
Outdoor showers don’t have to be complicated
Outdoor Showers in Tallahassee: A Practical Luxury
Outdoor showers may seem like a vacation-only affair, something reserved for beach houses or spas. But in reality, outdoor showers are relatively easy to build and install, and have a lot of practical, as well as enjoyable, uses for Tallahassee homes. Is an outdoor shower the thing your home is missing?
Key Ideas:
Q1: What are the benefits of having an outdoor shower in Tallahassee?
A1: Outdoor showers help keep your home cleaner by allowing people and pets to rinse off dirt and sweat before entering, prevent clogged pipes by keeping debris out of drains, and offer a refreshing way to cool off after outdoor activities.
Q2: How can I prevent mold and mildew in my outdoor shower in Tallahassee’s humid climate?
A2: To prevent mold and mildew, build your outdoor shower in a sunny area, ensure proper ventilation, and install good drainage to help the shower dry quickly after use.
Q3: What should I do to protect outdoor shower pipes from freezing in Tallahassee?
A3: While freezing is rare, install a valve to shut off water during winter months or ensure your pipes are well-insulated if you plan to use the shower year-round.
Q4: What are the main types of outdoor showers I can install?
A4: There are three main types: portable showers connected to a garden hose, stand-alone showers with underground plumbing, and stationary showers built against your house for easier plumbing access.

A simple passive solar water heater can heat an outdoor shower
Benefits of Outdoor Showers
You may not have considered all the benefits an outdoor shower can offer you and your family. Increasingly, homeowners are adding outdoor showers for the convenience, health benefits, and luxury they offer. And any outdoor living support you add to your home will only increase its value and appeal.
Outdoor Showers Keep Your Home Cleaner
Even if you don’t live at the beach, people and pets track dirt and debris into your home. Say, for example, your kids play soccer. After a particularly hot and muddy game, how much easier would it be to let them shower outside? If you have pets, washing the dog in an outside shower results in so much less mess than an inside bath.
Tallahassee days can get hot. After a long run or working in the yard all morning, rinsing off in an outdoor shower will keep the dirt and sweat outside, leaving you refreshed and clean.
Not only do outdoor showers keep the dirt out of your home, they also keep it out of your pipes. Sending a lot of sand, dirt, grass clippings, and silt down the drain inside your home can result in clogged pipes and expensive repairs. Wash outside and you solve this problem before it happens!
Outdoor Showers are Good for You
Nothing feels better than a cool outdoor shower on a hot day. You can lower your body temperature quickly if you get overheated by standing under a cool shower–important if you’re spending time outside on hot summer days.
If you have a pool or a hot tub, showering before you get in is better for the pool filter. It washes oils and products off your skin, meaning the filter doesn’t have to work as hard. But more importantly, showering before you get in means your pores close and don’t absorb the potentially harmful pool chemicals. And a quick shower after you swim rinses the chlorine off your skin.
Outdoor Showers are Luxurious
Anything that lowers stress and relaxes you should be prioritized in this fast-paced world we live in. Outdoor showers can offer you the feeling of being in a resort in your own backyard.
- Consider installing an oversized rain shower head for an even more relaxing shower.
- Outfit your shower with great-smelling soaps and toiletries, and use fluffy towels.
- Use landscaping to give the feel of being out in nature.
- You can even install a tub for the most luxurious feel.
- Your guests will enjoy the unique outdoor shower experience as well.

You can also connect your outdoor shower to the homes hot water supply
Specific Concerns for Outdoor Showers in Tallahassee
While the hot weather and sunny climate make outdoor showers an excellent idea for your Florida home, there are some potential issues you may encounter. But we have solutions for you as well.
Oak Leaves and Pine Needles
Many yards in Tallahassee host live oak and pine trees. These gorgeous trees are vital for our ecosystems…but they can be a hassle for your outdoor shower. To manage leaf litter and ensure your shower drain doesn’t clog, you will need to either cover the shower area or design it in such a way that you can easily remove leaves with a rake or leaf blower. Leaving a gap between the walls and the floor (like a bathroom stall) can facilitate this. Another option is keeping one side of the shower partially open.
Mold and Mildew
The same heat and humidity that make outdoor showers so wonderful can also cause them to grow mold and mildew–and nothing sours the spa-like experience faster. Combat these issues by building the shower in a sunny area and making sure it has plenty of ventilation and good drainage. You want the shower to dry out quickly after each use.
Freezing Pipes
Although it’s rare in Tallahassee, we do sometimes get freezes. Exposed pipes in outdoor showers can be damaged or even burst if not cared for. You can prevent this by installing a valve that shuts the water off during the winter months. If you still want to take outdoor showers in the winter, make sure your pipes are well-insulated.
Types of Outdoor Showers
While outdoor showers come in nearly endless designs, there are three main types to choose between.
- Portable showers are attached to a garden hose. They can move anywhere the hose can reach, and they are generally a fairly simple design. They offer cold water showers only–great in the summer and for people who don’t want to invest in a more expensive and permanent outdoor shower area.
- Stand-alone showers are away from the house and have their own underground plumbing. These are commonly used near pools and hot tubs, and they offer both hot and cold water.
- Stationary showers are built against the outside wall of the house. Locating the shower against the wall makes plumbing much easier. They use an enclosure of some kind for privacy (screens or walls), and they can be made to use both hot and cold water, or cold water only.

Even a little ‘redneck engineering’ can get the job done!
Things to Consider
Are you convinced that an outdoor shower is the perfect feature for your home? Here are some things to consider.
Privacy
In deciding where to build your shower, consider locations that will give you privacy from neighbors. Remember to think about second-story windows as well. Use landscaping and screens or walls to build a shower that feels secure and private.
Practicality
A great outdoor shower has spaces to store things like soap and shampoo, as well as hooks for your towels in a dry area. Consider adding a bench so you have seating or a place to put your clothes. You may also want to install lighting for nighttime showers, and stepping stones to keep your feet clean.
Design
Your outdoor shower should fit aesthetically with the rest of your home. It should blend seamlessly into your landscaping, looking like it’s always been there. Use water-loving plants around the area like alocasia, banana plants, palms, and bromeliads.
Use materials that complement your home as well. You can build your shower out of stone, brick, corrugated metal, teak, and more. Choose a shape and size that fits the location you’ve chosen and allows you to accomplish your goals for the shower.
Drainage
Some outdoor showers just drain into the yard, and with sandy soil, like we have in Tallahassee, that’s often a good option. You will still want something to stand on that will keep your feet clean and allow water to drain. Smooth gravel or slatted teak floors are great options. Sometimes codes require gray water to drain elsewhere and adding drainage pipes may be necessary.
Hot Water
If you want your shower to have hot water, you have several options. If you opt for a stationary shower that is against the outside wall of your home or build one close to the house, you can use your home’s plumbing to access hot water. You can install a tankless gas water heater if your outdoor shower is a greater distance from your house. This option is not too expensive and works well to heat water as you need it. A third idea is to build a solar water heater and take advantage of Florida’s hot sun to heat your water.
Is an Outdoor Shower What Your Tallahassee Home Needs?
If you’re ready to add an outdoor shower to your home, we can help. We serve neighborhoods like Golden Eagle, Killearn Lakes, Midtown, and more. Contact us today, and let’s talk about adding this practical luxury to your home. You will be surprised how much you use it and you’ll wonder what you ever did before.