Heating A Tiny Home

The Warm Glow Of A Tiny Home

Spring is on it’s way in some locations of the country; others are still deep in an unusually long winter. There are few things that are nicer than walking into your house, with a fire burning in the wood stove. Or maybe you get a nice blast of warm air from your heater. Either way, the warmth is always a welcome thing no matter the size of your house.

The ambiance invites you to grab a book, a cup of coffee, and sit down in front of the warmth for a relaxing evening. One of my most favorite things about winter is a wood stove. I find it very relaxing to sit in front of a fire, I love the warmth it gives off, and I love that it is one of the most inexpensive and non-invasive types of heating.

While a wood burning stove may not be the best option for a very small home, heating with a propane stove may work.

It all depends on how small and how much room you have for a stove and for a supply of wood.

Granted propane may not be as romantic, but it is clean burning and generally easy to find a supplier.

If you enjoy off-grid living and all that goes with the lifestyle – collecting rainwater, having solar power, etc… you would most likely want to have a wood burning stove as your main source of heating.

There is no doubt it would work well. It wouldn’t take much to heat up a small place. The main concern would be the amount of space in the house versus convenience.

Most propane heaters are installed directly into the wall whereas a wood burning heater needs floor space. This is not only floor space for the heater itself but also a buffer zone around the heater for safety.

Propane heaters are lighter than wood burning heaters. But you must also factor in the weight of the propane tank or tanks

Whether you are living off or on grid, you’ll need to make decisions when choosing the best heat source for your home. If you are in a permanent location, choosing a heat source to suit your needs would be easier than if you move around.

Cost of fuel is another factor. In many places, wood is cheaper than propane.

Moisture is always a concern in small structures. If propane is your choice for heating and cooking, then you may also need a dehumidifier.

Wood heaters will not only heat but will keep the air dryer eliminating the need for a dehumidifier.

An additional benefit of some wood burning heaters/stoves; if you have one with a solid top plate you can use that surface as a cooktop.

In summary, there are two popular sources of heating for a tiny home. Wood burning stoves are efficient, relatively inexpensive to operate and have little environmental impact although they need a little extra room than most other sources of heat. Propane heaters are clean burning and efficient, and propane generally easy to locate.

http://affordablehousingdesigns.com/the-latest/heating-a-tiny-home/ Joanne