Living off the grid sounds like an adventure in and of itself, but it can also be a challenge if you haven’t done it before. Part of the preparations you’ll be making include picking furniture, getting Wi-Fi access to your remote location, and, let’s not forget about shopping for off-grid appliances.
But which kind of appliances do you need for your off-grid home?
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what these appliances can offer you, what the best options are, and a few tips on how to use them the right way.
Let’s dive right in!
In short, off-grid electrical appliances are home devices that are designed to work without any connections to the electricity grid. These appliances come in a wide range of options, from stoves and refrigerators to heaters and air conditioners.
Off-grid appliances are extremely useful if your house is located in a remote area or if you want to keep your household going on smoothly despite frequent power outages.
What makes off-grid appliances ideal for an off-grid environment is the fact that they can run on alternative power sources. In addition to electricity, you can find off-grid appliances that use solar power, wind turbines, and propane gas. These alternative fuel sources ensure you can still use your appliances when your property is not receiving any electricity from the electrical grid.
In addition, they help you lead an eco-friendly life because they’re designed to be energy efficient, many using solar panels or propane gas to function properly. Better still, they don’t consume as much resources as their traditional equivalents.
Now that you understand how important such appliances are for your home, here are a few essentials that every homeowner should invest in.
Just about every home has a fridge. And this is because we all know how useful of a tool it is to preserve produce, meats, and fish. Fortunately, if you move off-grid, you won’t have to give up your refrigerator. There are many modern refrigerators designed for off-grid use.
A sturdy refrigerator is even more crucial than a stove because your visits to the nearest town or city will be few and far between since you’ll be living in such a remote location.
You’ll likely end up shopping for large amounts of produce, dairy, or frozen food to meet your needs until the next grocery shopping session. And that’s why your choice of fridge can make or break your off-grid living experience.
The first option you’ve got is a DC refrigerator and freezer. They’re a fantastic choice for storing food for long periods of time; great if your visits to the grocery store aren’t frequent.
Since these two appliances are powered by batteries, they’re reliable in case of power outages, too. Better yet, they’re available in a variety of sizes and capacities to match your personal needs and fit into small to spacious kitchens.
A decent alternative to a DC refrigerator is a propane fridge, which depends on natural gas or propane to work.
Still, while it’s more energy-efficient, it’s also a bit more expensive than its DC counterpart. If you don’t mind the high price, a propane fridge can be one of the most durable choices for food storage in remote places.
Hygiene should be maintained and should be an important priority for anyone living off-grid. But living off the grid does not mean you have to resort to taking baths in a lake. You can rely on an off-grid shower system to comfortably take showers off-grid. Taking regular showers ensures you have more energy, don’t emit foul body odors, and reduce the risk of bacterial infection.
Note: If you use an off-grid shower system, remember to purify water to reduce contaminants.
An off-grid heater is a device that runs on electricity or propane gas that is used to heat the room. While many people will think of it as a ‘nice-to-have,’ it’s necessary if the weather becomes too cold or goes below zero in the winter. In below-zero temperatures, blankets are simply not enough to keep warm. So for those situations, we recommend an off-grid heater.
Many people use a fireplace or a wood stove to keep warm on chilly nights as an alternative to an off-grid heater.
If you live in places that are warm all year round, then there is no need for a heater.
Again, you might think that including an air conditioner in your off-grid cabin is a bit over-the-top, but this really depends on your budget and the weather.
You can skip this appliance if the region has a mild or cold climate. On the other hand, if you live in a state where the summers are hot and humid to the point of suffocation, an air conditioner is a must!
Did you know that washing dishes by hand is actually more wasteful than using an energy-efficient dishwasher? According to a few studies, the amount of water that you use while doing the dishes is five times the water a top-rated dishwasher uses in one cycle.
On the other hand, an average dishwasher uses up to 3.5 times less water than you do, which is still impressive.
Add that to an off-grid dishwasher, and you’ll end up with an energy-saving appliance that can help you minimize your carbon footprint.
You can’t forget to buy an off-grid washing machine, too, which is an essential household appliance whether you’re living on or off the grid. While some people may be just fine washing their clothes by hand, it’s a demanding chore that takes so much time and labor.
You’ll need an off-grid washing machine if dirty laundry piles up quickly, which is a normal occurrence in homes with large families.
Fortunately, there are many different types of washing machines for off-grid use.
Off-grid living doesn’t necessarily mean you have to hang your washed clothes on a line in the sun. Sure, exposing your laundry to the sunlight and fresh air is more refreshing and even healthier, but what about trying to dry it off on windy, rainy, or cloudy days?
You should consider an off-grid dryer for your home because it’ll have your back in all types of weather. That is, of course, if you have some power already saved up!
Gas stoves and ovens are fueled by computable gas such as propane to produce small flames and heat the oven. This is a consistent and reliable alternative to an electric or wood stove.
Also, the fuel for an off-grid stove is generally cheaper than an electric stove, and people usually save 10-20% on their energy bill by switching to a gas range stove.
You can’t go wrong with a high-quality wood-burning stove to cook delicious meals every day. Even if you aren’t much of a home cook, don’t underestimate the impact of a warm, satisfying breakfast and coffee to kickstart your day!
Besides enabling you to cook and bake different sorts of meals, a wood-burning stove can heat up a cabin or a small house on cold days.
As you transition to a self-sufficient property, here are three tips to help you use appliances properly.
Living off the grid means that you have to calculate everything, from your energy consumption to your budget, to balance convenience and affordability.
Start by using your appliances wisely only when it’s necessary.
For instance, don’t turn on the water heater if you can take the temperature of the water. Similarly, putting the AC to work on days when fans can do the job only consumes more energy than you might be comfortable with.
You should monitor your water usage to ensure you’re not defeating the purpose of an energy-efficient dishwasher or washing machine.
If you want to wash a few dishes along with some water glasses and a pot, doing it manually will save up more energy and take much less time than powering up the dishwasher!
Also, keep in mind that rainwater, river water, and well water are all sources of water that can be used for cleaning, drinking, cooking, gardening, and in appliances after they’ve been filtered.
You might be tempted to go for traditional appliances because of their lower price, but that’s not a wise idea.
The reason for this is that normal appliances use up a lot more energy than those designed for off-grid living. Plus, off-grid appliances usually come in simple, compact models that are best suited for rustic living settings.
To wrap it up, off-grid appliances are a wonderful choice for people who want to live in a faraway property but still have a comfortable lifestyle.
There is a common misconception that living off the grid requires you to give up modern appliances that make life on the grid easy. Fortunately, we now have off-grid appliances that will save energy, limit carbon footprint, allow you to live on a limited budget, and, most importantly, allow you to be self-sufficient.
You can find off-grid options for refrigerators, freezers, stoves, washing machines, air conditioners, dishwashers, dryers, and water heaters.
Just be careful with the amount of water and the power you’re using.
If you are interested in learning about our picks of the Best Off-Grid Appliances, see our article on the topic.
The prices of off-grid appliances tend to vary since they range in size, working mechanism, features, and type.
Here are a few price estimations for the appliances on the earlier list:
One of the best things about off-grid appliances is that they’re manufactured to last a lifetime. But again, their longevity depends on how often you use them and if you make sure to keep them in top-notch shape.
That’s why I advise you to monitor the performance of your off-grid appliances, only use them when necessary, and clean and maintain them regularly.
Off-grid appliances have countless pros that every owner of a remote home will appreciate, including:
Despite all these plus points, off-grid appliances still have some negative aspects:
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