Part 1 – All About Tiny House Plumbing – How Does the Plumbing System Work?

Many potential tiny homeowners worry about tiny house plumbing even before making a purchase. While traditional homes have permanent water access, when choosing a tiny house on wheels, there’s no assurance that you will always find a water source wherever you go. While many talk about building a tiny home on wheels and lightweight sourcing materials, discussing the plumbing system and how to get water in and out of the space is a neglected topic. You don’t need a trained plumber to do everything, as reputable builders can offer you several plumbing options that fit your lifestyle. You can now connect with established tiny home builders via TinyHouseMe to get a faster response. 

 

Getting Water Inside the Tiny Home Bathroom

The Pump and Tank System 

The most practical decision will be to put a tank inside the house and get a pump to pressurize and circulate the water. This is an ideal option as it provides the functionality of a traditional house with a shower and offers freedom of living in a tiny house. However, the downsides are few and bearable. The pumps become noisy while in use, and the tanks require more space than you anticipate. Still, you can decide on the tank size before the purchase, but keep in mind that a larger tank will store more water, and you won’t have to fill it back again and again. On the other hand, the larger the tank, the heavier the load, and more space is necessary inside the van. 

Nevertheless, you can handle having a large tank inside the tiny dwelling because a well-reputed builder can offer plenty of ways to camouflage the tank for aesthetics. For example, the tank can be hidden beneath the kitchen cabinets. The only concern about having a tank is that you need to fill it with water. Either haul the water in jugs and pour the liquid inside the tank or use a hose via an external fill port and get the tank filled. Unfortunately, the tank doesn’t hold much water for flushing the toilet, which brings us to the next alternative. 

Hooking up system for getting the water inside

The tiny house movement is not new, and now it’s trending all over the US. There are a lot of tiny house campsites where you will have access to water. You can hook your tiny home to a regular water source and get the tank filled. The hookup choice is great as you get a constant source of water supply, but for this, you need to install a plumbing system inside the tiny house. 

Go Hybrid – The best of both the worlds

You can use the conventional hookup when installing the tiny home and have a water supply as you go off-grid – but that’s only for a while. However, you can also install a proper plumbing system and accept city water, and have the pump and tank system attached to the tiny structure. The second option of having a plumbing system with a tank and pump can prepare you for all eventualities and gives you immense freedom and flexibility. If you are on the road and enjoying the trip on the tiny home on wheels, you can plug in and not worry about water. However, having a plumbing system involves a lot of work; the tank will take up your space, and the pump noise will create a racket – but it’s all worth it. The hybrid system is a good tradeoff if you seek complete flexibility. 

Tiny House Drainage System

There are different kinds of water that you need to remove from your tiny house. One is the black water, the waste from the toilet, and the other is the grey water which is the waste from showers, sinks, and the washing machine. Storing the black water in a mobile home is challenging because of the weight restrictions, and that’s why using a composting toilet is highly recommended. Having a composting toilet does make a lot of difference while living off-grid. However, the grey water is the waste that hasn’t come in contact with the feces, and here are a few ways to drain them out from the tiny house. 

The Grey Water Catchment 

The grey water should never be released in lakes or other water bodies as it might pollute them. Nevertheless, you can drain grey water into the ground as plants and trees can filter it and use it as a fertilizer. It’s very simple to drain the grey water, but there are a few things to know. Firstly, removing grey water is not always legal, and there are different systems you should use for its dispersal. The tiny home builders will be able to guide you on this subject. Connect via TinyHouseMe for priority service and get to know things in more detail. 

Collect and Dump

You can get rid of both grey and black water at dump stations. Many RVs use this system and frequently visit the dump station to offload the wastewater. The only concern is that holding so much water inside the tiny home might increase the load on the trailer. 

 

Final Words

While learning how to get the water in and out of the tiny house is important, you should also consider the climatic conditions and how to prevent water from freezing in cold climates or heat the water before use. These topics are for some other day (or sooner, if you get connected with the tiny home builders via TinyHouseMe). For now, get to know the different approaches to getting water in and out of your tiny house on wheels and choose the option that works best for you!

Making Most of Your Tiny House on Wheels With Limited Storage Space

The tiny home lifestyle coincided with the minimalistic movement. Although tiny house on wheels is extremely popular, every homeowner will advise you to cut back on the belongings. Going tiny means you reduce your home to less than 400sq ft, but downsizing the square footage should not mean minimizing your lifestyle. Netflix shows like Tiny House Nation and YouTube channels like Living Big in a Tiny House, with over 4.34 million subscribers, emphasize the versatility of tiny living. These days, tiny homes arrive customized, and you are not supposed to lead a cramped-up life with limited space. Instead of getting rid of all your stuff and moving into a tiny home, consider making maximum use of the storage space. 

Under Stairs Storage 

A customized tiny house with a staircase can perform double duty when you start using them as drawers. The tiny home stairs with storage drawers can create room for outdoor gear, clothes, kids’ toys, and more. You can also add cubbies or cabinet doors for utilizing the space as a drop zone for shoes and coats. Add an extra closet for the kitchen pantry or a seasonable wardrobe. With smart design and some effort, you can make the tiny homes more spacious and utilize them to your benefit. 

Customize and design your hidden storage 

The tiny home organization works best with hidden storage. You can put your DIY skillset to the test by choosing under-floor storage systems. Introduce drawers into the sides of raised wooden flooring to make access to clothes, shoes, and other commodities easier. You can utilize the floor hatch to hide lesser-used items like renovation tools, camping equipment, and extra bedding. Removable lids on the hidden storage boxes ensure that the valuables are protected yet accessible. Behind the kitchen backsplash, installing the hidden kitchen storage is also a creative choice for stockpiling the necessary items. Double hidden drawers and mirrors providing concealed bathroom storage systems are exciting ideas you shouldn’t miss. Many Americans prepare hidden storage systems and choose to repurpose vintage suitcases and use them as coffee table storage. Otherwise, use a hollow home décor to get additional hidden living room storage space. Hideaway storage choices are mostly customized and require reputable builders to do the job perfectly. 

