Do-it-yourself shower tank - some design options

22-07-2018

Water supply

If you decide to make a shower on your summer cottage or a country site, then you need to purchase several basic elements. One of the most important components is the shower tank, it can be found ready-made, or you can build it yourself, we will look at how to make a container out of scrap materials and equip it with everything you need for comfortable and convenient use.

In the photo: for our needs can fit almost any capacity of the right size.

What should I look for when choosing a tank

If you decide to make a structure without using ready-made units, then it is very important to choose a variant with optimal parameters:

Product form	There can be a variety of solutions: the usual shower barrels, which are installed both vertically and horizontally, and square tanks for the shower, which are made for a specific project and perform the function of a roof in a summer cabin, and various other forms, it all depends on what do you have at hand
Volume	To ensure an optimal supply of water, it is necessary to install a system with a storage capacity of at least 200 liters. Of course, you can use more options (some developers put tanks per tonne or more), but remember that water stagnation is undesirable because of the danger of the spread of pathogens
Heating type	If the system is heated by sunlight, then a black shower tank will be the best option, since it heats up best and transfers heat. But if you want to be independent of the weather and temperature, it is better to provide for the installation of a heating element that will be used as needed.
Manufacturing material	There are a lot of options, but the most common are plastic and steel. The first solution allows you not to worry about corrosion, because such containers are not afraid of moisture, and the second allows you to independently create a design of any shape and size, for this you need only sheets of metal and welding machine

Tip! If you need to make a system inside a country house, then the easiest way is to purchase a special device - a wood-column-shower. This option is easy to use and allows you to use hot water, regardless of whether there is electricity or not.

A stove for a shower with a water tank allows you to use the design in the absence of electricity and plumbing

Production options

We will consider two main solutions: the construction of a sheet metal container and the use of ready-made containers that are adapted for shower structures. Each of them has its own characteristics, we consider them in more detail.

Homemade tank

To work we need the following:

Sheet metal 2-3 mm thick, such options provide high rigidity of a design and its reliability.

Sheet metal - the main raw material for the tank

For additional reinforcement of the frame you will need a corner of 20x20 or 25x25 mm, if the construction is not very large and the sheet is durable, you can do without them.
The welding machine is necessary to connect the elements together. If you do not have the appropriate skills, it is better to attract a professional specialist.
For cutting the material you need a grinder and several cutting discs for metal.

Consider how a rectangular shower tank is made from sheet material:

First of all, you should decide on the size of the structure, while taking into account both the dimensions of the cabin and the required capacity of the system.
Further marking is done, and the sheets are cut into pieces of the required size.. Observe safety precautions when working.

Metal cutting is a rather laborious task requiring accuracy.

Further, all elements are welded into a single structure, while the top part we recommend to do in the form of a lid, so you can, if necessary, clean the system and process it with anti-corrosion compounds.
It is important to embed an outlet for the connection of a shower head and an outlet for a sanitary drainage valve into the structure. And if the drainage is done at the very bottom of the tank, as with its help the water is drained from the tank, then the exit under the shower should be 20-30 mm above the bottom so that no sediment gets into the watering can.
The exit under the watering can can be welded tightly, but it is better to drill a hole of the required diameter in the metal, where the watering can for the shower tank will join, and fix the structure with nuts and rubber gaskets. For these purposes, it is best to purchase in the store plumbing sgon the appropriate diameter.

Fastening the knot necessarily made using rubber gaskets

After completing the work, do not forget to check the structure for tightness; in case of leaks, all problem areas are marked and welded.

It looks like a metal tank for a shower cabin in finished form, the lid is made separate and placed after fixing the container

Use of prefabricated structures

Very often, tanks for the shower are made from scrap tanks and barrels, this option is easier to perform:

First of all, you need to find a suitable option. If you find a metal barrel, then it is important that it does not store previously hazardous substances and other compounds, which are very difficult to clean.
The first step is to cut a 40x40 cm hole in the upper part so that you can inspect the system from the inside and clean it. Again, it is better to make a drainage descent from the lowest point and the water intake is 2-3 cm above the bottom.
Next, you need to paint the structure in black for the best accumulation of heat from the sun.

If plastic containers are used, the work is even simpler, since the material does not need painting and is not damaged by corrosion. Preparation work consists of drilling a hole and fixing a shower head with a clamping nut.

It is important to embed the watering can securely so that there are no leaks at the junction.

Tip! The location of the watering can should be determined based on the location of the tank, it should be in the middle of the shower compartment.

Mounting construction

Consider how to properly install a shower tank, the work is very simple, but several important recommendations should be considered:

Instructions for the work begins with checking the carrying capacity of the system on which the capacity will be located. It is important that the design could withstand the weight of a full barrel.
A shower tank with a watering can is placed so that the distance from the bottom of the rain to the floor surface is at least 190 cm, this will provide a comfortable location for most people, but if you have someone taller in your family, then the height can be even greater.
It is very important to fix the construction with high quality, for this you can use either brackets (if the shape is square), or belts and perforated tapes. The belts must be made of synthetic fibers that do not rot under the influence of moisture, they must be tightened and fastened. If a perforated tape is used, it is still easier - the elements are fixed with screws or nails.

Steel wire can also be used as an attachment, it also provides high reliability.

If an electric shower tank is used, that is, it is heated by a liquid, then it is necessary to provide cable laying and safe connection of the system, since it is very important to protect communications from moisture in a high quality manner.

As you could see, under the tank you can use the most various barrels that are on hand, thanks to which the price of the project is reduced, and the functionality remains the same.

Conclusion

Almost anyone can make a shower in the country without assistance. At the same time, you can use improvised constructions and materials (see also the article Choosing and installing a tank for a shower).

The video in this article will help to understand the question even better.