Utilities for Tiny Houses
Water
Power
Sewage
Internet
Trash
HVAC
Mail
Other
Hi, I’m Ryan
If you’re planning on building a tiny house, you probably have a lot of questions. Some of the most frequent questions I hear are about tiny house utilities. The answers to questions like “What happens when I flush the toilet?” or “How do I get mail?” are pretty essential. Here’s a guide to tiny house utilities, services, and basic necessities for setting up your tiny house.
WATER
Tiny House Plumbing
If your tiny house is a permanent structure built on a lot where you can access city water, running a main water line to your house is the same process used for a traditional home. In Tiny House Plumbing, we go through all the ways to set up a simple tiny house plumbing system that’s easy, even for a beginner. We’ll also explore once water is IN the house, then what?
Tiny House Water Heater
If you’re considering a water heater than you’re most likely looking at a tankless hot water heater option for your tiny house. They take up a fraction of the space that a traditional hot water heater does and they’re way more efficient and cost effective for tiny houses. Check out our ranking of the most popular models to see what will work best for you.
Rainwater Catchment
When you’re off the grid, you may need to consider the most obvious solution—rainwater. If rain is your primary water source, you need a rainwater catchment system in place to collect, store, filter, pump the water, and make your life easier. Here we’ll explore how to build a rainwater catchment.
Tiny House Water
A tiny house without water is really just fancy camping, so it’s no surprise people want to know how to get water in a tiny house. If you’ve never had to go long without running tap water, trust me, it gets old quick!
Greywater
Greywater is basically wastewater that isn’t sewage. It’s water from sinks and showers that’s clean enough to be reused in an irrigation system as long as you use biodegradable soap products. In this post, we’ll explore how you can take your drain water and repurpose it in your garden or how to deal with it if you’re off-grid.
POWER
Tiny House Electrical
Of all the tiny house utilities, setting up tiny house electrical is no small job—and it can seem a bit daunting without experience. Fortunately, it’s easier than you think. In this post, we share how to get power from the grid to your tiny house; then, once the power is in your home, how to distribute it. We’ll go through all the details to set up your tiny house electrical.
Tiny House Electrical Book
Many tiny house builders asked me for a step-by-step beginner’s guide for doing tiny house electrical. I put together this book that walks you through everything you need to know about setting up your tiny house electrical, doing electrical work, and getting power to your tiny home.
Tiny House Solar
Lots of tiny lifers want to do solar, and in my opinion, it really is one of the best solutions for powering your tiny house. As someone who’s been living off the grid with solar power for eight years, I’ve learned a lot about what works, what doesn’t, and what you need to know to maintain the health and function of your tiny house solar.
Solar Generators
Smaller, portable, and on-demand solar generators offer an easy power solution to supplement your tiny house utilities. Solar generators can also be beneficial to assist you with power while you’re in the process of building your tiny house (and don’t yet have your power setup).
SEWAGE
Compost Toilets
Many people approach me with questions about tiny house toilets (it’s a little personal, but I’m always happy to help with all the details). So how do you set up a composting toilet in your tiny house? Does a composting toilet smell? Is it gross? We have all the essential tiny house toilet tips to ensure that your tiny house composting toilet is a tolerable–even pleasant–experience.
Luggable Loo Review
Once I explain my composting toilet to people, the next question is usually, where can I get one? What kind do you use? Here I explain all the details about my tiny house toilet, the Luggable Loo, and give a full review of what it’s like to use it. This toilet is very popular and can be found at Walmart, Amazon, and other retailers.
Septic
For those who can put in septic, it can be a great tiny house utilities solution. Remember, though, not everyone has the ability to install septic, especially if your tiny house is located in a city, where you’re required to hook up to the city main. If you’re rural and considering septic for your tiny house, we have everything here to demystify the process.
