Joolca HOTTAP
Verified552 reviews
Product was great. After about 3 years shower handle started leaking and the pump stopped working. I contacted their warranty people and they were fantastic. One of the best experiences I've ever had for a warranty claim. They sent me a new shower handle for free. The pump I did have to pay for due to it being out of warranty and I threw it out… Read more
already but the postage was also free. I also sent them an email on a Sunday and I had the new parts by Tuesday. Cannot fault their warranty department. It was fantastic and I will definitely be buying from these guys again. It's a real credit to joolca to see this level of care with warranty. You do not see it anymore or I haven't in the past.
Perfect heater and is working well for our camping trips. The nomad kit has everything. Hot water starts pretty quickly and the heater worked well in windy conditions as well. The tub has a drain connector as well, and when connected it is like a normal sink. Had a small issue with the tap The support team was very responsive and sent me a… Read more
replacement straight-away. Happy overall. Just a note to the new buyers, before you connect the hoses first time, just check and tighten up the hose connectors once. Straight out of box, they might be a bit loose. Except that, happy with the product and the support team.
I love the Joolca Nomad. Extremely easy to set up. The hot water system, base, all the parts and hosing all packs neatly into the sink. Reliable and starts up every time. I felt pretty spoilt having hot running water when camping in the middle of winter. The system is efficient too. Lots of gas left in our bottle at the end of a 3 days scouting… Read more
weekend with 37 people. The battery I installed surprisingly still worked a year later in storage (though I’d recommend to take it out of the casing if storing for prolonged periods). The customer service is amazing and very responsive. They responded within less that 24 hours even over a long weekend and issues was resolved with parts sent within a few days. I highly recommend Joolca.
Reviews with attachments
good product if it items don't come broken – I had a tube the bent, and several O-Rings that were damaged or missing. Luckly they give you a bunch of adapters that you can take the O-Rings off or I wouldn't even be able to use it. I contacted them to tell them I had a damaged tube and they said they would send me a new one when they become available, that was a couple months ago, no contact,… Read more
no date, no package. Unit it self was okay, all fittings that came preattached leaked. All but the hose fitting could be fix by tightening. The hose fitting, I had to replace the hose O-Ring cause it would just keep leaking. I had missing O-ring on sink components.
I also had a couple times the unit didn't light so it just spit cost water, just had to cycle controls to make it retry.
Recently we invested some money into purchasing a nomad kit. We were a little weary as we weren’t sure if this was the best choice, but we went with the more expensive version over your run of the mill ones that were flooding marketplace. I can honestly say that Joolca has by far surpassed our expectations! We used the nomad kit first when we… Read more
went swag camping. We used water straight from the river and it meant we were able to wash our greasy dishes no worries. We didn’t use it to shower as it was only an overnight stay.
Over Easter we took off with the caravan for a little over a week. Fresh water in our van is always running out so we usually make sure we are able to run into the closest town to refill our water Jerry cans. This time we had our Joolca system with us. The intention was to use it for washing up and prioritise our tank reserves for cooking/drinking and washing ourselves. After a quick email to Joolca and confirming a few things, we took a trip into town to purchase a 30mt garden hose. It was hubby’s birthday so we also invested in a small power station.
On returning to the van and a clever few little hacks we were able to plumb the water from the river, up a steep incline through a 30mt hose straight into our van, bypassing our fresh water tanks. The river water ran through our caravan hot water system and we were able to have hot showers sometimes twice a day and wash up all our dishes! We were so impressed we actually headed out today and purchased an extra plumbing kit to save space and use purely for the van.! Our nomad kit will be used when we swag it along with our shower awning.
We cable tied the end of the hose (the end with the weighted filter) to a fishing rod holder to keep it off the river bed then same deal with the pump so it was off the ground.
I’ll attach a few videos and pics for reference.
Well worth purchasing – We have the HotTap Nomad, it is very good product, it is well thought out with the colour coded hoses and a lot of accessories to make it work for any situation. My wife loves it and is able to set it up when I am not there to do it. We have it mounted in a Dunn & Watson hot water storage box to protect it from the weather on a trolley for easy movement, if needed. I highly recommend this product. Show details
Great products backed by exemplary customer service – After owning a HOTTAP v2 for 4+ trouble-free years of convenient, luxurious hot water while remote touring, we decided to purchase a HOTTUB for home. We used it several times a week for about 4 months before noticing the HOTTAP pump housing had warped but was still working. I emailed Joolca support (on a public holiday, no less!) and had a… Read more
response from a real person within hours. I responded very honestly, summarizing our typical use of the HOTTAP, and that same day, Joolca support advised they would replace our pump completely free of charge. Easily some of the best service I've ever experienced.
Designing practical, innovative products win customers. Excellent customer service ensures you keep them. Thanks Joolca!
