G'day! If you love camping, travel with a caravan, live off-grid, or call a remote Aussie town home, hot water is more than a luxury—it's sanity. The trick is getting it without burning through gas, water, or patience. The good news: the right setup and a few smart habits can trim real dollars from your monthly costs while keeping showers toasty after a long day in the bush.
To set the scene, a modern outdoor gas water heater gives you on-demand comfort without waiting around or boiling kettles. Pair it with good habits and you'll spend less over the long run than with a bulky Gas hot water system that wastes energy cycling on and off. The best part? You still get the perk of instant gas hot water when you turn the tap—no mucking about.
Before we dive in, one quick promise: we'll keep the tech talk in plain English with simple analogies, so everything from flow rate (L/min) to temperature rise (ΔT) and energy (MJ/h) actually makes sense in day-to-day use. Grab a cuppa and let's make your setup more efficient—and cheaper to run.
Why "efficient" equals "money saved"
Efficiency is simply "less effort for the same result." Think of it like fuel economy in a ute: two vehicles can drive the same 10 km, but the thrifty one uses fewer litres. With hot water, two systems can deliver a 5-minute shower, but one uses less gas and water to do it. If you're topping up bottles at a servo or paying for tank deliveries, that difference is coins in your pocket.
Tank-free tech helps. A well-sized outdoor gas hot water system only heats water when you need it—no storage tank sitting hot all day. That's why a quality tankless gas hot water heater often beats older storage designs for campers and remote properties. Some setups are sold as an outdoor gas tankless water heater, but the idea is the same: heat on demand, waste less.
Pick the right spec: L/min and ΔT (temperature rise)
Two numbers matter most when choosing a unit: flow rate (L/min) and temperature rise (ΔT).
L/min (litres per minute) is how much water the heater can push at a comfy temperature. More isn't always better: if you're a solo traveler or couple, a smaller flow can be plenty and cheaper to run.
ΔT (temperature rise) is how much the heater raises the water temperature. If the incoming water is 15 °C and you want a 40 °C shower, you need about a 25 °C rise. Colder regions (hello Tassie winters) need more "push" than a warm dry season in the NT.
For campsite trips, many folks start with a camping gas water heater that sits in the 6–10 L/min range. A compact portable gas water heater is perfect for couples; a family might prefer 8–10 L/min for back-to-back showers and washing up. In warmer months or northern climates you can choose a smaller model, since ΔT demands are lower. In colder southern winters, give yourself a bit of headroom so you're not riding the limits on chilly mornings.
And if you prefer LPG over mains, a portable lpg water heater or Lpg hot water system designed for outdoors (well clear of doors and windows) is the go. For permanent yard installs, consider an outdoor lpg water heater with proper clearance and ventilation.
Features that actually save fuel (and frustration)
Not all units are created equal. Look for these money-saving features:
Modulating burner / gas valve. This automatically adjusts flame size to match your water flow and temperature target. No more running "full bore" when you only need a trickle—less gas, same comfort. You'll find this across many lpg gas hot water system designs and in compact options marketed as an lpg gas water heater or lpg gas hot water heater.
Low activation (start) flow. If the heater needs a huge flow to ignite, you'll waste water and time. A lower ignition threshold means hot water starts with gentler flow—great for off-grid tanks and efficient shower heads. You might see products described as an instant gas hot water system lpg when they're tuned for LPG start-up performance.
Ventilation and flame stability. Clean, steady flames convert more gas into hot water and less into exhaust. Mount the unit in a breezy outdoor spot, with clear flue space so hot gases don't recirculate.
Terminology note. Aussie retailers and manuals use a bunch of interchangeable labels. Don't stress—instantaneous lpg water heater, lpg instantaneous hot water heater, instant water heater lpg, and instant hot water heater lpg all point to the same idea: on-demand LPG-fired hot water without a big tank.
Installation and setup tweaks that slash waste
Shorten the hot-water path. The longer the hose to your shower, the more cold water you purge before heat arrives. Keep hoses short, or insulate them if they must be long.
Match shower heads to your flow. A good low-flow head keeps comfort high and litres low. It also stabilises temperature, so you don't "chase the knob" while wasting gas.
Place the unit close to where you're washing. Near your outdoor kitchen? Mount there. Prefer a beach rinse? Keep the heater close to the shower post to reduce heat loss en-route.
Think about wind. Shield light gusts that disturb the flame, but always maintain open-air clearance.
These tweaks help whether you're running a portable gas hot water system beside the caravan, rinsing sandy feet under an lpg portable shower, or enjoying an outdoor portable gas hot water shower after a surf. If you're more about quick rinses, a simple portable gas shower may be enough; for camp setups with limited water pressure, a portable gas shower with pump is a tidy bundle. Planning a weeks-long trek? A robust portable gas shower for camping plus insulated hoses means less waste and more comfort. And if you're washing dishes and gear, the classic portable gas hot water shower cameo keeps everything clean without emptying your jerry cans.
Water-use habits that lower your "minute rate"
Batch tasks. Heat once, finish showers back-to-back, then do dishes. Avoid a dozen short starts that keep re-purging cold lines.
