For those looking to live affordably, eco-consciously, and without the clutter of more traditional housing, a tiny house is a wonderful solution that gives you every opportunity to maximize the potential of a limited space. The advantages and drawbacks of tiny home living span a wide range of topics, and picking the right air conditioning solution for your space can be one of the more difficult decisions you have to contend with. Regardless whether or not this is your first climate control rodeo, IWAE is here to make the process as straightforward as possible.

Challenges with Heating and Cooling Tiny Homes

Believe it or not, the challenges faced by heating and cooling tiny homes has a surprising amount of overlap with those you find in traditional housing. While the residential homes have more moving pieces that leave the door open for potential complications, tiny housing tends to have more extreme factors to take into account.

Limited Space

While reports vary on the topic, the average tiny home dimensions seem to range from 300 to 500 square feet with some falling on either side outside those specs. With such a finite amount of space to accommodate your sleeping arrangements, kitchen, dining space, lavatory, and more, trying to find space for an air conditioning unit can feel like a terrifying way to eat up limited space. 

Uneven Temperature Regulation

When every inch of your space needs to be optimized, ensuring you have comfortable temperatures throughout is integral to maximizing your productivity and relaxation. With many tiny homes using features like lofted spaces and other layout decisions that make the most of the available space, contending with uneven temperature regulation is a real factor to take into account when choosing how to heat and cool your tiny home.

Minimal Insulation

Another common concern when it comes to tiny home efficiency is the amount of insulation in the design. Minimal insulation is frequently used to increase the available square footage inside the house, even a few extra inches encroaching into your space leading to less storage space, tighter quarters, and a hard time fitting all your wants and needs.

Ductless Mini Splits for Tiny Homes

Finding a way to give you the best amount of climate control within your tiny home that compensates for limited space, floor plans that would commonly lead to uneven temperature regulation, and minimal insulation can make the decision feel overwhelming. Luckily, the MrCool Ductless Mini Split Systems are here to tackle all those challenges head-on.

Benefits of Ductless Mini Split Systems:

• Minimal dimensions let you maximize on minimal square footage
• Customizable airflow direction keeps you comfortable wherever you are in your space
• Impressive efficiency helps compensate for limited insulation to maintain comfort
• Easy DIY setup doesn’t require a professional to install, saving you time and money

MrCool DIY Mini Split Ductless Split Systes 9k and 12k

For those looking to get the most long-term usage out of air conditioning in their tiny home, the 9k or 12k BTU MrCool DIY Mini Split Ductless Split Systems are the perfect solution. Coming with a 5 year parts and 7 year compressor warranty by default and sporting impressive SEER2 ratings in the mid 23s, you’ll enjoy remarkable energy efficiency and a range of quality of life features that will keep you content and comfortable over the years. 

MrCool EasyPro Heat Pump Ductless Mini Split 9k and 12k

Whether you’re looking for a more affordable price point or know that your tiny house will be a temporary solution, it still won’t feel like cutting corners with the 9k or 12k BTU MrCool Easy Pro Heat Pump Ductless DIY Mini Split. With impressive SEER2 ratings of 20 and 18 respectively and a warranty that covers 2 years on parts and 1 on the compressor, this quiet running system still gives you top-tier comfort within your space.

Wood and Gas Stoves for Tiny Homes

Fighting off the bitter chill in your tiny home may be too tough of a task for just a mini split system in areas with particularly harsh winter conditions. Whether you’re looking to live off the grid or inside the big city, there are options for stoves that can cater to the unique needs of your space.

Tips for Maintaining Energy Efficiency for Tiny Homes

1. Utilize the Extended Limited Lifetime Replacement Warranty for your DIY system using the MrCool Care Kit Program (not applicable for Easy Pro system)
2. Plan around the impact of sunlight; make use of natural lighting, natural heat, and be thoughtful of when to block out the sun when looking to cool down your space
3. Choose your settings wisely; be sure to set timers, set schedules, or otherwise adjust your system to save on energy when you’re asleep or out of the house
4. Be mindful of temperature; heat rises while cooler temperatures can be found closer to the ground, so keep that principle in mind when choosing your layout

Find the Right Equipment for Your Off-the-Grid Project

Looking to remove the need for regular visits from HVAC technicians and other professionals? Whether you’re looking to take advantage of propane gas for a heating system or more easily accessible resources like wood, there are heating options from furnaces to stoves that can effectively help you stave off the worst winter weather and maintain a cozy ambiance throughout your space. Determine the amount of heating output, or BTUs, you need based on the square footage of your home, use the installation instructions to ensure proper venting and safety guidelines are met, and make note of proper maintenance procedures to keep your system up and running.