Tankless water heaters, also known as instant water heaters and on-demand water heaters, are a natural choice for tiny homes due to their smaller footprint and higher efficiency. But once the decision has been made to go tankless, there are several important questions to ask next. What kind of tankless water heater do I need? What size of tankless water heater is big enough for my tiny home?

The floor is the surface in any home that takes the lion’s share of the abuse. So, what is the best flooring option for your tiny home? Well, it sure isn’t marble! In fact, the heavier and more rigid a material is the worse it is for tiny home flooring. Tiny homes flex a great deal when they are transported, whether it be a prefab or tiny home on wheels. This flex is the natural enemy of rigid flooring materials. Even site built tiny homes tend not to be built on slab foundations meaning they will settle over time causing the same flex and the same floor damage problem. After hundreds of tiny home consultations and builds, we have ranked tiny home flooring options from best to worst as follows.

One of the most important construction decisions you can make for your tiny home is how it will be insulated. Cutting corners here will cost you exponentially more in the long run due to increased heating and cooling costs. Let’s take a look at the factors at play and some great insulation options.

One of the biggest points to consider when planning your tiny home will be heating and cooling. Some important questions to ask:

1. What is the best method for heating and cooling your tiny home?

2. Does your interior allow for ductwork?

3. How much wall space do you have to dedicate to a through-the-wall unit?

4. What are the average winter and summer temperatures in your area?

The majority of solar panels currently on the market can be classified into three types: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film. Each type of solar panel has unique advantages and disadvantages depending on the application. These types of solar panels vary in terms of cost, materials, efficiency, and form factor.

A well planned solar and wind power system can easily provide enough power for a tiny home with very minimal grid or generator fallback. While solar panels can be used almost anywhere, some locations would require towers so tall that a wind turbine would be impractical.

Most batteries on the market can be divided into two main categories, lead-acid and lithium-ion. Lithium-ion batteries are the best choice for tiny homes for four main reasons. They have longer usable lifespans, they have greater usable capacity, they can provide adequate power for high drain appliances, and they don’t emit toxic gasses. With lithium-ion batteries being superior to lead-acid in every measurable way, the only reason to consider lead-acid is if your upfront budget is very tight.

Tiny homes are inherently better for the planet by virtue of the fact that they consume much fewer resources to provide all of the amenities we expect from a home. Beyond this intrinsic sustainability, some tiny home manufactures are going to great lengths to make their builds as green as is currently possible.