DIY Mobile Home Repair

Mobile Home Repairman

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 11:52:00 -0400

Where can I find a mobile home repairman or mobile home repair contractor is a question I get a lot. Here are the steps that I often give to answer the question of how to find a mobile home repair service near me. I don't understand why most home repair companies don't also work on mobile homes. They are easy to work on and use a lot of the same materials as a site built home.
1. Ask your neighbors if you live in a mobile home community who that might know of or could recommend. You can also ask the manager of the mobile home community the same question.
2. Look in the phone book for any listings of a qualified mobile home repair service. If there are none listed you could look up mobile home parts dealer and ask them for any suggestions. They probably could give you a lot of recommendations based on the repairmen who shop at their store.
3. Mobile home dealers are an excellent source for finding a manufactured home repair person. They use them all the time to correct factory defects and flaws of newly delivered homes. A lot of these mobile home repair contractors are independent contractors so they could take on your job without any objection from the mobile home dealership.
4. A lot of general home repair handyman businesses have people who could adequately and professionally make repairs to your manufactured home.
5. Look in the phone book for specific contractors to get in touch with for the type of problem you are having such as plumbing or electrical. If they work on standard site built homes they may also perform repairs on mobile homes.
6. You could always try to DIY with tips and suggestions from me or your local hardware or mobile home supply store. If you go this route exercise caution and all safety practices to keep you safe. Think ahead and plan each step of the repair in a systematic order.
7. Last ditch effort is to look around your neighborhood and see who does repairs to their own mobile home that appears to be doing good quality work and ask them if they would be interested.
As a final thought always check any references and the background of anyone you allow in or near your home or family if any way possible. Use safety precautions and common sense. Don't hesitate to ask questions, if they don't seem to want to give you answers or seem to dodge your concerns this might be a red flag. If they are in the business they should be licensed, bonded or insured. If you feel it necessary don't hesitate to ask for references and any information to make sure you have the right contractor. Get everything in writing and know what the bottom line costs and time element will be before the work begins to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Hope that helps.

Enery Star-Ways to Save Tips

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 09:17:00 -0400

Here are a lot of energy savings tips from Energy Star.

Site Map

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Thu, 6 Aug 2015 21:04:00 -0400

http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2019/03/enery-star-ways-to-save-tips.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/05/diy-mobile-home-repair.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/p/mobile-home-supplies.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-trailer_11.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/p/frequently-asked-mobile-home-repair.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/aluminum-wiring.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-anchors-and-tie-downs_13.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/p/any-questions-contact-me-for-answers-to.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-electrical-repair.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-circuit-breaker-panel-box.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-buyers-guide_12.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-ceiling-repair_12.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/circuit-breaker-tripping-how-to-test.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/how-to-wire-combination-receptacle.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/double-wide-mobile-home-crossover-wiring.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-duct-work.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-electric-furnace.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/energy-saving-ideas.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/indoor-air-quality.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-floor-repair.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/ground-fault-receptacles-how-to-install.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/home-safety.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-insulation.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/light-switch-wiring-diagram_64.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/low-water-pressure-problem.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/home-and-mobile-home-maintenance.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/hud-guidelines-for-mobile-homes_13.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/3-way-switch-wiring-diagram.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/plumbing-repair.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-exterior-siding-repair.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-skirting_12.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/muriatic-acid-hydrochloric-acid.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/open-circuit-testing.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/pigtail-electrical-wiring.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-power-pole-diagram.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-receptacle-wiring.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/how-to-replace-kitchen-sink.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-resource-guide.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-rewiring.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-roof-repair.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/how-to-test-circuit-breaker-main.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/how-to-toilet-repair.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/tub-surround-wall-panel-installation.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-wall-repair-for-gypsum.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/whole-house-water-filter_11.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/water-heater-repair_11.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-water-leaks.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-wiring-diagrams.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/p/me-and-diy-mobile-home-repair-related.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/p/mobile-home-repair-terms-of-use.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/p/mobile-home-repair-privacy-policy_15.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/05/double-wide-mobile-homes.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/05/fire-concerns-prompt-york-international.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2012/02/do-mobile-homes-attract-tornadoes-wsav.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/05/guide-for-repairing-of-your-rv-and.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/05/when-storm-is-forecast.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2011/09/energy-savers-manufactured-home-energy.html
http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-install-metal-roof-on-mobile.html

DIY Mobile Home Repair

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Mon, 4 May 2015 20:23:00 -0400

Manufactured Mobile Home Repair

Any mobile home repair you do yourself can be a great help with your household budget by performing various maintenance service, repairs, remodeling or renovations.

