The Strangest Places We've Found Hot Water

In short: A Country Comfort portable LPG water heater gives instant hot water anywhere there's a gas bottle and a water source. Beyond camping and caravanning, Australians have used it for a church baptism in Tasmania, croc-safe showers in Darwin, outdoor baths, camel races, Scout jamborees, multi-day concerts, road crew camps and mobile pet washes.

Most people buy a Country Comfort portable LPG water heater for camping, caravanning or washing a horse. Then, a year later, they call us with a story we never would have predicted. With nearly 80,000 units sold since 2012, the range of places our units have turned up says more about their versatility than any spec sheet could. As Steve puts it, "wherever you want hot water, that's the answer."

Here are some of our favourites, and what each one says about how the unit works.

Baptisms at a Church in the Tasmanian Bush

The problem: A church out in the bush in regional Tasmania wanted warm water for a baptism ceremony, but had no hot water on-site and no easy way to heat it.

The setup: A Country Comfort unit, a gas bottle and a water supply. No plumber and no permanent installation.

Why it worked: The unit doesn't require mains power or a fixed hot-water system. Open the water flow, and it ignites within seconds, just like at a campsite. For a one-off ceremony, that meant warm water on the day without changing anything about the building.

Hot Showers in Crocodile Country

The problem: A group of pig hunters in Darwin had no way to get a hot shower after long days out. The only water was the river, and going down to the edge to fetch it wasn't an option because of the crocodiles.

The setup: A longer hose thrown into the river, a pump drawing the water up, and the Country Comfort unit set up well back from the bank.

Why it worked: The unit heats water as it flows through, so it doesn't matter where the water comes from, whether that's a tank, a jerry can or a river, as long as you've got the right pump for your water source. The hunters could stay a safe distance from the water's edge and still get a proper hot shower. (The crocs, as it turns out, weren't interested in the hose.)

Outdoor Baths With a View

The problem: More and more Australians are setting up outdoor baths in the backyard, on a hilltop, or near a cliff edge, somewhere with nothing around them but the scenery. Running hot water out to those spots is expensive or impossible.

The setup: One customer overlooking the La Trobe Valley in regional Victoria set up a bath at the top of his property, with a Country Comfort unit filling it with hot water. Others have done the same in their own backyards, often alongside a luxurious portable outdoor shower.

Why it worked: The unit is portable and weatherproof, and its stainless steel burners sit higher than the industry standard, so the flame holds steady in exposed, windy spots where lower-mounted burners can flicker. 

A Bath on the Back of a Truck

The problem: One customer wanted a proper hot bath, not a quick shower, wherever he happened to be on the road.

The setup: He built a full bath into the back of his truck. Wherever he parks, he fills it, connects the unit and climbs in.

Why it worked: It's the same water diaphragm and ignition sequence that runs a campsite shower. Water flows, the micro switch trips, the gas solenoid opens and the burner lights. Turn the water off and everything shuts down, with no pilot light running in the background

Camel Races, Scout Jamborees and Three-Day Concerts

The problem: Events in paddocks, showgrounds and bush sites bring hundreds of people to places with little or no hot water.

The setup:

• At a camel race meet, the local pub bought extra units to set up outside so visitors had hot water on race day.
• At Scout jamborees, units keep the showers running for the Scouts over the weekend.
• An exhibition company in Western Australia uses them for hire toilets and showers at three-day concerts, where people camp on-site for the whole event.

Why it worked: Each unit is self-contained, so organisers can add more as crowds grow and pack them away afterwards. The built-in tilt switch cuts the gas if a unit gets knocked over, which matters when there are crowds and kids around. Our safety tips for using a portable LPG water heater cover placement and gas checks for busy sites.

Road Crews Living On-Site

The problem: Road crews working on long stretches of highway move with the job and live in portable accommodation units for weeks at a time, often far from town.

The setup: Crews in Western Australia and Queensland fit Country Comfort units to the portable accommodation they move from site to site.

