How Mobile Dog Wash Operators Set Up Hot Water

If you are setting up a mobile dog wash business, the question of hot water comes up early. You need reliable, consistent hot water from a tank on the back of a van that runs without mains power and doesn't take up the space your grooming gear needs. And you need it to work the same way at the first appointment of the day as it does at the last.

Country Comfort has been part of the mobile dog wash industry in Australia for many years. In the last two years alone, as the number of mobile grooming businesses across the country has grown sharply, calls from operators trying to figure out their hot-water setup have become a significant part of our work.

Here is what we have learned from helping hundreds of operators work out their build.

The first thing to know: no two builds are the same

When a new mobile dog wash operator calls us, the first thing we tell them is that we cannot give them a single cookie-cutter answer. The right setup depends on the vehicle, the water storage capacity, the area they operate in, whether they have a mains connection at their home base, and how many dogs they wash per day.

What we can do is work through those variables with them until the right configuration is clear. Every operator we have helped has ended up with something slightly different. That is not a problem. That is how it should work for a business that needs its equipment to perform under its specific conditions.

One thing is consistent across every mobile dog wash build we have been involved with: once operators have hot water sorted, it is the one piece of equipment they stop worrying about.

The most common mobile dog wash hot water setups

Van or trailer with a water tank and 12V pump

This is the most common configuration. The operator carries a water tank in or on the van, sized to handle a full day of washes without needing to refill. Country Comfort connects to a 12V pump that draws from that tank, runs on LPG, and delivers consistent hot water to a wash bay or a handheld shower attachment.

The pump choice matters here. A 6 L/min pump is the standard starting point for a mobile van setup. It delivers Country Comfort at its full 6 L/min output, which is enough pressure for a thorough wash on any dog size. Operators handling large breeds or high volumes across a long day sometimes step up to a 12.5 L/min pump for the additional headroom it provides on longer hose runs.

LPG runs from a standard gas bottle stored securely in the van or on the trailer. Operators typically carry one bottle per operating day as the baseline, with a spare for high-volume days.

Even with this set-up, it is easy to switch between pump and mains water if available.

Home base with mains water connection

Some mobile operators also run a fixed wash bay at their home property or connect to the customer's main tap. For this setup, no pump is required. Country Comfort connects directly to mains water and fires at full capacity immediately. The LPG bottle sits alongside the unit. This is the simplest setup of all and the one that takes the least time to configure.

Operators with both a van and a home wash bay often buy two units: one permanently mounted in the van, one at the home base. Country Comfort's compact size makes this practical. The unit is 440mm x 350mm x 140mm and does not demand significant space in either location.

Trailer-mounted full rig

A growing number of operators are building enclosed trailer rigs rather than converting vans. These builds typically include a dedicated water tank, a pump mounted inside the trailer, a proper drainage system, and Country Comfort mounted on the trailer wall, with a fixed hose run to the wash bay area.

This setup runs the same way as the van configuration but with more space to work with and a more permanent installation. Operators running this rig type are usually high-volume businesses washing 10 or more dogs per day and need everything to work without any fiddling between appointments.

Accessories that mobile operators use most

The Pooch Pamper Pack

Country Comfort's dedicated Pooch Pamper Pack is designed specifically for pet washing applications. It connects directly to mains water for home base use, or pairs with a 6 L/min or 12.5 L/min pump for mobile setups. The pack includes the components an operator needs to get started, without having to source accessories separately.

Hose length and connections

Mobile dog wash setups often require longer hose runs than a standard shower configuration. Country Comfort hose sections join together cleanly. Operators typically run two to three metres inside a van build, with a connection point at the wash bay area. Getting the hose routing right at the build stage saves a lot of frustration in daily use.

What operators tell us matters most once they are up and running

After the initial setup questions are resolved, the things operators come back to say made the biggest difference are consistent. Not surprising, given that every call is with Rhonda or Steve rather than a support team.

Reliability: a mobile dog-wash business cannot afford to cancel appointments when the hot water stops working. Operators consistently report that Country Comfort runs without issues across months and years of daily use. The stainless steel construction handles Australian conditions, from summer heat to winter cold, without degrading.

Temperature control: the digital display allows precise temperature settings and maintains them consistently throughout the day. This matters for dog welfare, particularly for older dogs, dogs with skin conditions, or breeds that are sensitive to temperature.

No electricity required: running on LPG and using only 2 D-cell batteries for ignition means the hot water system does not draw power from the van's 12V electrical system. Operators with refrigerators, lighting, and grooming tools all running from their van battery appreciate not adding a high-draw appliance to that load.

Support when it is needed: operators occasionally have setup questions after they are already in the field. Knowing they can call and speak directly to one of the two people who built and sell the product, not a call centre, is consistently mentioned as a reason they chose Country Comfort over alternatives.

Starting your build: how to work out the right configuration

If you are setting up a mobile dog wash business and working out your hot water configuration, the quickest path is to call us directly. Describe your vehicle or trailer, your planned water tank size, whether you are running directly from mains water, the number of dogs you expect to wash per day, and whether you have a home base with mains water. We will tell you exactly which pump, which package, and which accessories suit your build.

Country Comfort is AS2658 certified (certificate number GMK10277), Australia's original certified portable LPG hot water system. We do not install, but we will walk you through every step of your setup until it is complete.

The dog grooming hot water system page covers the full range of packages and accessories suited to mobile and fixed grooming setups. Or call us. Same answer either way.

Frequently asked questions

Can Country Comfort be used in a mobile dog wash van?

Yes. Country Comfort is widely used in mobile dog wash vans and trailers across Australia. The unit runs on LPG, requires no mains electricity other than two D-cell batteries for ignition, and connects to a 12V pump that draws from an onboard water tank. The compact size (440mm x 350mm x 140mm) makes it practical to mount in most van and trailer configurations.

What pump do I need for a mobile dog wash setup?

A 6 L/min pump is the standard starting point for a mobile van connected to an onboard tank. This delivers Country Comfort at its full 6 L/min output. Operators with long hose runs or high daily volumes sometimes use a 12.5 L/min pump for additional pressure headroom. For a home base setup connected to mains water, no pump is required.

Does Country Comfort work for large dogs?

Yes. The unit heats over 360 litres of water per hour and maintains consistent temperature and pressure regardless of dog size. The three-setting shower head included with the Pooch Pamper Pack provides the flow control needed for different coat types and sizes.

Do I need electricity to run Country Comfort in my van?

No. Country Comfort runs on LPG. The only electrical requirement is two D-cell batteries for the electronic ignition. The unit does not draw power from the van's 12V system, so it does not compete with refrigerators, lighting, or grooming equipment for battery capacity.

How do mobile dog wash operators typically find out about Country Comfort?

Most operators find Country Comfort through the mobile grooming community on Facebook and Instagram. Once one operator in a region uses the product and shares their setup, others in the same area follow. Google reviews are also a consistent discovery channel, particularly reviews that mention the direct owner-to-owner support.

What is the Country Comfort Pooch Pamper Pack?

The Pooch Pamper Pack is Country Comfort's dedicated pet washing package. It connects directly to mains water for home base use or pairs with a 6 L/min or 12.5 L/min pump for mobile setups. It includes the core components required for a pet-washing configuration, eliminating the need to source accessories separately.

Ready to sort your hot water?

Visit the dog grooming hot water system page for the full range of packages suited to mobile and fixed grooming setups. The Pooch Pamper Pack is the natural starting point for most operators. If you want to talk through your specific van or trailer build before ordering, call us directly.

You will speak to Rhonda or Steve. We have helped operators set up builds across Australia for years. Yours will not be the first, and no two are exactly the same.