Please use my experience in working on and living in manufactured mobile homes for more than 35 years to help guide you towards saving money, by doing your own maintenance and mobile home repair.
As someone who has been repairing, remodeling, renovating and servicing manufactured mobile homes like a pro for many years my intention is to provide the best and most commonly needed repair information.

Typically electrical and plumbing are the two most frequent problems encountered when it comes to taking care of a manufactured home. Many hours were devoted to answering those repair questions.

Doing home repairs just takes a little common sense. Renovating or making improvements to manufactured mobile homes can be a money saver. Anyone with basic plumbing or electrical knowledge can perform a mobile home repair.

Always follow the recommendations and instructions found on any packaging. Select all building materials and parts for your manufactured home repair and renovations wisely.

It doesn't matter if you own a Palm Harbor, Fleetwood, Clayton Homes, Horton, Oakwood, Champion, Redman, Schult or any other brand, the repairing guidelines supplied apply toward all single wide, double wide or triple wide manufactured homes.

Don't cut corners. Do it right the first time, a poorly done repair costs you twice.

If more specific information is needed or a better explanation on any repairs or if you need step by step How To DIY instructions on repairing problems, remodeling, renovation, improvement or maintenance, and service subjects let me know.

Safety should always be the utmost priority. If you are not sure of your abilities, I advise you to select and hire a licensed handyman, electrician or plumber. Ask your friends, neighbors and local dealerships for any repair services they use. Always ask for recommendations, certifications, and references before allowing anyone to do any service repair work.

Adhere to local zoning and planning department regulations before taking on any manufactured housing repairs, therefore, avoiding a citation for unauthorized repair work.

I invite everyone to look at the DIY Repair Blog Page
I have posted questions that were emailed to me along with the answers I gave. Most people find this helpful with a manufactured home repair problem they are having.

Mobile Home Repair
DIY Mobile Home Repair on Facebook
Mobile Home Repair Pinterest Page
Mobile Home Repair DIY Linkedin Page
GooglePlus Page
Twitter Page

Website Authored by Don Morgan

May YAHWEH continue to Bless The United States of America
2nd Timothy 1:3

Double Wide Mobile Homes

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Mon, 4 May 2015 18:03:00 -0400

Mobile homes have long been a common site throughout the United States. They were preceded by travel trailers, which began coming into vogue in the mid-twentieth century as people began to live more transiently. These homes were called mobile because they first came with wheels attached for easy transportation. Originally, mobile homes were small enough and narrow enough to be pulled by a truck. Eventually they increased in width to ten feet, then to twelve feet or more and are now typically hauled commercially by trucking companies. One of the most popular widths is the double wide mobile home, which is transported to the site in two halves.

Manufacture of Double Wide Mobile Homes

These homes are typically pre-fabricated and then hauled to the site. They generally use outer materials that are pre-painted. Single wides are eighteen feet or less wide while double wides are twenty or more feet wide. After being manufactured, they are transported to the site and are either placed on the ground or kept on wheels. Most of these homes are now permanently affixed to the ground with a permanent foundation. Most mobile homes that are moved are single wide homes while only five percent of double wide mobile homes are ever moved again.

Benefits of Purchasing Double Wide Mobile Homes

These homes are very budget-friendly with price ranges for almost any family. Some of the most basic options require only small monthly payments. However, other double wides can be updated and decorated to look quite elegant. Homes that are placed upon a foundation are taxed as real estate while those that are left on tires, an option that is not often found these days, are taxed as personal property.
In addition, mobile home manufacturers are not often limited by state and city jurisdiction and are allowed to transport their homes throughout the country. This creates excellent competition and demand, which often lowers the price of the home. However, some states do have a few regulations such as Florida, which requires the homes to be built to withstand strong winds from hurricanes and tropical storms.

Communities for Double Wide Mobile Homes

Mobile homes are often found grouped together in parks. In fact, there are over 38,000 of these types of communities across the United States. Occupants generally rent the land on which they place their mobile homes. The community may also supply basic needs such as water, sewer and electrical services as well as amenities such as playgrounds, tennis courts, swimming pools and basketball courts. However, some communities may now sell land to the mobile home owner or will operate the community similar to a condominium association that charges fees for the use of its swimming pools, community centers and other amenities.
Double wide mobile homes are becoming increasingly popular as they gain mass appeal. They are actually quite spacious and are no longer associated with a negative stigmatization. They are well loved for fitting into the majority of families’ budgets.

