There are a few things to consider when it comes to plumbing in a tiny house. The first is the water supply. Where will your water come from?
If you’re on city water, you’ll need to connect to the municipal water supply. If you’re off-grid, you’ll need to collect rainwater or drill a well. The second thing to consider is waste management.
In a traditional home, sewage is sent to a central sewer system. But in a tiny house, you’ll need to find another way to deal with human waste. One option is a composting toilet.
These toilets break down human waste into compost that can be used as fertilizer. Another option is an incinerating toilet, which burns human waste and turns it into ash.
If you’re like most people, you probably take plumbing for granted. After all, it’s not something we usually think about until there’s a problem. But if you’re living in a tiny house, plumbing is one of the most important systems in your home.
Here’s a quick overview of how plumbing works in a tiny house:
The first thing to understand is that there is no standard definition of “tiny house.” Some people consider anything under 400 square feet to be tiny, while others say anything under 1000 square feet qualifies.
For our purposes, we’ll assume you’re working with a smaller space than that.
With limited space comes limited resources, so everything in a tiny house must be carefully planned and efficient. That includes the plumbing system.
Most tiny houses use what’s called greywater recycling, which means using wastewater from sinks and showers to flush toilets and water plants. Blackwater (from toilets) is usually treated separately and then used for irrigation or other non-drinking purposes.
The key to making this work is using water efficiently in the first place.
That means low-flow fixtures like showerheads and faucets, as well as dual-flush toilets that use less water per flush. It also means being mindful of how much water you’re using for activities like laundry and dishes. By doing your part to conserve water, you can make your tiny house’s plumbing system work like a charm!
Tiny house plumbing overview
How Do the Plumbing And Water System Work in a Tiny House
Assuming you would like an in-depth article on the plumbing system in a tiny house:
The water system in a tiny house is a lot different than that of a regular sized home. There are two main types of systems- the first being a fresh water holding tank and the second being a grey water holding tank.
The fresh water tank is used to hold clean potable drinking water while the grey water tank holds all of the wastewater from sinks, showers, and washing machine. Most people choose to have both tanks because it gives them more options for where to put their tiny house.
There are many different ways to set up the plumbing in your tiny house, but most often it uses PEX tubing.
This is because PEX is easy to work with and doesn’t require any soldering like copper pipes do. You can run PEX through walls without having to worry about leaks or moisture damage since it’s made from high density polyethylene which is impermeable to moisture. That being said, there are some downsides to using PEX- one being that it’s not as strong as copper so it’s not recommended for areas where there will be a lot of foot traffic (like in front of doors).
Another downside is that if your tiny house ever catches on fire, PEX will release harmful chemicals into the air so you need to be aware of that risk when choosing this type of material.
If you want to use copper piping instead, that’s definitely an option too! Copper has been used for centuries in plumbing and has proven itself to be durable and long lasting.
It’s also less likely than PEX tubing to leach chemicals into your drinking water so that might be something you want to consider if you’re worried about potential health risks. The main downside to using copper is that it’s more expensive than PEX and can be difficult to work with (especially if you’re not experienced with soldering).
Conclusion
When it comes to plumbing in a tiny house, there are a few things you need to know. First, the most important thing is to have a plan. Without a plan, you’ll likely end up with a lot of wasted space and money.
Second, think carefully about where you want your fixtures and appliances. In most cases, it’s best to put them near windows or doors so you can take advantage of natural light and ventilation. Finally, be prepared to get creative with your plumbing layout.
There are many ways to configure plumbing in a tiny house, so don’t be afraid to experiment until you find what works best for you.