Tiny House Bathrooms
If you’re looking for some inspiration on how to have a beautiful bathroom in minimal space (yes, it IS possible), I’ve put together all of the details to help you plan your tiny house bathroom design. As someone who’s lived with a tiny house bathroom for many years now, I can tell you how to set up a functional, clean, and easy-to-use bathroom in your tiny house.
Internet
Off-Grid Internet
In a work-from-home culture, the internet isn’t just a luxury anymore; it’s a necessary tiny house utility. Now, to be honest, I personally love to work from a coffee shop or even outside when I can, but of course, there are times when it’s necessary to work from home. Here’s how you can set up off-grid internet simply and easily for your tiny house.
Trash
Setting Up Land
In this post, we go over ALL the practical aspects of setting up land for your tiny house, including dealing with trash. As someone who tries to minimize my waste, I know that no matter what we do, humans naturally end up with some garbage and waste, even with the most sustainable lifestyle. Here’s how to set up land and deal with trash.
Composting
The other side of trash is composting. For most food scraps and natural materials, composting provides an ideal solution that can be good for your garden and great for the planet. If you’re homesteading or even backyard gardening, composting will increase the nutrients in your soil and keep waste out of the landfill.
HVAC
Insulation
Insulation is vital to making your heating and cooling way more efficient. Insulation will help you reduce your energy usage and costs. It will keep you from chopping wood all winter and reduce the number of solar panels you need in the summer. It’s really one of the essential components to heating and cooling your tiny house, so it’s crucial that you get the insulation right.
Solar Powered AC
Ever wondered if you can run AC on solar? How do you deal with heat if your tiny house is in a hot and humid state (like mine)? I’m not going to lie, it’s challenging to run AC on solar, but it’s certainly not impossible. After some trial and error, I’ve figured out the best way to run AC on solar, and here I give you all the details on what you need to know about AC for your tiny house.
Tiny House Heating
Even if you live in a very temperate climate, you’ll likely need some method to keep your tiny house cozy in the winter. There are a few different options to heat your tiny house, depending on if you’re on-grid or off-grid. Here we’ll review the basic details of tiny house heating so you can stay warm.
Propane
Propane can get a bit tricky and intimidating for a first-time builder. In this post, we review all the ins and outs of using propane for your tiny house utilities. I’ll tell you how to set up gas lines and what you need to know even as a novice, so you can successfully set up propane for your tiny house.
Wood Stoves
Many people think of tiny houses as little cabins in the woods. Part of that vision is, of course, having a wood stove. There’s something so nostalgic about a cozy home with a crackling fire. In this post, we’ll go through all the things you need to know about safely using wood stoves in your tiny house.
Mail
Mail Service Options
A lot of people wonder how to get mail and packages in a tiny house. It’s a bit tricky to get a mailing address. (I joked that it felt like I was setting up a money-laundering front because it’s literally the same process.) Fortunately, having been through the situation, I understand the practicalities and necessities for setting up mail delivery for a tiny house.
Other THOW Info
Tiny House Cost
One common question I get (of course) is how much does a tiny house cost? As someone who has lived the tiny life for almost a decade, I know exactly how to figure out your costs of living and plan for life in a tiny home. Here’s the breakdown of all the costs for building and living in a tiny house.
Building Checklist
The building checklist is one of my most vital resources for tiny house builders. In this comprehensive guide, I’ve included every piece you need to know so you can avoid forgetting necessary steps or running into costly mistakes. Don’t miss this essential tiny house-building checklist.
Tiny House Dimensions
Another set of logistical questions that come up are about the dimensions of a tiny house. What size is a tiny house? How do you plan for the space? Living in a tiny house does require a shift in thinking, and there are some size constraints to consider. Here we go over what you need to understand about tiny house dimensions.
Tiny House Weight
Weight is a big issue for tiny house owners. If you get the weight wrong, you could damage your tiny house trailer. You could run into problems if you need to move your tiny house. You could also cause an accident to your equipment, your home, or yourself. Here’s how to calculate your tiny house weight and what you need to know about planning for your tiny house.