Start small, then fine-tune. Open the tap gently, let the unit stabilise, then tweak. Less throttle, less waste.
Pump matching matters. Your 12 V pump's flow and pressure should suit the heater's activation spec. A mismatched pump causes temperature swings, and you'll waste time (and gas) trying to stabilise. If you're running a lpg shower off solar-charged batteries, smooth flow equals smooth heating. Some families love an all-in-one Camping gas shower system; others go modular—a tough lpg portable water heater or portable lpg hot water system with a separate pump and filter. Multi-site setups (shearing shed one week, riverbank the next) often choose flexible portable lpg gas hot water systems they can pack in seconds.
Maintenance = the cheapest upgrade you'll ever make
Descale the heat exchanger. Hard water builds "a jacket" of scale that blocks heat. Your heater then burns more gas to push the same ΔT. A gentle descale every so often restores efficiency.
Clean the burner and check the flame sensor. Blue, steady flame? Good. Sooty, yellow, or fluttering? Time for a clean and a ventilation check.
Inspect hoses, regulators, and O-rings. Tiny leaks are literally money floating away. If you smell gas, stop and fix it.
Drain before frost. Freezing water can split internals—an expensive way to learn a simple lesson.
These habits apply whether you're setting up a gas hot water camping base for a month, taking a quick gas hot water camping shower after mountain biking, rigging a gas water heater camping shower near the van, or washing up under a gas camping shower by the creek.
LPG bottle sizing and a quick "pencil calculator"
Here's a simple way to estimate cost per shower—no engineering degree needed.
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Find your heater's energy rate (MJ/h). This is the "fuel burn" at full tilt.
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Estimate your minutes per shower. Say 6 minutes.
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Work out energy per shower. Example: 18 MJ/h × 6/60 = 1.8 MJ.
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Convert MJ to kg of LPG. Roughly 1 kg of LPG ≈ 49 MJ, so 1.8 MJ ≈ 0.037 kg.
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Multiply by local price. If LPG is $3/kg, a shower is about 11 ¢. Adjust for your actual heater rate and long winter ΔT.
Families often pair a 9 kg cylinder for showers and a 4.5 kg as a backup. For permanent garden posts, an outdoor shower gas water heater plumbed to a bigger bottle cuts refill runs. If you're touring, a portable gas hot water heater for camping with a 12 V pump sips LPG and keeps showers consistent, even with modest inlet pressure.
Off-grid: save on both electrons and gas
Solar + battery for pumps. A compact panel keeps your 12 V pump topped up, so you're not idling the vehicle just to rinse dishes.
Pre-warm when you can. A dark bucket in the sun nudges inlet temps up a few degrees. Less ΔT means less gas to hit your target temperature.
Shield from wind, but keep it open-air. Stable flames boost conversion efficiency. Always keep clearances as per the manual.
Money-saving bundles by scenario (with example Camplux fits)
Couple's weekender (light use). 6 L/min class (e.g., Camplux AY132). Keep hoses short, use a low-flow shower head, and plan back-to-back showers. This balances comfort and thrift.
Family of four (regular trips). 8 L/min class (e.g., Camplux BV158). Better throughput for evening queues, still frugal if you set a moderate target temp and keep flow sensible.
Caravan life / long tours. 10 L/min class (e.g., Camplux F10). Add hose insulation, a simple maintenance schedule (quick descale after mineral-heavy stops), and batch tasks nightly.
Remote property or worksite. Heavier-duty model with stable mounting, wind consideration, and routine checks. Keep spare O-rings and filters on hand. Small parts prevent big bills.
Safety and compliance (saving money also means avoiding drama)
Use these units outdoors only, with clearances from doors, windows, and eaves. Mount securely, keep hoses tidy, and ventilate well. Choose products with relevant Australian approvals (e.g., AGA) and follow the manual. For fixed installations or gas line work, use a licensed gasfitter. Safety isn't just peace of mind—it avoids expensive mistakes.
One-minute calculator you can screenshot
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People × showers/day × minutes each = total minutes
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Heater MJ/h × (minutes ÷ 60) = MJ per shower
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MJ per shower × total showers = MJ per day
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MJ ÷ 49 ≈ kg LPG per day; × local $/kg = daily cost
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Try tweaks and re-run: shorter hoses, lower target temp, low-flow head, batching tasks
FAQs
Will an on-demand setup really save money versus storage?
In most camping, caravan, and backyard scenarios, yes—because you're only heating what you use, when you use it, instead of keeping a tank hot 24/7.
What if my water pressure is low?
Choose a unit with a low activation flow and pair it with a pump that meets the spec. A simple in-line filter keeps sediment from choking flow sensors.
Do cold winters wreck efficiency?
Colder inlet water means higher ΔT and more gas. Insulate hoses, pick a sensible flow rate, and set temperature once (don't over-mix with cold).
DIY or call a pro?
Portable kits are designed for DIY; permanent gas plumbing is licensed work. When in doubt, call a tradie.
