Heating A Tiny House

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If you live in a tiny house you must have the ability to heat it up. There are few places where you can live that you wouldn't need a heater. How the house is built and the type of insulation plays the largest role in how much extra heating you will need. There are many ways to heat a house such as electric, propane, and wood pellets. We will cover all of these in this article.

1. Why You  Need To Heat Your Tiny Home

Heating a tiny home is not really any different from heating an average-sized home. However, it pays to know what type of insulation was used by the builder and whether or not it provides good winter weather protection before spending time on elaborate heating solutions.

There are two basic reasons to heat your home.

Safety

The most important reason for heating your house is safety because it is possible to develop hypothermia, frostbite, or even die if it's too cold. Thus make sure you have heat to stay warm and to keep your pipes from freezing.

Safety should be the primary consideration when heating a tiny house.

Protect Your Pipes

One of my friends went on her honeymoon during the Texas winter storm of 2021. They did not know Texas would have its worst storm in decades and that they would lose power.

Their house was flooded from burst pipes and basically had to be rebuilt.  Make sure you keep your house heated to prevent your pipes from bursting.

Comfort

The third reason for having heat is comfort. When it gets cold, some people would much prefer to spend time indoors instead of out in freezing weather.

2. Tiny Home Construction Materials

The most popular material for building a tiny home is plywood. Plywood has been successfully used to build many homes and buildings, so it's no wonder that you can find lots of ideas on how to make your own tiny house out of plywood.

One of the more interesting facts about tiny homes is that they don't require drywall. Sheet metal has the benefits of not being fire resistant and costing less than drywall.

The roof construction will be similar to a traditional roof though you might have solar panels instead of shingles.

3.  Tiny Home Insulation Options

insulation is a great way to keep your tiny house warm in winter and cool in summer. If you use it, you'll save money on heating and air conditioning bills.

Here are three popular types of insulation for a tiny home.

Spray foam insulation is affordable and provides the best insulation. Many experts think this type of insulation is the best one to use. And when in doubt, use this insulation.

Fiberglass batts is another popular form of insulation. It is affordable and easy to install but won't provide as good insulation like spray foam.

Rock wool (sold as Roxul ) is sound-proof, fire-proof, and comparable to the insulation power of fiberglass. However, it is more expensive.

4.  How To Heat Your Tiny Home

Electric heaters

Electric heaters are one of the most popular ways to keep you warm during those long, cold winters. But there is a lot of options and it can be hard to find exactly what you need.

Most importantly, if you want to run an electric heater, you will need to be on grid power because of the power requirements.

Wood or Pellet Stove

Heating a tiny house can be expensive.

Wood and pellet stoves are both great options for heating your home, but they come with different challenges.

These stoves do take up a lot of space.

However, wood pellets are cheaper over time. Pellet stoves cook food and give off the smell of a fireplace when in use.

Propane Heaters

Heating a tiny house can be a challenge but propane heaters are great. In particular, for off-grid dwellers. Propane heaters come in a variety of options including ones that are thermostat controlled.

However, if you live in warmer climates, like the southern US, you can use a favorite of winter tent-campers - the Mr. Heater.

These are small propane heaters that can even be used in tents. If you do go with a Mr. Heater, purchase the attachment that works with the larger 20-pound propane grilling tanks.

Heat Pumps

What if I told you there was a system that worked like traditional electrical heating but could work off your own solar panels?

There is such a system and it's called a heat pump. Another benefit of a heat pump is that they don't take up any space within your house.

And they can even keep you cool.

But there are drawbacks.

They require professional installations.

They are not cheap.

And they won't work well in very cold climates so check with fellow local tiny homeowners before you invest in one

5. Best Tiny Home Heaters

We have now covered how to heat your tiny home.

Let's look at 3 possible options.

Carrier Infinity Heat Pump

When looking for a heat pump it seems like there are so many options and they all have their own pros and cons.

Air conditioners can be noisy, expensive to run, require   Carrier Infinity Heat Pumps to combine the best aspects of both heating systems by providing you with two products in one!

You get a high-efficiency air conditioner that also provides supplemental heat when needed.

This means you don’t need an additional heater or furnace when the weather gets cold!

With this product, you only pay for what you use instead of paying extra money every month for something that isn’t being used.

And remember, heat pumps don't take up any room within your tiny home.

Heat Storm Deluxe Indoor Infrared Wall Heater

Are you looking for a cheap infrared heater that didn’t take up much space and could be easily removed during the warmer months.

The Heat Storm Deluxe Indoor Infrared Wall Heater is an amazing alternative if you are on the grid.

This plug-in wall-mounted heater can heat any room from 200-1000 sq ft depending on your settings (adjustable thermostat). Installation takes about 10 minutes as its just 2 screws into studs behind the walls.

Plus since it's removable, you can store it away during warm months so you don't have to worry about it getting in the way during warmer weather.

Mr. Heater Buddy Propane Portable Heater

Some heaters can be too big to move around the house or take up too much space in your garage.

Others don’t put out enough heat to keep your family warm on the coldest nights. You might have seen some of these larger models at work or at friends' houses but they just aren’t practical for home use because they're hard to store and transport.

And then there's portability! It is so important for people with kids especially when it comes to safety issues like tripping over cords and getting burned by hot surfaces...but who wants a cord hanging from their ceiling all winter long?

Mr Heater Buddy Propane Portable Heater solves all those problems! This little guy puts off enough BTUs to heat your tiny home either as a primary heater for homes in warmer climates or as additional heating for colder climates.

Plus if you go tent camping, Mr. Heater's are the best way to sleep warm and toasty on cold nights.

Tiny homes can be cold during the winter and heating them is a challenge.

There are many options to heat your tiny home but they all have their pros and cons. You need to consider if you want an electric, propane or gas heater for example.

A heat pump is the best solution because it uses electricity to transfer heat from one place (outside) to another (inside). It doesn't require any additional fuel source like propane or natural gas.

Heat pumps work in almost every climate so even if you live in Canada or Alaska, you'll still find this option appealing!

Heat pumps are also great because they don't take up any interior space in your tiny home  and they are quiet.

And while we're on the topic of safety...heat pumps also come with a built-in backup system that will automatically turn on your propane heater should there ever be a power outage!

If you're considering building a tiny home, we say go for it. However, before you do anything else make sure that your heating system is in place and ready to provide the comfort and safety that comes with being warm all winter long.

Here's a final tip: If you know what type of heat you want, purchase it before building your tiny home so you don't have to worry about this later on and can focus on building your tiny home!

We've provided some tips on how to stay safe this winter season so take some time now to prepare your tiny home for winter.

You don't want to be forced to leave your tiny home because it's too cold and uncomfortable to stay! In particular, with so many affordable and environmentally friendly options.