Why would you want to heat hot water?

 Reply

kansasblazer 11 years ago

Love it! Great idea!!

Reply

scrotiemcboogerballs 11 years ago

awesome

Reply

Post a comment

AboutContact

Sitemap | TOS | Privacy Statement | Privacy settings | Legal

© 2024

I Made It Favorite View Comments Share More Options

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Google Classroom
Flag

Wrong Category
Inappropriate
Incomplete
 Spam

Are you sure you want to flag this instructable as ?

Cancel Confirm

Edit