Thermal comfort in TH in winter

November 29, 2023

Resting in nature in a small wooden house we intuitively associate with the warm months of the year. And yet the need to relax and spend time away from the hustle and bustle of the city is present in us constantly. Thanks to it, we take care of our well-being and peace of mind. In winter, when the days are colder and darkness falls after working hours, we need frequent "battery recharging" even more. A weekend at a small house, among colorful leaves in the woods or on a hill covered with white powder can be our time to seek balance and energy for the week ahead.

The colder months are, of course, more demanding in terms of maintaining thermal comfort inside a house on wheels. REDUKT houses, however, are designed for year-round use. Learn about our ways to maintain year-round thermal comfort in houses on wheels.

Thermal insulation

The basic form of thermal insulation is provided at the construction stage of the house. In our houses we have opted for diffusion-open, "breathable" walls. We fill the walls with wood fiber, mineral wool or sheep wool. These types of insulators prevent the accumulation of moisture inside the house, creating a healthy and friendly microclimate for the residents.

Thermal comfort in REDUKT tiny houses in winter, insulation of the house — Photo: REDUKT

Double glazing

Thermal comfort in the colder months of the year is ensured not only by good wall and roof insulation. A major role is also played by double-glazed windows and doors, which, despite their relatively large surface area, protect the interior from cooling. And at the same time they make it possible to admire winter paintings on glass.

Heating

Depending on the customer's preferences and needs, houses can be equipped with the following forms of interior heating:

- IR (infra-red) heating foils in the floor,

- electric or gas heaters,

- air conditioner with heating function,

- wood burning stove.

Thermal comfort in REDUKT tiny houses in winter — Photo: REDUKT

The foils and air conditioning can be controlled remotely via WIFI. This makes it possible, among other things, to heat up in the house before arrival or to ensure constant comfort by automatically turning on the heating at a set temperature.

An addition to the houses’ interiors that gives them a cozy character is a wood stove. It is a source of heat that takes care of the comfort of body and spirit in the colder evenings and warms up the atmosphere inside the house, even when the wind is blowing outside. Nothing soothes the senses better than the sight of a cheerful living flame in the stove... :)

When designing REDUKT houses, we take special care of the well-being of those using them both as permanent housing and as temporary residences. We want to make staying in them comfortable regardless of the season and weather.

Preparation for winter in TH

November 15, 2023

Winter comes with many challenges - tiny houses on wheels require special protection in the fall and winter season. Both off-grid houses and houses connected to the media on the plot should be equipped with systems that protect them against the negative effects of temperature drops. Prepare your house for winter early enough to avoid unpleasant consequences.

Here are the 5 most important steps:

1. Check the stove and the chimney

Before the first freeze of the season check the condition of the wood burning stove. Make sure that the chimney is clear of any buildup. A dirty chimney can be a fire hazard, so you might hire a sweep to ensure it’s clear. If necessary, also service the HVAC system (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning system). Replace the furnace filter or schedule a service appointment so that your heating system is ready to use before you need it.

Tips for preparation for winter in tiny houses — Photo: REDUKT

It is also a good idea to prepare a supply of wood, especially if the wood burning stove will be the main source of heat on cold, long evenings. Stoves in tiny houses might need small size logs. The sight of a live fire in the stove and the smell of wood will certainly create a cozy atmosphere so that you can enjoy the winter views outside the window with a cup of hot tea in your hand.

2. Clean the gutters

Gutters collect and carry away rainwater and melting snow away from the roof to prevent water from seeping in and causing damage. However, gutters can’t do this very important job when they’re clogged with dead leaves and other debris. So step up on a ladder and make sure your gutters are clear before the first snowfall.

3. Prepare snow removal tools

Before there is even a single flake in the forecast, make sure that all of your snow removal tools, including shovels and de-icing agents for downpipes, are ready to use. Having an anti-freezing installation in downpipes helps but still needs some care. Shovel your roof to reduce the burden of snow and ice and protect your gutters. This might be a small task on your winterizing list, but it’s an important one.

4. Be sure that the anti freezing water installation is turned on

REDUKT houses are equipped in anti-freezing water installation to protect water pipes, valves and a tank from damages. Heating cables in gutters are also an additional option. This is our “winter package”. The system turns on automatically when the temperature drops below the temperature set on the controller. Check if the system is connected to the network and if the appropriate activation temperature has been set.

