Energy Efficient Heating Systems For A Tiny Home
If you live in a tiny home, you don't have to install a giant ductwork system to get heated and cooled air to different rooms. But you still have to decide which type of heating and cooling systems you'll install in your home. If you're interested in energy efficiency, here are three types of heating systems to consider installing.
1. Electric Space Heater
An electric space heater could provide serviceable heating power for your tiny home space. An electric resistance heater can be 100% efficient, meaning that it converts all the electricity it uses into heat. However, this can still add up to a significant amount on your energy bills over time.
2. Small Wood Stove
You might imagine that a wood stove would take up quite a bit more space than an electric heater, but actually you can find very tiny ones that may only take up an 8.5 inch diameter space on your floor.
A wood stove is considered all natural because it runs on wood. It takes no electricity at all, meaning it can't be beat for low energy bills. However, wood smoke can contribute to smog, so if you live in a smoggy area this may not be the best option.
3. Mini Split Heat Pump
A heat pump, especially one sized for a tiny home, may take a very small amount of energy. In fact, since heat pump heating and cooling is more efficient than an electric resistance heater (rather than creating heat, it simply moves heat around), this could lower your heating bills when compared to a space heater.
You may also be able to take your heat pump off grid by connecting it to a solar panel on your roof. Because your space is so small already and a mini split is so efficient, you'll need a relatively small amount of solar to power the heat pump.
If you do decide to power your heat pump with solar, just keep in mind that a heat pump only works really well when the temperatures are at least slightly above freezing. So if you live in a cold climate where temperatures regularly stay under freezing for long periods, you'll need to have enough solar power to run a backup heat source.
As you can see, you have several options when it comes to tiny heating systems for heating your tiny home. If you plan to install a permanent or semi-permanent heating system such as a wood stove or mini split heat pump, contact a heating system installation expert for a quote on professional installation services. You can also keep up with the maintenance of your system by getting a professional air conditioning repair when necessary.