Off-grid heating has to work on resources you produce yourself, so choose it early, plan the fuel and do not forget ventilation.
Wood: the backbone in cold climates
The book describes a well-designed wood heating system as the backbone of off-grid homes in cold climates: it works without electricity and uses a fuel you can produce or source locally. It advises buying quality, because a cheap stove can burn through its firebox lining, warp and become inefficient within a few years, while a well-made cast-iron or steel stove from an established maker can last a generation.
Plan the firewood
For a well-insulated home in a cold winter, the book says to allow two to four cords of firewood (roughly 7 to 14 cubic metres). Wood must be seasoned for 6 to 12 months after splitting, which means planning at least a year ahead.
Propane as a secondary source
Propane is the most common backup and heating source, giving dependable heat without constant tending. The drawback is cost, because it must be bought. The book notes that most off-grid owners use propane as a secondary source alongside a wood stove.
Do not seal the home without ventilation
In a tight, poorly ventilated building, carbon dioxide from breathing, moisture from cooking and bathing and compounds from cleaning products can cause headaches, fatigue and poor sleep. The book suggests trickle vents or controlled ventilation slots, with a heat recovery ventilator as the more sophisticated option. It says an HRV can recover 70 to 80 per cent of the heat from outgoing air.
Heating water
- Solar thermal: roof collectors heat water directly from the sun.
- Wood-fired: a copper coil through the stove firebox, connected to a storage tank, heats water as a by-product of space heating.
- Avoid a conventional electric water heater if it would strain your electricity budget.
Reduce the load first
Good insulation and orientation cut how much heat you need in the first place (see passive solar design basics and planning a small home).
The book sets heating alongside shelter in the Choosing Your First Off-Grid Home guide. For a broader introduction, see Off Grid Survival for Beginners.