Avoid visual overcrowding – Maximize storage space 

Staggering shelves on the wall in tiered layers gives structure to the décor, and proper arrangement can avoid overcrowding. The shelve tops aren’t the only places to store items. You can get more space for storage with hooks or by fastening the jar lids at the bottom of the shelving. The undershelf hooks in your entryway offer stockpiling of hats, keys, pet leashes, and more. Undershelf storage is excellent for storing loose papers and books below the desk or arranging the medicine cabinet. Undershelf storage is ideal for bathroom storage to stock extra toiletries and towels for the guests. 

Create under-seating storage 

If you require more hidden storage in your tiny house, then get seats with in-built drawers and cubbies. This unique space organization idea keeps the living room looking tidy while keeping all items close-by. At TinyHouseMe, reputable builders offer budget-friendly storage ideas and DIY benches for tiny home dwellings. Book an appointment with the experts to gain insight into these small storage strategies that can help big time. 

Store items under the bed 

Did you know a bed frame with in-built storage or a lift bed can instantly provide the tiny house with more storage space? A lift bed is ideal for storing pants, blankets, sweaters, and warm clothing during summer. On the other hand, a bed frame with in-built storage can have a shoe case or books. The builders at TinyHouseMe suggest installing a loft bed. This solution can save floor space for daily activities and give you the space to add a sofa or a small desk underneath. 

Utilize the small closets to the maximum 

If the tiny house on wheels has small closets with minimal space. Why not try an open wardrobe? A hanging rack and a few storage cubbies inside the living room or bedroom are excellent closet ideas. Tiered hangers are a neat way to organize the closet space and display all your outfits. This idea doesn’t only increase storage space but offers a perfect minimalist bedroom design. 

Final Thoughts 

If you picture a tiny house on wheels as a cramped space, then it’s not true. Check out the featured products at TinyHouseMe, as we offer a beautiful space with a large living room, an extensive loft fitting the king-sized bed, a bathroom, a workstation, and tons of clever storage hacks. Connect with the builders today and get multiple quotes under one platform. 

Some Vital Things to Know About Tiny House Insurance

The concept of tiny house dwellings has been gaining massive popularity in the US, especially in North America, for all the good reasons. These miniature houses are perfect since they offer customizable and budget-friendly living. According to a survey in the late 2020s, Americans agreed to live in tiny houses. They believe the market will escalate by $5.80 billion between 2020 and 2024.

 

Besides popular television shows like Tiny House Nation and Tiny House, Big Living promoted scaling down your lifestyle. Smaller homes mean financial freedom from mortgages and rent.

However, if you are investing in them, it is compulsory to insure your tiny house on wheels. After all, it is impossible to anticipate what might happen. Hurricanes, break-ins, or physical damages can damage your house, and insurance can cover the damage.

Looking for tiny house on wheels insurance is similar to finding regular home insurance. However, it is imperative to know the differences. Below are a few vital things to know about tiny house insurance.

 

Cost of tiny house insurance

Tiny house insurance doesn’t have any set price. However, certain aspects need to be considered.

  •       The size, value, and construction of your tiny house on wheels
  •       Zoning regulations, as well as the building codes of the area where your tiny house is located
  •       The purpose of your tiny house purchase also decides the insurance cost
  •       Credit and claims history is also important

Is it compulsory to get tiny house insurance?

The up-front cost of tiny houses depends on the size, amenities, and finishes. Whether you build on your own or buy a readymade house, you have to pay around a few thousand to $70,000.

Like you insure your car, tiny homes need insurance to cover the physical damages. Moreover, if you transport your tiny house on wheels, you will need liability insurance like RVs.

RV Insurance

Tiny houses on wheels are bought to move freely. If your house has permanent wheels and doesn’t need trailers for moving, you might not get any home insurance. For that, you will need to buy RV insurance. The average annual rate of the tiny house on wheels’ insurance costs around $390. However, you might face certain rules, like maintaining the current RVIA seal from any certified builder. If you buy an RVIA certified tiny house, you will easily get financing from a wide list of lenders and credit unions. Thus, you pay less for your mobile house.

https://www.quickenloans.com/learn/insurance-for-tiny-homes#x3

Also, your house should be not more than 400 square feet. If you want to travel to America’s National Park with your mobile house in the US, you will need an RVIA Seal to enter.

Purchasing this insurance will protect your mobile house while it is on the move. However, you need to ensure that your tiny house meets the legal requirements to tow. Insurers, at times, cover those houses coming from a particular manufacturer.

Named Peril Policy

You can also avail of this option for your tiny house on wheels insurance policy. It is inexpensive compared to other policies as it covers only specific policies mentioned in the policy.

It means if your house incurs any damage due to any peril, which is unlisted, the insurance provider won’t cover the damage. So although you might save money getting this policy, it might not give you peace. Hence, it is better to speak with a broker regarding this policy.

 

 

Insurance requirements

If you shift to a tiny house on wheels full-time, you will need a policy that serves this purpose. Work with an insurance provider who provides coverage for alternative living structures.

Also, contact an insurance provider before buying or building a tiny house. Then, with expert assistance, you will get an idea of when to buy or build these houses so that you don’t end up living in uninsurable properties.

Tiny house insurance is quite abundant nowadays. Depending on your zones, you will get insurance coverage for tiny houses in the US.