Is it hot and you want to go to the pool? There is no room for this in many gardens. How about an outdoor shower? In addition to designer models, there are also inexpensive do-it-yourself showers.
Bergisch-Gladbach (dpa / tmn) - On hot summer days, cool water is a welcome change. If you don't have space for a pool in your own garden, you don't have to do without a refreshment. Outdoor showers can be installed in the smallest of spaces.
"A garden shower brings a holiday mood into your own home. Showering outdoors - this not only reminds you of the warm south, but also creates a feeling of freedom," says Thilo Dreyer, member of the bathroom manufacturer association Aqua Cultura.
A garden shower also has its practical side. "If you have been working or playing in the garden, or maybe have been in the pool, you don't have to run into the house, you can simply wash off the dirt outside," says Dreyer. And not only in the hot season, even in cooler months, the system can provide quick refreshment - for example after a sauna session.
Garden showers are available in different versions. In addition to slim pipes on which a firmly screwed or movable shower head is attached, there are also elegant columns in the trade. Depending on the model, the wet comes not only from above, but also from the side.
Avoid chrome-plated versions
Dreyer recommends stainless steel versions for the garden. "Chrome-plated fittings and shower heads are not so well suited for outdoor use. Chrome-plated surfaces are not quite as resistant to environmental influences as acid rain," explains the specialist.
Above all, the technology should be looked at carefully before buying. There are showers with a fixed water connection or a hose. The latter do not always offer the option of mixing hot and cold water to a desired temperature. "If children live in the household, a tap with an easy-to-use thermostat is recommended so that they don't scald themselves," says Michael Pommer from the DIY Academy.
The do-it-yourself lecturer advises that the shower should be set up on the property in a location that is far from electrical cables and equipment and where the water can drain off easily - on the terrace or directly in the green. Bottom plates can also be placed under the shower to hide the drain.
Collect shower water to pour
The shower water can then either be piped into the sewage system or collected in a buried container and used for watering. "It can also seep directly into the ground via a gravel bed or slatted frame," says Pommer. "But if you want to use it for plants, you should avoid using any care products when showering."
If you don't want to shower in a freely visible room, you can hide the shower area behind a privacy screen. In addition to movable screens made of textile, plastic or wood, walls made of stone or wood can also be erected - to the full length or half-height, limited to one or more sides. Pomeranian tip for natural privacy: hedges made of easy-care, fast-growing trees such as the tree of life (thuja).
Simple models are for do-it-yourselfers
The construction of the shower and the laying of the lines can be left to professionals. Simple models can also be installed on your own. Pommer recommends following the manufacturer's instructions and installing return and drainage valves. "Showers should only ever be connected to a hose line and never permanently to the water line," the expert recommends.
To ensure that showering pleasure does not only last for a summer season, the system must be switched off in the cool season. "Like any garden faucet, a garden shower must be protected from the first frost," explains sanitary specialist Dreyer. This means: Completely empty the lines so that they do not freeze. In the spring, the system can only be put into operation again when frost is no longer expected.