Why it worked: The unit is compact enough to move with the camp whenever it relocates, and the full brass water manifold is built to handle long-term connection to a permanent water source. For these crews, it isn't a camping accessory. It's their hot water system, which is why how long a Country Comfort actually lasts matters when it runs every day. The same thinking applies to off-grid hot water for cabins and tiny houses.

Washing Goats, Cats and Party Ponies

The problem: Mobile pet washers and animal businesses need warm water wherever their clients are, not just where there's a tap.

The setup: Mobile dog wash operators run Country Comfort units from their vans, and they don't stop at dogs. Customers have sent us photos of goats and cats getting the same treatment. Party pony businesses, the ones that bring ponies along for kids' birthdays, use the same setup to wash the ponies down as a portable hot wash bay for a horse float.

Why it worked: Warm, steady water makes washing easier on the animal and the person doing the washing. The tilt switch helps here, too, because a startled pony or a bumped stand won't leave the gas running.

Backup Hot Water at Home

The problem: A household hot water system can run out after three or four showers, which is a problem when you've got a houseful of guests or a party out the back.

The setup: Some customers keep a Country Comfort unit set up outside as a backup for parties and busy weekends.

Why it worked: It only uses gas while water is flowing, so it costs nothing to have it sitting there ready, and it gives instant hot water the moment the main system can't keep up. If you're wondering about running costs, here's how long a gas bottle lasts with a portable hot water system.

Quick Reference: Unusual Uses at a Glance

• Baptism ceremony (regional Tasmania): no plumbing or mains power needed.
• Croc-safe showers (Darwin, NT): heats river water drawn by hose and pump as it flows.
• Outdoor bath with a view (regional Victoria): elevated burners hold the flame steady in wind.
• Bath on a truck (on the road): same ignition sequence as a campsite shower.
• Camel race meet (local pub): self-contained, so it's easy to add more units.
• Scout jamborees: tilt switch cuts the gas if a unit is knocked over.
• Three-day concerts (Western Australia): portable, and packs away after the event.
• Road crew camps (WA and Queensland): full brass water manifold handles a permanent water supply.
• Mobile pet and pony washes: steady warm water wherever the client is.
• Backup hot water at home: only uses gas while water is flowing.

What This Says About the Unit

None of these is situations Country Comfort was specifically designed for. That's rather the point. A unit built around a simple ignition system, a compact weatherproof case, and safety switches that operate automatically doesn't need to be reinvented for each new use. It just needs a gas bottle and a water source. For more everyday ideas, see five ways to use a portable gas water heater on outdoor adventures.

If you've used yours somewhere we'd never guess, we'd love to hear about it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you use a portable hot water system for besides camping?

Customers use Country Comfort units for horse and pet washing, outdoor baths, events like camel races, concerts and Scout jamborees, road crew camps, church ceremonies and as backup hot water at home.

Can you use a portable gas water heater to fill an outdoor bath?

Yes. Customers run Country Comfort units to fill outdoor baths in backyards, on hilltops and even on the back of a truck. The elevated burners keep the flame steady in exposed, windy spots.

Can it draw water from a river, creek or tank?

Yes, with a pump. The unit heats water as it flows through, so the water can come from a tank, jerry can or a river, as long as a pump keeps it flowing.

Is a portable gas water heater safe to use at events with kids and crowds?

Each unit has a tilt switch that cuts off the gas if it's knocked over, shuts off the burner if the water supply drops out, and uses gas only while water is flowing. There's no pilot light left burning.

Can I use a Country Comfort as backup hot water at home?

Yes. Some customers keep one set up outside for parties or when guests use up the household hot water. It only uses gas while it's running.

Does it need mains water pressure to work?

No. It's designed to ignite at low water pressure, which is why it works with jerry cans, water tanks and pumps in off-grid setups.

Is a Country Comfort water heater approved for use in Australia?

Yes. It was the first unit ever approved in Australia in July 2012, and every unit is certified to AS2658, the Australian Standard for portable gas water heaters, under certification number GMK10277.

 

Got a question we haven't covered? Our Country Comfort FAQs answer the most common ones.