How to Mitigate Moisture Issues in a Tiny Home

All houses deal with temperature fluctuations throughout the day and each passing season as temperatures rise and fall. Tiny houses are no exception and although they are built like a house on a foundation and far more insulated than recreational vehicles or van/bus conversions, they still face their own challenges as the cold sets in for winter. 

Subfloor

Let’s begin from the bottom up. A tiny house on wheels (THOW) is the distinguishing factor from a little house on a foundation and needs to be addressed accordingly when the tiny house is built. This also goes for van or bus conversions since they all have a steel subfloor frame/chassis.

Often the floor of these tiny homes is the coldest part of the building, and a great deal of heat can be lost through the subfloor. It also means cold toes, which isn’t the most comfortable.

A tiny house that is secured to a trailer sits up off the ground and therefore cannot benefit from the thermal mass of the ground itself. The space under the trailer can range roughly from about 15”-24” inches depending on the style of trailer and can be higher if it’s lifted off the wheels and axles. This creates a cold exposed space under the home where the house connects to the steel beams of the trailer. Metal is a fantastic conductor of temperature and therefore moves that cold temperature right into the floor and up the walls of the tiny home.

In the planning and building stage it’s important to address that temperature transfer (thermal bridging) through the subfloor by building the home up off the steel with wood and insulation. The steel wheel wells must also be insulated significantly as they project into the living space of the home. It can be challenging with tiny houses because they must adhere to height restrictions, so we do the best we can. Tiny houses without lofts can build this way more effectively because they aren’t significantly inconvenienced by eliminating interior headspace. 

Additionally, applying an insulative skirt around the tiny house trailer and up partially to cover where the walls meet the trailer can make a huge difference. This is because it keeps cold air and wind from entering the area below the tiny house, and helps to maintain a slightly warmer temperature underneath at all times. 

If the tiny home is in a cold climate and the potential for thermal bridging isn’t addressed in the design phase of the build, then slippers will be your favorite item of warmth. And, unfortunately your home may suffer from excessive condensation inside where humidity laden air is drawn to collect on cold surfaces. 

Windows and Doors 

Make sure that the seals on windows and doors are fully intact, which will insure that they don’t leak air and moisture into the home. This can be a main factor for condensation on the inside when it’s cold outside. Often these seals can be easy to replace before the temperature drops.

However, building an airtight house in the first place will reduce areas where air and moisture can come in and out without your permission. These places of air penetration are also non-filtered and can be bad for our health if it carries dust mites, mold spores, or other allergens with it. 

Condensation 

We cook, bathe, and breath inside a tiny space and a great deal of moisture is produced. When this moisture has nowhere to escape, it collects on the cold surfaces within the home. These are typically on the windows and doors, on the floor, or in cabinets and under built-in furniture where air flow and heat has trouble reaching. Once the moisture condenses, it will be absorbed by whatever will take it on. If it doesn’t have the opportunity to dry out then it will begin to grow mildew and mold. 

Yes, reducing interior levels of humidity is helpful but condensation at some level is basically inevitable in a tiny home and should not be a surprise as you see it creep throughout your house in your first winter. 

Addressing moisture management during the building stage is ideal, and installing a heat recovery ventilation unit can help to refresh and filter the air. Adding a dehumidifier preemptively can make a huge difference along with a humidity sensor that will keep you in the know of where your humidity levels are at.

What to Do if I have Excessive Moisture Now? 

If you are currently experience severe moisture issues like the homes in the pictures below, then get a dehumidifier asap, address your ventilation and alter accordingly, create airflow in storage areas, skirt your home with something insulative like straw bales in a dry climate or wood/mineral wool boards, use loose bowls of silica around your house that will absorb moisture and can be dried out and reused, clean mold/mildew with warm soapy water and then add vinegar to prevent future growth.

Each winter I offer consulting to help combat these moisture issue in tiny houses all over. If you would like to set up a time to chat please reach out because there are ways to keep you and your home healthy throughout each passing year. 

Written by Isabelle Nagel-Brice, founder of A Tiny Good Thing and a Sustainable Homes Professional