Every house has to be maintained, no matter the size. Whether you’re already a tiny house dweller or you’re just beginning to make plans, here are some important tiny house maintenance considerations.
If your home is not properly leveled, it can affect the functionality of your doors, windows, cabinetry, and drainage. Points to level the house include the hitch, the front and back steel channels of the trailer, and the side steel channels of the trailer.
We can provide swivel jacks for short-term stability and leveling at the corners of your home.
For long-term positioning and leveling, add higher-rated jacks or supports under various points of the tiny house frame.
Avoid using scissor jacks and putting jacks or supports under the axles.
For more permanent situating use concrete blocks, piers, or othering anchoring.
Consider hiring a professional contractor to assist you with preparation.
It’s important to keep leaves, debris, and snow off the roof of your house to preserve the life and color finish of the roof and to prevent the collection of water and leaking.
When climbing on your metal roof, step where you can see fasteners.
Instead of overhangs for protection, your tiny home has extra caulking on the siding and trims.
About once a year, inspect your home (especially above windows and doors) for caulk cracking/separating.
We recommend SherMax and Sherwin Williams caulking products.
We recommend treating the natural wood accents of your home exterior annually.
In a tiny house, humidity tends to be on the high side which can lead to mold growth or pests. As a homeowner, it is important to understand what circumstances cause condensation in your home and how to prevent it.
Monitor the humidity in your tiny home: optimal humidity ranges are 45% to 55%.
Run your mini split consistently so it’s dehumidifying capabilities are optimized.
Run vent fans generously during activities that cause additional humidity, like showering, cooking, and cleaning.
Put space between your furniture and walls to promote airflow. Invest in a dehumidifier.
Educate yourself on what causes condensation in a home, and regularly monitor those areas.
Appliances, whether electric or gas, can become hazardous if not functioning properly. Understanding the necessary maintenance for your electric appliances, wood stoves, and propane appliances is essential.
Read the instruction manuals for proper cleaning and care.
Register your appliances with the manufacturer to take advantage of warranty terms.
Do not wait to address repairs if you notice an appliance is not functioning properly.
We recommend partnering with a licensed HVAC technician to perform maintenance on your mini split at least twice a year on the following:
Cleaning/replacing mesh filters and air quality filtration components.
Examining evaporator coils and removing any debris.
Inspecting and cleaning the drain pan.
Verifying the blower and fan wheel are in balance.
Inspecting the insulated tubing at the condenser for defects and wear-and-tear.
Ensuring the integrity of connection points.
In addition to expected winter freeze considerations, like letting your faucets drip and having a backup heat source, we recommend a few other precautions for your tiny home.
In colder climates, tiny houses should be skirted to protect utilities under the house from freezing and to increase heat efficiency.
Be sure any water lines up to the house are buried below the frost line.
Consider adding a splicing connection to your outdoor hoses to drip the lines leading up to the house, and wrap the lines in heat tape.
Keep your tiny home climate controlled year round if possible. If not, use the drain points under your home to empty the p-traps. Note: This does not empty all the water from your pipes.
In some climates, you will need to use the same winterization protocols as other recreational vehicles.
In tiny homes, a significant portion of wall space accommodates wires or plumbing. We strategically place nail plates to prevent any inadvertent penetration by nails or screws. That being said, we recommend using small tacks and nails for interior decorating.
If you want to secure longer nails or bolts in the wall, we can provide pictures or videos of the uncovered walls and show you where all the wires and plumbing are located.
Take a look at some of our living tiny articles and resources as you plan your upcoming project. We think you’ll find some helpful and interesting information to guide your decision making process.
Dig a little deeper with a look at some frequently asked questions about Wind River builds. Don’t see an answer to your question? Just get in touch with our team. We’d love to chat.
.png){kind=icon}
