Heating a Tiny House Overnight.. Leave it on or Turn it off?

Reset A− A+ Today’s topic is on heating in a tiny house overnight.. Do you leave the heat on or turn it off while you sleep? Since I was born and raised in Florida, I’ve hardly ever had to use heat.. So I wanted to direct this issue to the community (you). The question came up thanks to a reader, Kim. She brought it to my attention after one of our webinars.

Below is a photo of Christopher Smith, of Tiny: the Movie, installing his heater. He has an interesting post, too, on propane versus wood for heating tiny houses. I wonder… Does he turn it off before bed or just trust it?

I encourage you to read our thoughts and then add your own below:

Hi Alex,

Just wanted to say thanks for another great and informative Webinar. Loved getting to raise my hand just like school :~)

Also, if you have the time, I thought of a question that I wish I had ask.

With the issue of fire brought up and also talking about heating a tiny house, as I was going through my notes I remembered a comment I think made by Dee Williams in one of her youtube vids that she did not heat her house at night while sleeping.

So I was wondering if most tiny house dwellers felt comfortable (safe) heating with the Dickinson heater through the night?

Have you had any feedback on this?

Thanks Alex, you are investing your talent and ability in educating the tiny house community and we sure appreciate everything you do!

Warm regards,

Kim S.

My first instinct was to reach out to Gregory Johnson, of the Small House Society, who lived in a tiny house with a propane Dickinson heater. Here’s what he had to say:

Yes, I used the Dickinson. As long as the system is installed properly, I think it’s perfectly safe. As with any home, I’d recommend having a high quality smoke detector (in the $70+ price range) because they use a different more responsive technology than the cheaper ones. Also, having a carbon monoxide detector is essential in any home, but more important in a smaller space that presumably has even less air exchange than older larger homes. The Dickinson heater I used had two settings: low and high. I found it was so efficient that I needed to turn it below the lower setting and have a barely visible flame. That was enough to keep my house warm. ~ Gregory Johnson, Small House Society

Greg made a great point. Be sure to install it correctly and have a quality carbon monoxide and smoke detector installed in your home. Here’s a well known and widely used combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector that you can use.

If you enjoyed this you’ll LOVE our Free Daily Tiny House Newsletter with even more!

You can also join our Small House Newsletter!

Also, try our Tiny Houses For Sale Newsletter! Thank you!

More Like This: Tiny Houses | Family Builds Shipping Container Home Above Their Restaurant | THOW

What are your thoughts on leaving a propane-based heater on all night while you sleep in a tiny house? Is this dangerous or are we over-thinking it? What would you or do you do currently?

The following two tabs change content below.

• Bio
• Latest Posts

Alex

Alex Pino is the founder of Tiny House Talk, a leading resource on tiny homes and simple living since 2009. He helps readers discover unique homes, connect with builders, and explore alternative living.

Latest posts by Alex (see all)

• An Alaska Builder’s 8×12 Tiny Cabin on 35 Acres in Colorado - November 12, 2026
• A Black A-Frame Under the Live Oaks in Ocala, Florida, With Two Downstairs Bedrooms - November 12, 2026
• Designing for You Now and You in 15 Years - November 12, 2026