Off the grid shower ideas

Hi, I'm moving off the grid where I'm using 1kw solar panels for electricity and the access to water is done from a water well using a pump. I can't seem to find a simple solution to have hot water during the cold season( 3 months winter mostly). For March-November i'm pretty sure I can use solar panels for hot water but when it comes to winter until this point in 2016 our complicated minds only created complicated solutions. How can this be done in a simple manner? Like having tank for let's say 30L inside the bathroom with some kind of a method that can easily heat the water. All this boilers and complicated methods really mess with my head, why we can't we just invent simple methods for a simple way of living, press a button get some hot water, no systems that require maintenance, etc. Any idea is welcome. Thanks . Adrian

Adrian Alex wrote: why we can't we just invent simple methods for a simple way of living, press a button get some hot water, no systems that require maintenance, etc. Any idea is welcome. Thanks . Adrian

There is something that comes close to what you describe:

It's called being hooked up to the grid, and using electricity or natural gas to heat your water.  lol

But to be 100% honest, technically, what you seek doesn't exist.  ANYTHING requires maintenance, etc.  Even on grid water heaters require maintenance, like draining, flushing, etc, (which few do, and their systems wear out prematurely and need to be replaced.)  The point is, a "maintenance free" doesn't exist with ANYTHING.  Not your car, house, tools, even your body.  You don't maintain something, it will fail prematurely.  

Ok, in all seriousness, look into a rocket mass hot water heater.  I've seen a few of them online, and those who have them seem to report that they work well,  

Is it as "simple as pushing a button to get hot water?"  No.  You have to make a fire, usually about 30 minutes or so before you want to use the hot water.  But they are an inexpensive, relatively easy way to get hot water off grid without using electricity, gas, etc.  

It's not the greenest solution, but we have a water heater powered by bottled gas (propane).  It also has a little sensor, powered by batteries, that detects when the water flow is on and lights up the gas to a pre-set temperature.  We only use it during the winter, and there are probably better, greener, solutions, but this works.  You need to choose one that is suited to a low-water-pressure system, and even then you'll need to ensure that your water tank is high enough so that the water flows with enough pressure to trigger the sensor.  

I've also set up a hand-washing system for the laundry in the shower room, using two builders trugs (strong, flexible) and a stool which is just the right height so that I can work without getting backache.  You can't see the water heater in the photo, but you get the idea.

The one I used at Black Oaks Center in Pembroke, IL  utilized a hose from the well, a 5 gallon propane tank and one of these  Amazon

Easy peezy. Propane lasted good 50 showers or more. Around $100



Hope this helps.