Mobile Homes
Winter Tips for Mobile Homes
Your best opportunity for mobile home energy savings may be to add more insulation to the roof and floor. Most mobile home roofs and floors are already insulated, but the cavities are usually only partly filled. Filling these areas can save up to 20 percent of your heating cost.
You'll need to hire a professional insulator to blow insulation into the roof or floor. Blown fiberglass insulation is best for mobile home cavities since cellulose insulation absorbs moisture and contains fire retardants that can corrode mobile home metal parts.
Does your mobile home have storm windows? Storm windows can make a tremendous difference in your home's comfort level and they save plenty of energy, too. Mobile and manufactured homes usually have their storm windows installed on the interior rather than on the exterior as in site-built homes. Check your windows to see if you have storm windows on every window. If any of your storm windows are broken, have them repaired. Your local glass dealer can build you new storm windows or repair old ones.
Take some time now to seal air leaks in your mobile home. The best time to search for air leaks is on a windy day, because you'll be able to find drafty places more easily. Seal around any pipes or wires you find under sinks or near electrical boxes. Look in the closet that houses your water heater, too, especially if it opens to the outdoors. These closets often have large holes connecting to the bathroom or bedroom. Seal the air leaks between the closet and indoor rooms with pieces of paneling and liquid foam-in-a-can.
Remember to attend to your furnace periodically throughout the winter. If it has a filter, replace it as often as it gets dirty or at least once during the heating season.