Basic Heating and Cooling Options for Tiny Houses

                                                 The Hummingbird Tiny Spaces Company   
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How to heat and cool my tiny house?????

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I hear and read this quite often. There can be much discussion on websites, blogs and forums about this. It is a simple yet complicated question. A very important factor in this equation is if electrical power is available and if so, do you wish to use it. You also actually have more options for heating than cooling. Air conditioning as we have grown to know and love pretty much involves electrical power. Each situation is unique as is how each individual desires to approach it.

Some basic overall options for heating and cooling are as follows.......

- Using electrical power from your electric company to power various devices.

-Using a gas or propane powered electrical generator to power various devices.​

-Electric heaters. If electric power is available a small to medium sized electric heater is the easiest way to go.
http://www.viewpoints.com/Space-Heaters  

-A electric cooling unit like a window type AC unit or one of the units like you see in many motels etc, that both heats and cools. A small efficient window type AC unit is normally the cheapest way to go and a separate, efficient, small electric plug in heater. Remember we are talking small square footage so if its well insulated it shouldn't take a lot to heat or cool comfortably.​​

 -A wood stove. They make some very nice "small " wood stoves. Small is the key word as they are designed to run at a optimal temperature and most wood stoves are designed and rated for much more square footage than your average tiny house. Oddly enough some of the best heaters are those that were originally designed for boats. Wood stoves can be messy and a lot of work but there is nothing like a real fire.​ Here are some links to a few of my favorites... Enjoy! ​

http://www.salamanderstoves.com/docs/64/the_hobbit_stove/ 
http://www.morsona.com/Mors%C3%B8-1410-529.aspx
http://www.fatscostoves.com/
 http://vermontcastings.com/learn-and-inspire/gallery/stoves-gallery/
http://www.jotul.com/en-US/wwwjotulus/Main-menu/Products/Wood/Wood-stoves/Jotul-F-602-CB/ 
http://www.walltentshop.com/FourDogStoves.html
http://www.marinestove.com/sardineinfo.htm
http://goodoutdoors.theshoppe.com/wilderness_shanty_wood_stove.html

-A Gas or propane heater. Again you must use one rated for smaller spaces. Some even have thermostats and most require no electrical power. They are usually rated at 99.9% efficiency  and generally considered very safe. Minimum proper ventilation is required. I'm a big fan of unvented gas wall heaters. They can easily be purchased at your local home store or online. The propane versions are a great option if you're not wanting to or don't have the option of natural gas. Haul in you're own 20-100 lb tanks and they can keep you warm for weeks or months. Keep a spare full tank on hand for when the one you're using runs out. There are two basic version. Blue flame and radiant. Blue flame heaters come in wall heaters and fireplace versions basically have a blue gas flame. The heat in these heaters tends to  go up when leaving the heater. They are better suited for tighter spaces such as a hallway but equally well as a room heater. They heat the space but don't radiate the heat straight out such as the opposite wall in a hallway. The radiant version heaters and fireplaces radiate heat outward like the sun and anything in front of the heater will get very warm or even hot (not good for hallways). If you are sitting in a room close to a radiant type you will feel the warm glow.
http://www.dickinsonmarine.com/propane.php

-Alcohol heaters/stoves. Again there are some boat type heaters and others available.​

Here is a good article on a alcohol stove used on boats but of course could be used in a tiny house.
http://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/36_3/chandlery/Alcohol-Heater-Stove_5894-1.html

-Solar heating. Either passive or with the whole solar panels and batteries setup. This is a whole subject in itself and involves a good deal of research to determine your needs. ​






Here is a great link to an article on the "Tiny House Blog" website.
http://tinyhouseblog.com/heaters/tinyhouseheat/​