First off, thank you for this opportunity as guest article-author on your blog, and and additional thanks to yourself, and the others out there (Janzen, Kahn, Stiles, Pino, etc) who have been very helpful and supportive of what I’m doing (in regards to my 100% independent tiny housing book, and video/tv show).

As for the “Tiny Yellow House” series on youtube, the vegetable oil space heater (woodstove alternative) that was briefly shown in Episode #2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmR3kx660gw is something that I understand you (as well as I) have gotten a ton of email questions on.

All in all, since its rather difficult to just blurt out every constructive detail of the heater, I’ve sent you a hand sketched diagram of it instead, that was drawn as part of my follow-up to the book “Humble Homes, Simple Shacks…” which I’m still working on as we speak…er…as I type. The sketch, albeit busy and detail laden, should help give people the general idea I came up with, and I’m sure there ultimately will be twenty better ways to build this thing. All in all, while using a multi-wick system (more flames = more heat), this veggie-oil heater gives off a rather decent amount of heat that should be adequate for well-sealed tiny cabins, or should at least prolong your season or stay in a cabin, depending on your climate, naturally.

As for a few other bulleted points on the heater….(in case there’s a lack of clarity in the drawings)

• It works on candle-theory heating, and is simpler than it seems (its not a drip-feed method (into a combustion chamber)).
• The heat reflector behind the unit is an old busted Sabian 18″ crash cymbal (one of many casualties from my drumming hobby/career)
• Since with the “Gypsy Junker” cabin, we were dealing with such a small airspace, instead of sucking up and utilizing all the cabin’s interior air for combustion/burning in the heater (its wicks), I cemented an outside air feed (two runs of copper tubing I had laying around) into the base of the heater. These tubes give the heater an air feed from directly outside, instead of wasting the interior’s already heated air. The cabin is probably drafty enough where it really wasn’t necessary, but it wasn’t much extra work, so I opted for the external air feed set-up.
• The front of the heater shown in the show, is actually its external shell, that spins around the heater (by a long-bolt handle) to reveal the cut opening in the heater’s main coffee-can body (the jumbo, caffeine-addict, large cans). By this opening, you can refill the heater with oil, when need be.
• For safety’s sake, I’ve also planned on installing a removeable fence/guard that snaps in place next to the heater, dividing it from the sleep platform area. The last thing you want to wake up to is the smell of roasted sleeping bag. Zero fun. Ok, second to last thing, as the smell of human flesh (yours) might take the cake. So, if building this thing, be cautious (Carbon Monoxide detectors and the whole nine yards…). Construct at your own risk! You’re dancin’ with fire, afterall.
• In the drawings, it was tough to illustrate, but when you make the vertical cuts for the stove opening, you actually do not cut the newly created flap/tab out (no horizontal cut), but instead fold this “tab” upwards to serve as a heat-radiating and absorbing “strike plate”. This way, instead of the wick’s heat being lost immediately up the flue, you’ve placed an steel obstacle in its way, harnessing and holding some of the heat you would have otherwise lost.
• With the fuel-can/wick holder (a low-cut coffee can), you can use anything you have on hand, as long as its low and gives you a large surface area for the oil, otherwise the oil burns down too rapidly, and wastes your wicks quickly. You’ll see what I mean through a little trial and error…

Anyway, you know that scene in “Raiders Of The Lost Ark” where the one villian opens the Ark of The Covenant, only to have his face melted away by its contents? Well, don’t expect that kind of heat, but by this method (and again, perhaps with some more experienced tweaking), this lil’ heater works half-decently. Its also made out of recycled junk, so you can’t beat the price!

I hope my keyboard yammerin’ helped at least a little.

Anything else that I’ve left out or forgotten, your readers can feel free to email me at kidcedar@gmail.com and I’ll gladly tell you what I know. ($2.99 the first minute, $0.99 each additional minute. Verbal Coupon Code: “Lady Cleo”). No seriosly, feel free to email and I’d be glad to try and help as best as I can.

Also, to anyone who wants to pick up my book, I’ll include some hardcopy plans of the stove, as well as some other diagrams/details, etc- that I wasn’t planning on releasing until book #2- as a thanks for supporting independent, broke, authors (in this case: me). I also am doing a few appearances down the road. As part of the CT Author’s Trail Summer Series (I’m originally a CT resident and still skulk around the state rather frequently) I was just invited down to speak at the Sprague, CT Public Library on July 29th (for anyone out in CT), and I’ve been invited to speak at a few colleges (NY, MA, and VT) and other events in the fall as well, on which I’ll keep you posted.

THINK: “Gallagher-meets-a Tiny House Seminar!” Bring a poncho!
Kidding…

Oh yeah, my retro-released kid’s book is up on my site too (with a cameo of my hokey VT cabin).
Kent, again, thanks for all, and thanks to the reader’s who took an interest in my little homebaker tiny-house videos.

Derek “Deek” Diedricksen
Author of “Humble Homes, Simple Shacks, Cozy Cottages…”
http://www.relaxshacks.com
http://www.whoFORTed.com
Host of “Tiny Yellow House” TV (in late May we shoot an interview with Jay Shafer of The Tiny Tumbleweed House Company, as well as a few other noteworthy subjects, so keep your eyes peeled).

The other day I showed you Mike’s Micro House which he has been building for under $3,000.

