How Heating and Cooling Differs
The standard options for air conditioning and heating are far too powerful for your tiny home. You’ll probably end up freezing or overheating, which might make you wonder where you need to look when it comes to heating and cooling systems.
Mini-Split Systems
Mini-split systems are the perfect option for saving space in a small home while still getting dual heating and cooling. These systems use small units mounted to the wall or ceiling and connect to an exterior heat pump, which unfortunately means you can’t install these systems unless your home stays stationary – for a modular home, mini-split systems may be ideal. These kinds of systems don’t require installing any ductwork, however, and are the optimal way to heat and cool a small space efficiently.
Other Cooling Options
If your tiny home is on the move, you’ll need to look for something that allows you to be portable. A window or wall AC unit might be the option that you consider. Window AC units are often used for apartments, making them very reliable in small spaces, but taking them in and putting them back up every time you move can be a little cumbersome. Wall units save a lot of space as well but are a bit trickier to install.
Other Heating Options
An electric wall heater might be the unit to go for when looking for portable heating, though you’ll need to have access to electricity. Space heaters might be fantastic for heating individual spaces, as long as you make sure you have enough to heat your entire home adequately. You can add extra warmth with a fireplace or a wood-burning stove as well, but these aren’t necessarily options that heat your entire home either.
Advantages of A Heating and Cooling System
Even if your little house has fantastic insulation, it’s still a compact space, and will probably heat up and cool down a lot quicker than a larger house with more room to fill. Having an adequate heating and cooling system for your small home ensures that you aren’t subject to extreme temperatures that make you feel the need to pick up and move every season. It might tempt you to rough things out and go without any AC to save more power, but a tiny house is already so efficient that you’d only be adding to its value with proper heating and cooling.
Hire A Professional Installer
It can become a bit of a challenge to figure out how to properly install air conditioning or heating in a tiny home. Be sure to contact a A/C professional to find out which heating/cooling solution is right for your tiny home.
If you live in Austin and would like to learn more, please schedule an appointment with us or contact us to get more information on how we can help you make your home more comfortable and efficient.
