Keeping the container home cool is one of the most important things to consider when building a shipping container house. The biggest concern is that the materials that are used to construct a shipping container are not very good at keeping in cool air.
It may seem obvious but many new owners are likely to overlook this issue due to the amount of planning and designing of their home that went into the creation of their dream container homes.
Well, it isn’t too late, we’ve got some ideas to assist you in choosing which cooling method best suits you.
In this blog, we’ll discuss ways to cool your shipping container home and we will provide you with five ways for homeowners to get rid of unwanted heat!
All in all, we are sure that you’ll never have to worry about another hot day again!
Table of Contents
Container Home Cooling Methods
Let’s face it, if you happen to live in a container home, then you are going to have an extreme amount of warm air and humidity in your home. But there are several things that can be done to keep the container home cool in the summer or those who live in hot climates.
Make sure that you have an air conditioning unit installed in your container home. This will ensure that your house stays cool even when it gets really hot outside and plenty of ventilation inside your container home so there’s always a flow of fresh air coming through the house. This will help keep things feeling cooler inside and will prevent any mold from growing on surfaces inside the house.
The first thing you need to do is understand the climate of your home. Not everyone lives in a high humidity area; some people live in humid climates like Florida or upstate New York where humidity levels are very high in the summer months as well as in other places where it is warm (as much as 85F during summer) and cold (as much as 35F during winter).
So, if your home experiences high humidity, you need to make sure everything has adequate ventilation and that air circulation will not be clogged when it is hot outside (the risk of mold growth). If you live somewhere that gets really hot during the summer months (like the South East), you will want a large air conditioning unit installed, since you will want all surface areas to be kept cool while keeping windows open at all times.
An HVAC system can help keep you and the rest of your family very comfortable during those hot, humid summer days. You will want to make sure that the HVAC system is functioning correctly so that all the heat out of these containers goes into creating cold air inside them instead of heating up everything else on earth!
1. Heat Pump Units
Have you ever got into a hot car that is parked under the scorching hot sun? It’s not a pleasant feeling, that’s why getting a heat pump is essential.
Heat pumps are a great way to lower your electric bill and save money. They have a number of benefits that make them worth the investment, but they also have some downsides.
Installing a heat pump can be one of the most important things to consider when choosing to cool your container home, it doesn’t burn a hole in your wallet and provides cooling whenever needed, it is definitely worth the money to keep your home cool during the summer months.
Some of the benefits of having a heat pump include:
– Reducing heating and cooling costs by as much as 30%-50%
– Provides year-round comfort
– Helps the environment by using clean, renewable energy sources
– Saves money on utility bills
The main downside to heat pumps is their high upfront cost. On average, you’ll spend around $1000-2500 to get a heat pump installed in your home. This might seem like a lot of money but the long-term benefits outweigh the costs.
– Some people also find that heat pumps can be loud and noisy when they’re running.
– It costs more than other options like gas furnaces.
The main downside of having a heat pump is that it uses electricity. This is not a problem if you have solar panels or live in an area with cheap electricity rates.
You can check Best Mini Split Heat Pumps Under $2000 here. There are a few options that are recommended with good and efficient energy reviews that you can compare!
2. Ventilation/Exhaust Fan
Exhaust fans are a great way to keep your container home cool, it provides a great flow of air from inside your container home and will also help with maintaining a cool temperature throughout your containers after hours.
Ventilation is critical to keeping the temperature within acceptable limits. For example:
– A toilet should always be vented as it reduces the potential for negative air pressure in the bathroom and helps eliminate odors from escaping into other parts of the house.
– When cooking in a kitchen, hot air and steam will need a ventilation fan to prevent the build-up of moisture and mold.
– If your container home has windows, you need ventilating air coming into them (and out of them) so they don’t get too hot.
Pros – An exhaust fan will reduce heat, smoke, and odors in a room or area. It’s also simple to clean, helps to increase the air quality by circulating the air by removing pollutants and allergens. They also reduce the humidity levels in a container home, making it easier to control mold issues by providing additional air circulation.
