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How To Heat the Tiny House
It has been great living in The Bungalow this past month. At 142 sq. ft. we have found ourselves both scorching hot when forgetting to cut back the heat and frozen to the bone when cutting it off too early. Right now our heating source is a standard, propane-fueled, wall heater (circa 1979 or so). It works great and the blower really helps out but it seems to either know only sauna cycle or McFlurry cycle.
Because of such temperature changes and because it is only the beginning of winter (not even if you follow the solstice patterns) I am curious now as to just how we will properly heat our Tiny Home to deal with winter weather on a largely wooded (and thereby shaded) lot.
Clearly central heat is not an option as it would create far too much heat for the 198 square feet. Likewise it is not the most environmentally friendly option in our opinion and would keep us anchored quite firmly to the ground and the power grid. A wood stove (while being the most nostalgic and seemingly authentic option considering the style of the house) is probably a bit overwhelming for the space as well and would require a pretty fast depletion of the wood around us. So what then are our options?
We could further explore wood but add to it propane, gas, and even some electric units.
In regards to WOOD the original Very Small Woodstove is the Jotul 602 CB, from Norway. The model is 12 inches wide and 19 inches deep. Most often found in cottages and cabins in the woods, they are an attractive choice for most any small space. They have also been around forever. In fact, Jotul claims over 1 million of these units have been manufactured.
12 x 19
$700
Available from Jotul
The tiniest very small wood stoves are those built for boats. These are designed for very tight quarters, and often have a railing on the top to keep pots from rolling off. A typical unit measures all of 12 inches by 12 inches. They are made of cast iron and porcelain and seem perfect for a tiny dwelling.
12 x 12
$650
Available from Marine Stove
PROPANEis probably the most popular in tiny houses as it can be run from a more stationary propane tank or from a portable 20lb. campstore special. Jay Shafer of Tumbleweed Tiny House fame uses the Newport Propane Fireplace himself. Ideal for boats up to 30/32 ft, the combustion process is completely isolated from the inside of the boat by the unique, direct vent design. A built-in blower provides good heat circulation. The heater is sold with all accessories including a stainless steel backing plate and 28″ of flexible, double stainless chimney. Above all, it is safe, easy to use and extremely economical.
Newport Propane Fireplace (P9000)
17 x 9
$1044
Available from Dickson Marine
GAS is also an option and Woodstock Soapstone Company has the perfect little stove for tiny spaces called the Cottage Mini Soapstone Gas Stove. It’s 8,000 BTU heat output is perfect for a cozy, intimate area and it takes up little space in that it can be installed on a stand or wall-mounted shelf. Just 17″ tall, Woodstock insists it will produce almost 8,000 BTU/hr!
17 x 14
$1049
Available from Woodstock Soapstone Company
ELECTRIC. While electric space heaters are certainly an option I have decided (yes, since starting this post) that they are a last resort option. They would end up consuming valuable floor space. They are often overpriced. They are quite ugly and sometimes loud and most have a very low blower option, if any. Furthermore, they would keep us absolutely tied to the grid at first until we are able to establish a reliable solar power source. Units are available everywhere from your neighborhood drug store to larger box stores across American suburbs.
Special thanks to Kent Griswold and Tiny House blog for much of the information provided above on heating the Tiny Home.
How do you heat your current home? Does it do the job? What would you heat a smaller space with? Do you fancy a life spent chopping and splitting wood or are you hoping to squeeze a half ton centralized unit into your Tiny Home? As always, if you enjoyed this post or would like to share it with someone feel free to share on Facebook, Tweet out the link, Digg It, or email it, all through the social media buttons above!
Bigger does not always mean better. Progress does not always mean forgetting our roots in order to forge a new future. Blogger, photojournalist, and hobby farmer Andrew Odom has spent much of the last few years rediscovering the lost art of living. Visit him online at www.tinyrevolution.us.
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t a time of economic and social uncertainty some exhaust every option in order to keep what they have. Others begin to examine what they have and if they even need it. Such is the case for Farmers' Almanac contributor Andrew Odom and his wife Crystal. Walk with them on their journey as they seek to do less while becoming more. Learn More »Get Tiny Revolution E-Mail Updates!
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6 comments
@Jenn – tsk, tsk, tsk *finger wags*. hahahahah. Sounds like you have really worked out a system! Good for you.
I used to do all our wood with an ax, but I just cant anymore. lol We burn about 5-6 cords a year (to heat our not so tiny home). So my husband bought me a wood splitter for Valentines day. Ha ha! Yup, some girls want money, clothes or jewels….nope….I got me a wood splitter! I just can not keep up with kids, garden, animals, and everyday life while trying to put that much wood up for the Winter. Ya know. Its just tough. I do keep the ax handy though. Dont try this at home kids……..I have rigger the splitter’s safety so its hands free. This way I can turn around an split a small log or two while my splitter is hard at work with monster pieces. It works
Jenn has the right idea. Currently we heat with wood and follow the same conservative ideas Jenn discussed. We are currently restoring an approximately 200 sq ft cottage and are planning to use radiant heating with an outside wood furnace for backup and heating up water. Our current living arrangements are in an older home and using only 1/3 of the living space. Heating this space is tricky as when the weather begins turning cold the woodstove provides too much heat, this is where we supplement portable radiant heaters to sustain warmth.
@Jenn – It sounds like you have quite a system. I love it. Question. Do y’all have a chipper/shredder or even a splitter or do you rely on ax and wedge?
There is nothing like the smell of a wood fire (when love isn’t enough to keep you warm)!
I like wood stoves. I like them for heat, cooking, warming up water to wash clothes when the power is out. Then hang the clothes to dry near the wood stove. I think they are so great. I heat my entire home with one wood stove inthe basement. Also, making sure my home has vents all around (even in odd areas) to help with the distribution of heat. I take trees that have alreayd fallen, or the ones that the wood peckers tell me are next
That way we conserve what we do have for trees on out property. (We also cheat a tiny bit and rely on tornados and ice storms and then offer clean up to people in the surrounding towns who would have been chared by others….we just ask for the wood in return)
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