An outdoor kitchen is a game-changer for anyone who loves to barbeque or entertain family and guests outside. Cooking outside is always, well mostly, a joy and makes the process feel extra special. However, getting plumbing to an outdoor kitchen can be difficult, especially for hot water. Do you need hot water for an outdoor kitchen, or is it not worth the trouble?
You do not need hot water for an outdoor kitchen, but it can improve the cooking and cleaning experience. An under-counter on-demand water heater is the best option for this. If you do not use a lot of hot water, then having cold water is enough, as it can be heated by external means.
Hot water is a staple in the kitchen, but outdoor kitchens should not need to be as well-equipped as a primary indoor kitchens. Should you take the time and spend the money to run hot water to your outdoor kitchen, or is a simple cold water line good enough for this type of kitchen?
Do You Need Hot Water For An Outdoor Kitchen?
Outdoor kitchens are always great fun and can be the ideal way to host outdoor events or family barbeques. However, these kitchens can be expensive and complex to set up well, leaving some people wondering if it is worthwhile to establish hot water in an outdoor kitchen.
Hot water is useful for many kitchen tasks and cooking but is not necessary for every outdoor kitchen.
Setting up hot water in an outdoor kitchen can be very expensive and is likely to be the most expensive and complex aspect of the kitchen in most cases especially if you run it from the house and don’t buy hugely expensive appliances for your kitchen!
However, hot water can be very convenient for an outdoor kitchen. Having a hot water line can make it easier to boil or blanch food items, it can make it easier to defrost meat, makes washing dishes and cleaning much easier. It can improve the workflow and efficiency of a kitchen dramatically.
However, having only cold water only for an outdoor kitchen is not a major issue. It is easy enough to heat up water on the stove or a fire, and it can be used in the same way.
Water for an outdoor kitchen is essential, but hot water is not a critical component of this setup. However, a sink in an outdoor kitchen, to stop you moving everything back and forth to the house, is very useful!
With that said, some pros and cons must be considered for running hot water in an outdoor kitchen.
The Pros Of Hot Water For Outdoor Kitchens
The pros of hot water for an outdoor kitchen include the following:
- Hot water for an outdoor kitchen is convenient.
- Hot water in an outdoor kitchen is good for cooking.
- Hot water in an outdoor kitchen is good for washing dishes and cleaning.
- Hot water for an outdoor kitchen decreases time requirements.
- Hot water for an outdoor kitchen can make using the kitchen easier.
The Cons Of Hot Water For Outdoor Kitchens
The cons of hot water for an outdoor kitchen include the following:
- Hot water for an outdoor kitchen can be very expensive to set up.
- Hot water for an outdoor kitchen can be difficult and expensive to maintain.
- Hot water for an outdoor kitchen is not always necessary.
- Hot water for an outdoor kitchen can be obtained without plumbing in a hot water line.
Is Cold Water Enough For An Outdoor Kitchen?
We have established that hot water is not essential for an outdoor kitchen, but it is a nice-to-have. Is it enough to have cold water run to an outdoor kitchen, or do the benefits of having hot water outweigh the cons and costs of the process?
Cold running water in an outdoor kitchen is usually enough for this kitchen. Having running water in an outdoor kitchen is essential, as it is impossible to cook and clean effectively without it, but cold running water is usually enough for most tasks in an outdoor kitchen.
If hot water is required for any reason, it is easy enough to heat it with a stove or a fire, providing easy access to hot water. It only requires a little more time.
Cold water is good for everything else in an outdoor kitchen and is easy to set up. Cold water is enough to complete most outdoor kitchen tasks, and most outdoor kitchens do not require hot water to function well.
How To Set Up Hot Water For An Outdoor Kitchen
Hot water is not essential for an outdoor kitchen, but it is a great addition if you want to install it. If you want hot water in your outdoor kitchen, there are several ways to do so.
Installing a stand-alone on-demand water heater is the easiest way to get hot water into your outdoor kitchen. These can be electric or run on gas to heat the water.
These water heaters are excellent for outdoor kitchens because they only heat the water you use, are extremely efficient and low maintenance, and are very effective. A water heater like this is the best way to get hot water in an outdoor kitchen.
If you have electricity in your outdoor kitchen, an under-counter electric on-demand heater is the most effective and efficient option. This increases the cost of setting up the kitchen, but it is the easiest way to get hot water to an outdoor kitchen, with the lowest maintenance and long-term cost.
Other options include running a hot water line from your house, which will use the same hot water supply as the rest of your house and does not require an additional water heater.
This solution is only feasible if your outdoor kitchen is close to your house, or it may be very expensive to install.
This option is very low maintenance and requires no additional monthly costs, such as replacing gas canisters for an on-demand water heater.
Conclusion
You do not need hot water in an outdoor kitchen, it is not an essential aspect of using the facility, but the reality is that having plumbed-in hot water in an outdoor kitchen can make using the kitchen easier and more efficient.
If you use plenty of hot water in your cooking, prep, or cleaning, then having plumbed-in hot water is necessary. However, for most outdoor kitchens, having cold water plumbed in and the ability to heat it externally is more than enough.
References
- https://www.forrestanderson.net/post/6-things-to-consider-for-plumbing-your-outdoor-kitchen
- https://info.unlimitedoutdoorkitchen.com/blog/plumbing-for-an-outdoor-kitchen-sink
- https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/outdoor-kitchen-what-to-know/https://www.mortonplumbing.net/outdoor-faucet-hot-water.php