Mike is also quite an inventor and is interested in solar and wind energy. He has created a simple hot water heater that I think would be useful for a tiny house or a large home. I asked Mike to share the details on how he creates his solar hot water heater.

Solar water heater. Sun during the day preheats the water in a 30 gallon water tank, prior to it being sent into the on demand water heater inside the house. This solar heater has preheated the water up to over 100F more than once when the outdoor temp was in the 30F range.

This simple setup works great, and is pretty much maintenance free. Just keep the glass clean, and you are good to go. If it starts to warm the water to hot during the summer months, just cover a portion of the solar window, to lower the sunlight bombardment into the solar chamber.

The solar water heater is simply a standard water heater (preferably one that was electric not gas powered).

Here’s what you do:

1. Peel off the outer sheetmetal skin of the water heater, and cut off the foam insulation in order to get to the internal steel tank.
2. Remove the electric heating element if needed and replace with a simple pipe plug fitting if the original element was bad, causing a leak.. Otherwise do nothing but remove all the electrical wiring to the element and the thermostat controls.
3. Verify that the overtemp/pressure valve operates and looks to be in good condition, otherwise replace it, so you have a safety feature if the pressure were to build up to high from the heated water.
4. Paint the water tank, “Flat Black” in order to help it absorb more of the sun’s energy.
5. Build an insulated enclosure that the water tank can fit into, with a window on top at roughly a 45degree angle.
6. Place the tank in the enclosure so that the southern sun exposure will shine directly onto the water tank inside.
7. Plumb the cold water going to your existing home’s water heater to the input of the solar water heater, and the output of the solar water heater to the original cold water input of the original home water heater.

Now when the sun preheats the water in the solar water heater, it will be feed into your home’s existing water heater as hot water, therefore your now backup water heater should not work nearly as hard to provide hot water for your home.

To view more of Mikes inventions check out his flickr site here.

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The Kandle Heeter Candle Holder, is a steel and ceramic radiator assembly that sits above the candle and converts the thermal energy of the candle into dry radiant space heat — very effective in small insulated space.

The heater is also available in a very low wattage electric version using either a 50 watt infrared lamp or a 60 watt quartz halogen. Visit the Kandle Heeter site and learn more.

Kandle Heeter Cutout

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Your in the process of designing your tiny house and one of the issues you must decide is how to heat your small space. “Normal” central heat or wood stoves, etc. just produce to much heat for your small space. So what are some of your options? Following are some ideas for using wood, gas, propane and electric heat.

Wood

The original Very Small Woodstove is the Jotul 602, from Norway. This model is a mere 12 inches wide, 19 inches deep. They are found most often in cottages and cabins in the woods, where the 602′s good looks are a highlight. It’s been around almost forever. Although very small it can heat amazingly well.

Jotul 602

12 x 19
$700
Available from Jotul

The tiniest very small woodstoves are those built for boats. These are designed for very tight quarters, and often have a railing on the top to keep pots from rolling off. Here is a typical one from the Canadian coast measuring all of 12 inches by 12 inches. They are made of cast iron and porcelain and are so cute and enchanting, folks have thought of getting a sailboat just so they need one. You can use one in your tiny house just as easily.

Sardine

12 x 12
$650
Available from Marine Stove

Gas/Propane

Propane is also popular in tiny houses and Jay Shafer of Tumbleweed Tiny House fame uses the Newport Propane Fireplace. This lovely little heater/fireplace. Ideal for boats up to 30/32 ft. The combustion process is completely isolated from the inside of the boat by the unique, direct vent design. A built-in blower provides good heat circulation. Heater is sold with all accessories including a stainless steel backing plate and 28″ of flexible, double stainless chimney. Safe, easy to use and extremely economical.

Newport Propane Fireplace (P9000)

17 x 9
$1044
Available from Dickson Marine

Gas is also an option and Woodstock Soapstone Company has the perfect little stove for tiny spaces called the Cottage Mini Soapstone Gas Stove.

It’s 8,000 BTU heat output is perfect for a cozy, intimate area
It takes up little space (it can be installed on a stand or wall- mounted shelf)
It’s a handsome design
The Mini Franklin will bring warmth, grace, and style to any room setting. Its small fire will add ambiance and though it is just 17″ tall, it will produce almost 8,000 BTU/hr!

Cottage Mini

17 x 14
$1049
Available from Woodstock Soapstone Company

Electric

There are many small electric heaters that will work extremely well in your tiny house. Following are a couple examples available at your local Walmart. Electric heaters cost much less than the above wood stoves and propane or gas stoves. If electricity is easily available this might be your most affordable option.

OIL- FILLED RADIATOR
De’Longhi EW0715W Safeheat Oil-Filled Radiator features Patented Easy Snap Wheels, Adjustable Thermostat and Three Heat Settings

$39.87
Available from Walmart

Titan Ceramic Heater with Thermostat #TCM16W-U
Compact yet powerful, this ceramic heater sports a thermostat that lets you choose how much heat you want.

$18.44
Available from Walmart

Toe Kick Heater

Qmark QTS1500T Electric Kickspace Heater (120 Volts)

$156

A toe-space heater will fit where no other heater will. It can be recessed into toe space areas under kitchen or utility room cabinets or into the soffit area above them. 

It can also be recessed into the risers of a stairway or under the vanity in the bathroom. It is convenient for checkout counters, ticket or toll booths and many other places where no other heater seems to fit. 

Hopefully this has been helpful in giving you some new ideas on how to heat your new tiny space.