Plug in instant hot water unit?

[fizzyfuzzybuzzy]

I am boarding at a WONDERFUL boarding facility. I mean I absolutely love it there. My only issue is that there is no hot water available. Normally I wouldn’t care, but my current delicate flower hates cold water baths. I don’t mean dislikes in a normal horse sense of the word. I mean is spooky for DAYS after a cold water bath, along with the expected dramatics during said bath. I need a non-permanent solution to help us through this apparent crisis.

There is already a super expensive Hott Wash that doesn’t really work. I mean it works, but needs an hour to heat up then is somewhat warm for 5 minutes, then is back to straight cold. So that won’t work. Has anyone found a plug in tankless system that connects to a hose? Can’t be propane, the barn owner has major fire hazard issues with those.

[wsmoak]

Something that can heat water for spraying out a hose is going to require a lot of power – more than a regular power outlet can provide. Fill a bucket and calculate the gallons per minute you are looking for, and go from there.

If there is sufficient power available at the barn, and you are planning to stay there a long time, then get a plumber to quote installing a tankless hot water heater. Either consider it a gift if you’re the only one who wants it, or maybe negotiate a reduction in board for some amount of time to compensate.

If a sponge bath with hot water will work, then these bucket heaters work well: https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Premier-Line-742G-Submersible/dp/B000BDB4UG

[luvmyhackney]

I use a propane solution similar to what s.stack sells. I unhook the propane tank after every use and easy to store in a different location. I can get 2-3 baths on the small camping propane bottles.

[trubandloki]

Converting cold water to warm water takes quite a bit of energy so your options are lots of energy for quick temperature rise or low energy for a slow (or minimal) temperature rise.

Below is the information on a random plug in tankless water heater I found when I did a google search.
I would guess your hose is more than 2.5gpm, but let’s go with that number. At a flow rate of 2.5gpm the water temperature will raise 10degF. Depending on where you are in the country this means you still have very cold water. In NY I use 40degF for the incoming water temperature for the end of winter and the beginning of spring. That means your hose will be 50degF. In the summer the incoming water temperature is 70degF so that means your hose will be 80degF, still not crazy warm, though considered tepid.

I think you are going to be disappointed in any plug in electric tankless water heater.

[Beaudacious22]

Thinking outside of the box but perhaps you could set up a passive heating system? I’m thinking a black 55gal plastic barrel that you fill after each use and let the sun do the work for you. You could get something with a hose attachment at the bottom to gravity feed for your baths. I’m not sure how easy it would be to set something like this up at your boarding barn but it would be very portable and you could always take it with you when you go!

[JB]

@fizzyfuzzybuzzy

I don’t mean dislikes in a normal horse sense of the word. I mean is spooky for DAYS after a cold water bath,

any chance of PSSM? I get it that some horses really just don’t like cold water on them. But to be so reactive for days, that suggests of a muscle issue. PSSM2 horses in particular don’t deal with cold nearly as well as normal horses

How long between deciding to bathe, and need to do it? 150’ of black hose laid out in the sun, water in it, can provide REALLY hot water that you can dilute with cold. Even if it’s not all that hot out, the water in there can get pretty warm, relatively quickly,

[Postandrails]

Jump on Youtube and do a search on camping showers, hot water for camping, portable hot water etc. There are endless videos on so many different types, and something might seem like a good option for you.

I can understand your barn owner’s objection to propane, but like luvmyhackney suggested, could you ask the owner whether propane would be acceptable if you didn’t store the bottle on site?

[trubandloki]

I want to add something to take note of - something like a camp shower is going to have a very low flow rate. Keep that in mind.
Some tankless water heaters will let the water pass at whatever rate it will flow thru the unit, and clearly only heat it at a rate that it can heat at - in other words, the water might come out much colder than you want because you flowing more water thru than the unit can heat at that rate. Others limit the amount of flow to the point where the unit can produce the wanted end result so your output will be the temperature you want, but at whatever rate the unit can make that temperature, which is likely less water than you want to rinse off your horse.

[baybrio]

@luvmyhackney

I can get 2-3 baths on the small camping propane bottles.

Wow, those are very portable. I love the idea of unhooking after every use. Smart.

[fizzyfuzzybuzzy]

He likely does have PSSM, although I’ve never done the genetic testing. He is on a forage based diet with fat supplementation for needed calories. I also work him like a PSSM horse. We live in CT, and he’s basically unridable in under 40 temps.

I’ve been utilizing available hot water (filling containers at home, barn is close) for bucket/sponge rinsing after workouts. But real soap baths are out of the question until I find a solution.

[JB]

@fizzyfuzzybuzzy

He likely does have PSSM, although I’ve never done the genetic testing. He is on a forage based diet with fat supplementation for needed calories. I also work him like a PSSM horse. We live in CT, and he’s basically unridable in under 40 temps.

All this sounds much more like Type 2 than 1, which is different management. They don’t the higher fat that Type 1 needs, they need higher and higher quality protein. Sometimes a lot higher. Alfalfa, added amino acids, added whey protein (whey isolate takes out the lactose issue)

[fizzyfuzzybuzzy]

Good to know! Also good news, he does get those things too! Alfalfa at 25% of his overall forage by weight, top line extreme and Source for added amino acids. I’ve also been doing research in to whey protein supplementation this week. What are your thoughts on whey isolate vs casein?

[itwasyou]

My mare gets pretty mad about cold baths, too.
I ordered a propane-fired camp shower from Amazon. Mounted it to a hand truck using great big zip ties.
I attached the propane tank under the heater unit using bungee cords, the whole thing is quite portable. Easily stored in my horse trailer, and rolled out for baths.
Hooking it up to the hose at the barn produces sufficient water pressure for effective horse baths. The water temperature is very adjustable.
The whole thing set me back about $250.

[clanter]

@itwasyou

Mounted it to a hand truck using great big zip ties.

we have a very similar if not the same… there is a cart alike your two wheel cart that is designed to hold the heater and the propane tank without using zip ties… very securely held.

Also these types of heaters can work using a 12 volt water pump …great for out of the way places without tap water

[Leather]

As @trubandloki noted, if you’ve got cold ground water then an electric water heater will be pretty disappointing (as you’ve found out with the Hott Wash).

I’d see if the BO would be OK if you used a portable tankless propane water heater/camp shower that others have mentioned. I have one and it’s fantastic!

You can get a long hose and operate it outside of the barn if need be, and just bring the propane tank with you.

I’ve got mine on a hand truck with handles that also make great hose holders.