Cons – The noise may bother you as it will reach close to 50db, this isn’t the ideal way to sleep in a container home but that’s not going to be an issue since most of these fans have quiet settings that can be selected easily. If the exhaust fan is not installed correctly, it can cause moisture and mold to build up.
Installing it can be quite pricy and electricity and maintenance costs should be also considered before buying.
3. Natural Cooling Ideas
Cooling your container house does not always mean spending money, you can start by opening windows in the container home for better insulation.
Here are a few cost-effective that you may want to take note of these few things, to keep container homes cool by doing the following:
– Open blinds and allow natural light in, this will help to reduce the energy used by artificial lighting sources.
– Keep the outside air flowing in through the windows and doors to help ventilate the inside of the home.
– Remove any furniture that is blocking air vents or heating/cooling vents, like chairs or tables sitting next to vents)
– Use a box or ceiling fan to maintain airflow within your container home and help with keeping the temperature down at night.
– Making sure windows are wide enough opening so there is sunlight all day long (and all night if possible).
– Incandescent lights waste up to 90% of their energy in heat. so when you see them up there on your ceiling they really should be providing you only with light rather than warming your home! So switch out the incandescent lights for an energy-saving light also known as a compact fluorescent light.
– Install reflective window film on windows that are facing the hot summer sun to help keep your container home cool.
4. Insulation Strategy and Tips
Insulation is an important part of any home’s construction. It protects the occupants from outside elements and helps keep the house warm in winter and cool in summer.
There are many different insulation types to choose from, each with its own pros and cons. Choosing the right insulator for your home can be a difficult task while also keeping condensation from building up because it may lead to rusting and other problems. Here are a few effective insulation ideas for you
– Insulate all air coming from the vents & ductwork (you can use spray foam).
– Spray foam insulation works great as an air barrier and can be easily installed inside your container home.
– Refer to the R-Value chart (R-value is a measure of the insulation level of a material.)Close cell spray insulation is one of the best insulation materials because it provides an airtight seal and it has a high R-value.
– A toilet & kitchen should always be vented to prevent the build-up of moisture and mold and it helps eliminate odors from escaping into other parts of the house.
– If your container home has windows, you need ventilating air coming into them (and out of them) so they don’t get too hot.
– Seal all cracks or holes in the foundation, this will help prevent moisture from entering the home.
Choosing the right paint is also a factor to consider for your container insulation. For exterior paint, I suggest choosing acrylic polyurethane paint and a water coat solution that prevents and blocks solar heat. Remember adding multiple coats can prevent corrosion and rust, adding a good few layer of paint can last for about 10-15 years depending on your location!
5. Usage of Interior Insulation Types
• Spray foam insulation – is one of the best insulations available. It provides great thermal mass for insulation and also has a strong air barrier. Spray foam can be used as exterior insulation as well. Spray foam is a fire-resistant, waterproof and breathable material that protects your home from fire and moisture damage.
• Cellulose insulation – is natural fiber insulation that’s easy to work with. It comes in rolls or batts that can be cut to fit your walls. The rolls are easy to install, but it is hard to work with due to the nature of the material. It is also heavy. Cellulose has the ability to keep heat inside of your home and trap moisture.
• Fiberglass insulation – is a flexible insulation material, which makes it easy to apply. It is fire resistant and can block moisture. The downside is that it doesn’t offer a lot of thermal mass.
• Wool/flannel batting – is made from wool fibers that can absorb up to ten times their weight in water. It can trap moisture and provide a thermal mass. The downside is that it has poor air barrier properties.
Containers have limited power options and you will need to consider how to use these resources wisely. Lighting and electricity are a big part of container homes so you want to make sure you are using them in a way that works well for your container home.
For a while now, there has been a great deal of talk in the community about container homes. They represent a paradigm shift in building form, function and design. For example, if you are looking for an alternative form for urban living in one or two-family homes, look no further than containers. They are more flexible than taller buildings and able to be smaller or larger than any existing model.
Containers tend to be very hot topics these days because people love talking about them so much and because there is such a large community already discussing them on various websites like Reddit with many different opinions and debates.