Additionally, for houses that are not used in winter:

5. Drain the water from the water installation

If your house is used only as a summer residence and you won’t use it in winter, be sure to drain the water from the water installation before the temperature drops below zero. The excessive water pressure may exceed the pipes' structural capacity to withstand force, leading to a sudden burst.
If you have an off-grid house equipped with a water tank, empty it along with the entire installation.

Tips for preparation for winter in tiny houses, tech room and water instalation — Photo: REDUKT

The consequences of low temperatures if the house is not properly prepared before the winter season can cost a lot. Following the above steps will allow you to use your tiny house and enjoy the charms of winter, without having to worry about its condition during the cold period.

Discover our houses. REDUKT PURA part 2

October 18, 2023

When designing REDUKT tiny houses, we want to reinterpret housing itself and what a place to live is. We are considering how to reduce our impact on the environment and gently become part of it. We dream of being able to live in a place we have spontaneously come to love and find the balance of daily life there.

That's what a couple from Vienna was looking for as well when they ordered a REDUKT PURA mobile house from us.

wooden tiny house on a trailer REDUKT PURA, mobile year-round off-grid house — Photo: Emanuel Kaspar

Mobility is the key

Their plot of land in the south of Austria offers a beautiful view of the surrounding hills, but building a house on it would have been time-consuming and expensive. As the hosts are open to changes, they decided to buy a house on wheels where mobility is an additional advantage. This flexibility in choosing where to live opens up new opportunities and new window frames for the future.

Tiny house with off-grid package

The house had to be energy self-sufficient, leave the smallest possible carbon footprint and provide a healthy microclimate for the homeowners. Taking on the first challenge, we equipped it with a full off-grid package, including:

- a comprehensive Victron Energy solar power system with solar panels on the roof and an inverter, generating electricity that is stored in a battery,

- a 400-liter water tank with filters, providing bathroom and kitchen facilities,

- a dry composting toilet that does not need to be connected to the sewer system,

- a gas water heater, conveniently providing hot water for showering at any time of the day or night,

- wood stove - an extremely effective and at the same time sensual source of heat that warms you up on cold evenings.

The efficiency of the solar system allows the lighting installation in a typical 230V system, supportingly infrared heating floor foils for an extra comfort and a full-size under-counter refrigerator in the kitchen.

The PURA house was designed with a large technical room under the lowered mezzanine, where all technical devices are located, along with the sensors controlling them, acting as a cockpit but with autopilot on ;)

The house remains easy to operate, while providing its owners the comfort of staying all year round on the plot without access to any utilities.

Alternative housing

The second theme – healthy alternative construction – is embedded in the DNA of the REDUKT brand. Our houses are built using timber construction; here we filled the certified spruce timber frame with our favorite material – sheep wool. It is not only an effective insulator, but also breaks down pollutants and odors, dampens noise and regulates moisture by absorbing or releasing it, being a natural air conditioner. It is also 100% renewable and compostable.

Mobile tiny house on wheels REDUKT PURA — Photo: REDUKT

The house's interior walls are finished with poplar plywood and treated with hard oil wax based on renewable natural raw materials. They remain open diffusively, which allows the interior to "breathe".

The aesthetics of the interior are complemented by noble natural oak flooring and plywood furniture in contrasting colors, essential to the full functionality of the space we designed down to the last detail.

Interior of the house

PURA house always welcomes with:

- a spacious living area, open to the surrounding landscape through the glazings, where you can sit on fold-out corner sofa,

- a functional kitchenette,

- a bedroom on a mezzanine with a skylight window,

- a comfortable bathroom with a shower.

Our standard model also has a fold-out desk along with a side cabinet by the narrow, high window. The sliding ladder next to it provides convenient access to the mezzanine overlooking the stars.

In harmony with nature

The architecture of PURA house blended perfectly with the surrounding landscape, generously framing nature through huge windows. The sloping roof, along with the dark wood facade, continue the line of sloping roofs of neighboring houses and the hillsides.

Our dream was to build a house that heals the body and mind. According to its inhabitants, the goal has been achieved.