In-depth reviews
Pump meltdown - Check length of 12V cables and voltage drop as it could be the cause – When it works it's great. Joolca has put a nice kit together to make it easy. Downside, it's expensive. My original pump melted and then this season the replacement did the same. Now out of warranty I sourced a generic pump SFDP1-030-055-42 (http://seaflo.com/en-us/product/detail/609.html) to test. Price was not far of the original at $114NZD. I… Read more · 1
then found the flow was nothing like what I expected from the specs. Finally got the meter out an measured the voltage across the pump when working. It was only 8V! Silly me had created a long cable to the caravan supply with not enough copper in it. A low voltage may have caused the original pump issue. i.e. pump gets stuck on a rotation still drawing current and gets pretty hot! The new pump on a shortened 2mm^2 cables worked great. Hard part is finding the 1/2" to quick male hose fitting. All of the home garden stuff is bigger at 3/4". Gave in and ordered the originals from Joolca but Aliexpress was tempting. My only other gripe is the 50 deg cutout. This is painful when making hot water for dishes. It needs like a "I'm not a child" (debatable!) override switch. There is a wire on the sensor to disconnect and you can run it at about 55 deg without it cutting out. Higher and you could be heating the hoses up too much! Hope this helps someone. Happy camping!
Great product, detailed review – Hottap unit is easy to setup and use, tub is perfect size for storage fits everything without being overly difficult to pack it all in. Light breeze will blow out the flame if placed along/against walls placing it in sheltered spot away from walls will help, does reignight if it blows out and water still flowing. The units stand can be a bit… Read more
finicky to setup, its hard to balance the unit and clip in the lines under the unit and around the legs of stand, laying flat and connecting it all first then stand it up makes this easier.
Have written in permanent marker on unit hotter and colder on gas and water flow to help others use the product. more water = colder, Less gas = colder less water = hotter. More gas = hotter.
Switches on tap and shower head work great for ease of use.
Pump 20% of the time keeps running after turning off the taps, if in a shower tent this is hard as trying to dry off quickly to turn the pump off that is pressurized but still running outside. placing pump within arms reach of the shower can fix this, keeping in mind only 2 meters maximum of hose from water source to pump can be used.
Tub is great for storing the unit and washing up on mains or access to lots of fresh water, however we find a smaller tub than the joolca tub is required for camping with limited water supply
Showers can be easy and nice if you have a fresh water stream or lake or water mains, without this only short showers is a must as pump can run at 6l/min can drain a 20 liter jerrycan in 3.5 mins. This is standard to camping off grid and any unit will be the same.
Filter works well nice weight to it so sits on bottom of water source.
Have used this for heating up the kids pool on cold days, they love it.
Overall glad we purchased this unit haven't had any warranty claims with this kit, we setup for washing up every stop while camping, and if staying for more than 3 days we tend to setup with the joolca recirculating shower base/floor to recirculated 20 litres of water with the filter attached.
A fart will blow it out – We bought this unit late last year with hopes of it being decent, premium price for a premium brand right? Wrong. We've had no end of trouble. The unit will light and at times stay on for up to a few minutes. Sometimes it only stays lit for 15-20 seconds. Definitely worse in any wind over 2km/h (which is really nothing). It's not hitting the temp… Read more
sensor threshold as usually it cuts out at 38-40c, but sometimes cooler than that.
We have tried; - Multiple gas bottles - Mains pressure water and two different 12v pumps - two joolca supplied gas regulators and hoses - one my own supplied regulator - multiple sets of batteries - foil tape around the sides - moving the flame sensor (per joolca instructions)
We sent the unit back a few months ago. They sent it back stating no fault found, although they admitted to testing it indoors. I reinstalled the unit and have all the same issues, with the addition of them having left the display screen unplugged.
Customer service just seems to go in circles.
I've considered building a case for it but it is neither convenient and due to space limitations potentially not doable. Irrespective I shouldn't have to do it, you can breathe on it and it will go out.
I'm sick of this and wish I'd never bought it or the mount for it.
Hi Chris, I'm very sorry to hear that you've been… Read more (+2 replies)
Positive reviews
I have a Hottap Nomad pack and had used it for a bit. When I set it up again I had some issues with the water pressure. I contacted Joolca to understand the issue. I didn't expect to hear from anyone for a few days and honestly thought I'd need to call to get the issue resolved. I had a detailed reply within 12hrs, they provided some… Read more
troubleshooting suggestions and advised if they didn't work to let them know what happened. 2 days later, they followed me up to see how I went (I hadn't done a thing), this prompted me to go and go through their suggestions and the problem was fixed...the problem being 100% user error.
The speed in the initial response was amazing, but to follow me up and ensure the problem was fixed honestly shocked me. Great product and clearly backed up by a great team.
Great well made product – Product is amazing and very easy to use setup and pack away is very simple. I had to email due to a small issue and staff response and the solution was 100% fantastic No issues Zero hassles 10/10 satisfaction Show details
Find out how Joolca HOTTAP compares to other Gas Continuous Hot Water Systems
Know better, choose better.
