Winter is a cold and inhospitable time of year. You can stay in your house all day or you can brave the elements to go outside, but either way, it’s going to be tough on the body. A lot of people have off-grid heating systems because they don’t want to pay for electricity during the winter months when their usage is at its peak.
Off-grid winter heating can be a good way to save money and it’s often the only option for off-the-grid homes. However, we will discuss other options that may help you deal with off-grid living during colder weather conditions as well.
In this article, we will discuss off-grid winter heating systems and how they work!
Air-to-Water Radiant Heat
Air-to-water radiant heat works by heating the air in your home with hot water. This is accomplished through a system of pumps and radiators which are placed throughout the house. The pump pulls cold water from outside or another source, heats it up using propane, electricity, fuel cells, or other energy sources. It then pumps the hot water out to a series of radiators that warm up your home. This system is great because it can also heat showers and sinks with cold winter off-grid water supplies!
Air-to-Air Radiant Heat
Air-to-air radiant heat works by heating air in your home with hot air. This is accomplished through a system of fans and vents which are placed throughout the house or building that you wish to heat off-grid. The fan pulls cold outside off-grid air into the vent where it passes over an electric heater (or off-grid heater like a wood stove) and then the air is released through vents throughout your home. This system works great because it can also supply off-grid AC in the summer months!
Off-Grid Furnaces
Furnaces work by burning fuel in order to produce energy that heats the air inside your home. There are several furnace systems to choose from, with off-grid furnaces being one of the most common. There are benefits and drawbacks to each off-grid heating system that you should be aware of before making a final decision on your off-grid winter heating plan!
Electric Off Grid Heating
For those who want cheap off-grid winter heating, off-grid electric heaters are a good option. Off-grid electric heat uses electricity to produce off-grid heat in your home which is then circulated throughout the building with fans and vents. Electric off-grid furnaces can be used in place of standard off-grid furnaces or they can be used on their own as space heaters for off-grid rooms.
Off-Grid Wood Stoves
For off-grid homes with a lot of trees, wood stoves are a great option for heating your home. Wood stoves have been around for ages and they work by burning firewood to produce heat in the form of hot air that is circulated throughout the house. Wood stoves can be used in place of furnaces or they can be used to heat off-grid rooms as a space heater.
Solar Heating
Solar heating is a great option if you want to off-grid heat your entire home or business without using propane, diesel fuel, or electricity! Off-grid solar homes use off-grid energy from the sun to provide off-grid heating through passive and active systems. Passive off-grid heating works by using off-grid solar heat to warm air in the home which is then circulated throughout your house. Active off-grid heating uses off-grid pumps and fans to circulate heated air throughout the building, just like with electric furnaces!
Off-Grid Water Heating
If you don’t want to mess around with off-grid furnaces and off-grid electric heaters, you might want to consider water heating. Off-grid water heating works by using energy sources like propane or diesel fuel to power appliances that can provide hot showers for off-grid homes!
Off-Grid Heating Systems
When it comes to off-grid heating, there are a lot of off-grid options available! There are off-grid air-to-water radiant heat, off-grid furnaces, and water heating systems. Each system has its own benefits and drawbacks which you should be aware of before choosing a winter heating plan for your cabin.
Off-Grid Air Heating
If you have off-grid solar energy, off-grid wind power, or off-grid hydroelectricity, then off-grid air heating might be a great choice for your home. Air heaters work by producing hot water which is pumped into a radiator system that off-grid heats your home or business!
Solar Window Boxes
Solar window boxes are solar heating systems that work by using off-grid energy from the sun to heat off-grid air in your home or business. Off-grid hot air is then circulated throughout your building with fans which creates a comfortable temperature all winter long!
Masonry Heaters
Masonry off-grid heaters are furnaces that work by burning off-grid wood or off-grid propane to create off-grid energy which heats your home. The fire sits in an insulated masonry unit like a traditional fireplace, however, the advantage of using a masonry heater over just having a regular fireplace is that off-grid heat can be released into your off-grid home or business all day long!
Corn Stoves
Corn stoves are furnaces that work by burning off-grid corn to produce off-grid energy and heat inside your off-grid home. Corn off-grid stoves can be run on either propane or electricity, making them an ideal option for those who want cheap off-grid winter heating!
FAQ
What is the Most Efficient Way to Heat a Cabin?
The most efficient off-grid way to heat a cabin is by using electric heating or off-grid propane heating. Off-grid electric furnaces work by circulating off-grid hot air throughout the building with fans, just like standard off-grid central furnaces!
How Can I Keep My House Warm In Winter Without Electricity?
Off-grid water heating is a great way to keep your off-grid home warm without electricity! Off-grid water heaters work by using off-grid energy from the sun, off-grid wind power, or hydroelectricity to create hot water which can then be used for hot showers and dishwashing off-grid!
How Efficient is Solar Heating?
Solar heating is a great off-grid option that can provide up to 80% heat for most off-grid homes!