Practical help for your space

How Do You Choose a Mini Split for a Tiny Home?

A tiny home does not automatically need the smallest mini split. Windows, lofts, cooking, ventilation, sun, insulation, air leaks, and local weather can have a big effect in a compact space.Should you choose 9,000 or 12,000 BTU?Let a load calculation answer that for the finished home. Too little...

Compare 115V systemsPlan the power

A little advice for this kind of space

What usually matters most?

Choose the system around the finished home, then find a clean route for air, water, lines, power, and future service.

Windows, lofts, cooking, ventilation, direct sun, insulation, and air leaks can matter more than the small floor plan suggests. Use a load calculation instead of assuming the smallest model will fit.

Place the indoor unit where air can move through the home. Plan a sloped drain, a protected line route, outdoor clearance, electrical space, and enough access to clean and service the equipment.

One important reminder

Use these guides to ask better questions and narrow your choices. A heating and cooling load calculation still determines the capacity.

Before you order, have the final equipment, electrical work, mounting, drainage, and power plan checked for your site.

Where should you start?

View Mini Splits for Tiny Homes

Before you fall in love with a model

What should you work out first?

These four questions will save you from comparing systems that do not fit the space, route, or power you actually have.

  1. How much heating and cooling does the space need?A proper load calculation looks at the weather, insulation, windows, air leaks, people, and equipment so you do not choose the wrong size.
  2. What does this mini split need?Check its operating temperature range, circuit, dimensions, clearances, and installation instructions.
  3. Can your power source support it?Look at the circuit, inverter, batteries, generator, solar charging, other loads, and extra power kept available together.
  4. Where will everything go?Plan both units, airflow, drainage, the line-set route, service access, permits, and any professional help you need.