By Catherine Jo Morgan on August 9, 2010 in
Portable propane water heaters can provide the luxury of hot water on demand, even in an outbuilding, by a swimming pool or when camping. These miniature water heaters use standard one-pound propane cylinders, and some can also be hooked (with an adapter) to larger portable propane tanks. We found that some people even use these for living off the grid.
Most models get decent reviews from owners, but the best choice depends on where you want to use one: at a campsite or closer to home. Water heaters with tiny tanks are useful when camping. Tankless models are useful for outdoor cleanup at home, whether it's hosing off kids before they come inside, washing dogs and horses, or setting up a shower by the swimming pool.Tankless portable water heaters for around the home
The tankless Camp Chef HWDS Triton (*Est. $130) requires a hose hookup to a faucet, so despite the "Camp Chef" name, this portable water heater is best suited for an outdoor shower or in a barn. This model is designed to hang up on a wall or tree, but comes with a stand for tabletop use. It comes with a carrying handle, an adjustable shower head and hose, plus a hose and regulator for a 20-pound propane tank. Water temperature adjusts between 50 and 150 degrees. User reviews at Amazon.com are very good overall, with some complaints that the pilot light blows out too easily, and a couple of people say the water temperature wasn't consistent.
Portable hot water heaters for campsites
For setting up a campsite kitchen, the Coleman Hot Water-On-Demand Portable Water Heater (*Est. $225) looks like the most convenient choice. It's stable and attractive, with a swing-out faucet. It heats water hot enough for coffee or tea in five seconds, but you can adjust the water temperature as you like.
The Coleman portable water heater comes with a portable five-gallon water carrier that holds the intake water (plenty for a shower), or a hose adapter (*Est. $24) hooks the heater to a hose and faucet. You can buy a spray head to use for showering, but owners say the hose is too short, so it's best to just fill a hanging shower bag (*Est. $25) -- the type often called a solar shower.
A one-pound propane canister heats about 40 gallons of water, and the rechargeable battery (for the pump) lasts about the same length of time. The battery can be recharged in a 12-volt car outlet or from a regular 110 outlet. Owners reviewing the Coleman at Amazon.com warn that recharging takes several hours.
The Zodi Hot Tap 6185 (*Est. $125) uses D batteries, so it's a better choice for remote locations without access to electricity (or a car battery). The Zodi Hot Tap is a small water heater with a four-gallon tank that sits on top of the propane cylinder. It looks a lot less elegant than the Coleman heater, and is less convenient to use. A handheld spray hose takes the place of a faucet, and water temperature is controlled by adjusting the flow of propane.
The 6-volt pump can be immersed in a bucket of water, but you can also buy a hose adaptor to use water from a faucet. One standard one-pound propane cylinder and one set of batteries can heat 60 gallons. The Zodi heats four gallons at a time, raising the temperature 30 to 40 degrees. One owner reviewing it at Amazon.com notes that if the incoming water is really cold, you can run it through the Zodi twice if necessary.