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Rocky Sink Farm

Heating options for the tiny house

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March 30, 2012

It may seem a little early to think about heating the wee house, but it’s actually pretty appropriate so I know how to alter the framing if needed. Will a window be in the way, how will it vent, will it take forever to ship, etc.? So I’m down to 3 options after a ton of research:

Tiny wood stove

Environment (wood = renewable; used stove = awesome)
Society (helping out someone who’s selling this on c’list; and it’s ADORABLE)
Economy (cheaper option for me; money in someone else’s pocket)
Logistics? (nightmare to transport and install)

Tiny gas stove

Environment (gas/propane = non-renewable; new stove = not awesome)
Society (support a local business selling it; and it’s also ADORABLE)
Economy (have you looked at the price??)
Logistics? (much easier to transport and install than the wood stove)

Electric stove

Environment (electric = non-renewable unless it runs on power from solar panels; new stove = not awesome)
Society (I’m saying no on this category since it’s from a big box store and shipped from who-knows-where)
Economy (super cheap)
Logistics? (easy transport and installation)

So far the Facebook poll I put up has the wood stove winning. That’s the ideal choice in my head, but I’m not sure about reality. If I can get the used one, I’m in! But if it’s sold by the time I can make the 2 hour drive, then I’ll either have to buy a new one (ouch) or go with the gas one (also ouch).

electric stove, gas stove, heating a tiny house, how to build a tiny house, off-grid, sustainability, tiny house, wood stove

8 responses to “Heating options for the tiny house”

barkway

April 2, 2012

Wood requires trees. Not sure how great that is. As small as some of the tiny houses are, I’m surprised a really efficient solar solution isn’t possible for heating.

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1. Sarah
  
  April 11, 2012
  
  Solar is a completely viable solution depending on the weather where the house is at. I chose the stove so that there’s some emergency heating options in case there’s a long, cold, and dark winter happening.
  
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Stan S.

April 5, 2012

Wood is a renewable resource, the burning of wood does not emit any more or less CO2 then is emmited when the wood rots naturally. The particulate matter is a different story, some locations in CA are making it illegal to burn wood for heat, modern, efficeint stoves do minimize the particulate load that is released but you can not totally get away from it with burning wood. You will need good seasoned hardwood to heat with, this also make a difference with efficency. What will be your source of wood, how about when you move you will need to find a new source of wood. Just things to think about, I heat with wood so I am experienced with it. The other up side to a wood stove is you can use it to cook on top of, probably no so on the propane stove and definatly not on the electric.

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Classic

April 6, 2012

Pretty fine article. I just stumbled upon this blog and wanted to say that I have truly enjoyed reading your blog articles. I’ll be subscribing to your feed anyway and I hope you’ll post again soon. Big thanks for the beneficial information.

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Sachs Fred

February 1, 2013

I saw your house in Newport. Your Dad gave me the tour. Great work! I really like what you’ve done.
I think using a gas heater instead of wood stove was a good choice. Even a small stove would tend to overheat such a small space, and it would be tough to regulate an even temperature. If you could build a fire that didn’t make the place too hot, it would be such a small wood load that it couldn’t get you through the night without numerous trips down from the loft to reload the firebox. We heat with a small Jotul in a bedroom wing, which is bigger than your house, and it is tough to keep the temperature steady and comfortable, particularly through the night.
SO, IMO your gas heater was a better choice.
I hope you get your price for the house.
Good luck as you move on to your next project/career, whatever they may be!

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1. Jacquie Davis
  
  February 24, 2015
  
  That was my experience. I have spent winter weekends in a stove heated tiny space, and the night starts out like a sauna, but by the time you next have to pee, it’s absolutely cold inside if out.
  
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Jennifer

November 24, 2013

wondering if you ever considered the kimberly wood stove when you were at that stage and what your thoughts are on it for a tiny home of apps 250 sq feet.

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1. Sarah
  
  December 5, 2013
  
  Hi Jennifer!
  
  I didn’t consider the Kimberly Wood Stove because of cost (thousands, from what I just googled, versus the Newport one for only $700-800). I’m sure it would probably work fine if price isn’t an issue.
  
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