Preparing for Winter
Preparing for Winter. When the sun is shining, and the temperature is high, the last thing that you want to think about is winter. But, when it comes to your home, this is the perfect time to start making some changes to ensure that it stays safe, warm, and comfortable throughout the colder months. It’s currently dry and warm, making conditions perfect for things like roofing repair, which can’t be done in more adverse conditions. You certainly don’t want to leave things too late. Colder weather can appear quite suddenly, and if your home is unprepared, you’ll soon start to feel the cold as you watch your heating bills skyrocket.
While it’s true that houses of all sizes require some winter preparation, it’s even truer if you live in a tiny home. Your tiny house can be breathtaking in the winter. It will look simply gorgeous surrounded by different scenery, fall leaves, and snowy backdrops. But, it can face more stress and damage than a larger home, insulation, and cold can be a problem, and without the correct protection, you might find yourself facing a constant battle with dampness and mold, which can lead to damage and even health problems both now and in the future. So, before the weather turns, let’s take a look at ways to protect your tiny home ready for the winter. So that you can enjoy the coming seasons in comfort in your exceptionally cozy home.
Play to Your Homes Strengths
You can’t fill your tiny home with an extravagant log burning fire; you’ll face issues with storage and Christmas decorations. But, when it comes to winter, it has two great strengths. Firstly, it will always be cozy, which many much larger houses struggle to achieve even when filled with open fires and texture. Secondly, you can follow, or run from, the weather.
Most of us who live in tiny homes do it in a stationary fashion. We have a fixed address and own the land that our house resides on. Zoning laws and parking guidelines often mean that this is essential, and tiny house living isn’t the same as living as a traveler. But, that doesn’t mean that you can’t move. If you know there is a harsh weather spell coming up, and you are worried about your house, or your own comfort and safety, fit it into a trailer and move for a while.
Wherever you are, it’s a good idea to emphasize the coziness of your home. Add hot water bottles, thick woolen blankets and curtains, and anything else that makes you feel warm and relaxed.
Damp
Damp is a massive problem in the wintertime. Even larger homes with fantastic insulation can struggle. But, there are some things that you can do. You might have heard about sump pumps, and asked what is a sump pump, and if can it be used in a tiny home. It’s certainly worth looking at. You can also make sure that your window seals are efficient, that you open windows when the weather is milder to let some air circulate, and that you never keep wet or damp washing inside. If you are still finding that dampness is an issue, try using dollar store damp traps or a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air, you can also literally dry windows that are covered in condensation with a towel every morning when you wake up, so that the moisture isn’t sitting there all day, growing bacteria.
Plumping
Frozen pipes can cause significant problems. They can leave you without a water supply and even burst causing extensive damage to your home. The best thing that you can do is insulate them and make sure you run some water every day to keep things moving. If you are going to be leaving your home for an extended period, turn the water off and empty the pipes so that there’s no sitting water to freeze.
Roof Repair
As with any sized home, roof damage is a concern in the winter months. Your roof is facing harsh winds, snow, rain, and other inclement conditions. So, it’s essential that it goes into the winter months in the best possible condition. Get up there and take a look yourself or hire an expert if you’re not sure.
Insulation
Insulation is a massive problem in tiny homes. You don’t have the option to have a cavity wall and loft insulation, and your walls are relatively thin, leaving you exposed. Firstly, look at the little things. Check window and door seals make sure you are using thick curtains and that you close them as soon as the sun goes down. Face your home so that your main windows get as much sunlight as possible during the day and make some draught excluders for your door.
When it comes to the outside of your home, many tiny house owners find that wrapping hay bales in large plastic bags (to protect the hay) and surrounding their house in them works very well. You might find the sound of rain splashes on the plastic annoying, but you’ll soon get used to it.
Appliances
You might also have power issues, and trouble running your appliances in the wintertime. Your solar panels might not be able to generate enough power on shorter days, with not much sunlight. So, you may want to buy a backup gas generator so that you’re not stuck.
Try to get appliances for your tiny home that heat themselves to prevent freezing when it’s cold. You can also add a propane heat blanket to your tank, to ensure the right amount of propane is used over the wintertime when your propane-run appliances will need some extra help. Just do plenty of research when buying new appliances, some things aren’t built for cold weather operation. At the very least you want a water heater with anti-freeze protection.
Don’t Let It Get Cold
This might sound obvious, but, it’s much easier to keep something warm than it is to keep reheating from a freezing temperature. So, try to maintain a comfortable heat. This will prevent freezing, keep you comfortable, and protect your home from damage.