Great portable hot water system – We have been using the hot tap nomad now for 12 months continuously. It’s a great system. We have found the taps have a limited lifeand have gone through quite a few. Joolca have been very good in replacing them and as yet we have not had to pay for replacements. I would highly recommend this system. It’s very easy toinstall. The only reason I’m giving it four stars is because I’d like to see them. use better taps in the future. Show details
Negative reviews
Very disappointing product – We bought a brand new hottap shower from BURNSCO NZ. We also bought a brand new 12v battery as power supply and built a large well ventilated cubicle. The provided pump was connected to a large water tank built especially. The water heater does not have a fixation system to put it on a wall, so we hanged it. This shower would be great if you are… Read more
satisfied with a 30 second shower. After that it systematically turns off. We tried all the various settings (water and temperature) and it made NO difference. We also found no blockages in the water intake... we went online and tried all the troubleshooting solutions, it also made no difference.
Hi Geoff, Thanks for sharing your experience, and I’m… Read more
Never buy one! – Nothing but problems had to replace kitchen faucet 5 times in 1 year. All hose fittings have leaked had to replace gas regulator. The califont is good though. Would not recommend anyone purchasing this. Fittings a cheap made. Show details
Hi Angelene, I appreciate your honest review. I'm happy… Read more
Let down twice on camp – Lots leeks with cheap connectors, 1st pump stopped and was great to be replaced but then 2nd one stopped also after little use and wouldn’t replace that, had to buy new however brought same pump elsewhere for 5th Joolca price. Main issue is the system is unreliable and when camping and it breaks down your out of running water for the rest of your camp
Hi Bill, I appreciate you taking the time to leave your… Read more
Recent reviews
Joolca Hottap Nomad Kit – The Joolca Hottap Nomad Kit is a game-changer for camping! It’s super easy to set up, heats water instantly, and is compact enough to take anywhere. The durable build and adjustable temperature control make it perfect for showers or washing dishes. Plus, it works with various water sources, adding great versatility. While it’s an investment, the… Read more
comfort and convenience it provides are absolutely worth it. Highly recommend it for outdoor enthusiasts!
It works as it should – Works really well, we used its down at the river near Bright Vic. We took a 50L bucket to fill so we could have a shower away from the water. A few friends also wanted to try it and they loved it. It works as it should, plug it in the right way and off you go. Show details
The best poolside solution! – The HOTTAP Nomad was so easy to install beside our pool and delivers consistent warm water, before or after taking a dip. It solved a perennial problem! A great product!
Best off grid instant hot water – Excellent product and even better after sales support. We are off grid and building and Joolca is our daily shower. Had an issue with the pump which was replaced even though it was just out of warranty. Amazing to have 24/7 customer support.
Great products and customer service – Love our nomad kit. On last trip 10 people used it and everyone loved it. Customer service is great as well. Definitely recommend joolca Show details
Find out how Joolca HOTTAP compares to other Gas Continuous Hot Water Systems
Know better, choose better.
Works great – Purchased from Road Tech Marine. Previously had a different brand that was a nightmare. Hottap V2 is very good and actually does what it claims and what you would expect. Very happy, thank you. Show details
Average at best – Mounted a nomad kit in a trailer with sink and shower. Pump failed within months. Replaced it with a hard wired quality deck wash pump. Gas regulator failed. Replaced with a very expensive genuine unit. Can't get over 38° C at maximum gas, minimum water flow. Taps constantly drip. 100% made in China. Customer support is prompt, however… Read more
they will run you in circles as the simple answer is, it does not perform as advertised.
Ready to replace it with a unit half the price.
Hi Craig, I appreciate your honest feedback and I'm sorry… Read more (+1 reply)
A very good portable hot water system. Very easy to use and versatile – The hot water system is well constructed and easy to install. The instructions are easy to follow. The unit has clear dials for setting temperature. We have used it a lot and it is very easy to use. Show details
Nobody minds staying at the shed now we have the Joolca – Easy to use. Great design, Water temperature stays where you set it. No problem with high demand, 4 people use it ,one after the other. As long as you have enough water it does its job. Show details · 1
Instant hot water - total game changer! – Easy to set up, even easier to use! Loved having instant hot water for showers and dishes. Water was so hot - had to set at lowest temp for showers. 15 litres of water for a shower plenty to wash and condition hair. Show details · 1
A perfect end to a day on the beach – After several summers of investigating having an outdoor shower a caravanning friend put us onto the Joolca website. We watched the video and we were sold. Our unit is now semi permanently set up and copes beautifully with the demands of an extended family, kids and adults. The versatility is a feature where we use it for showering after beach time, washing wetsuits, cleaning BBQ’s etc. The talk of our Summer. Show details · 1
Great Set-up – Great setup being able to adjust both water pressure and temperature I can fine tune the shower for showering or crank up the temperature for the dishes. Set up was easy with the click & connet fittings. The only thing it's missing is a soft cover to protect it between uses. Show details · 1
Great bit of kit – Great addition to camper, works great and easy to setup. The shower is good and i love that the water switch can be located remotely from shower head. Show details · 1
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Hi, Thank you for your honest review, and I'm very sorry… Read more