Guide for Repairing of your RV and Mobile Home Roofs

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Mon, 4 May 2015 17:54:00 -0400

As with all normal roofs, RV trailer and mobile home roofs will from time to time need to be repaired and maintained. Your RV Trailer’s roof is just as vital as the roof on any regular brick and mortar house. The roof offers protection to you and your family home from the most destructive forces that the elements will throw at you. Therefore, whether you use your mobile home only occasionally, for outings and such, or if you are living in a trailer home full time, it is important that regular maintenance for your RV top is planned. Regular RV roof maintenance will guarantee the longest possible life for your mobile home, keeping it safe from the elements and forces of nature. Rubber Roofs Many newer mobile homes have roofs that are made from liquid rubber. This is because rubber is cheaper and often lasts much longer than the traditional metal roofing materials that are used with older trailers and mobile homes. Manufacturers of mobile homes use a special kind of material named Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer, or EPDM, a substance that has been especially developed for roofing purposes. EPDM is designed to last for a long time, up to 20 years or even longer, and will usually come with a 10 year guarantee. EPDM roofs are actually ideal, and very easy to protect. Use of treatments that protect roofs is really not required, as the EPDM is already self protecting. In fact, all you need to do to make it last as long as possible is to clean it regularly. It’s recommended that you clean an EPDM roof four or five times each year. If your rubber trailer roof is more than a few years old, you may well notice a chalky build up on the surface of it. Don’t worry about this; it’s just normal deterioration due to aging that is unavoidable. If you clean your roof often, you will minimize this chalky build up anyway, and it will visibly reduce the white streaks that can be seen on the sides and roof of your RV. The one thing that is very important when it comes to cleaning your EPDM roof is using the right products to do the job. Cleaning products that contain harsh abrasives, petroleum solvents or acidic based agents should never be used, as these will cause irreparable damage to the roof and cut its lifespan by many years. The best thing that you can use is some form of very mild, soap-based cleaner or a laundry detergent, and make sure it’s mixed with plenty of water. Once the roof has been cleaned, before you climb down off of it, carry out a few inspections to make sure of its condition. Check there are no cracks anywhere and that the seals and caulking are still good. Also check any other areas that could see leakages, such as vent covers etc. It pays and will safe you an awful lot of money if you can spot any signs of deterioration early on. Metal Roofs Most of the older mobile homes and RV’s around usually have metal roofs, most often aluminum. In order to keep this type of roof in good condition, again it is usually only required that you inspect it regularly and keep it clean. For most metal roofs, it’s okay to clean it twice a year using an automotive wash and wax cleaner. You may notice that many older RV’s with metal roofs have unsightly black marks or streaks running down the sides. This is caused by dirt that runs off the roof when it gets wet. If you clean your roof often, and especially if for whatever reason it gets particularly dirty, you’ll be doing yourself a huge favor with regard to getting rid of these dirty black streaks. It might be advisable to clean your roof repair more than twice a year if you are often parked underneath trees or other places where a lot of debris falls onto your roof. Debris such as this can cause unsightly and permanent stains if it is left too long.

When a storm is forecast

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Mon, 4 May 2015 17:52:00 -0400

Learn the evacuation route from your location and the amount of time needed to evacuate. Think about where you will go. If you need to go to a shelter. Most shelters do not allow pets, so decide how you will care for them.

If you live in a mobile home, plan to evacuate to a safer structure. No mobile or manufactured home is safe in hurricane-force winds.

Map out your evacuation route. Determine how long it will take to pick up everyone in your family, and notify other family members where you plan to be. Bring a three-day survival kit with you.

Make sure your insurance coverage represents the value of your property. Separate policies are needed for wind and flood damage. Call your city or county planning department to find out if you live in a flood-prone area.

Take a full inventory of your personal property to help in filling out insurance claims. List descriptions and take pictures and video of everything that will cost you money to replace. Store a copy of your inventory away from your home for safekeeping.

Fire Concerns Prompt York International to Reannounce Recall of Gas Furnaces for Manufactured Homes

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Mon, 4 May 2015 17:48:00 -0400

Name of Product: Coleman, Coleman Evcon and Red T Gas Furnaces for Manufactured Homes
Units: About 223,600 in the U.S. and 2,400 in Canada (previously recalled in November 2004)
Manufacturer: Unitary Products Group (UPG), a division of York International Corp., of York, Pa.
Hazard: The furnace can overheat and cause the heat-exchanger to crack and create openings that allow flames to be exposed. When this happens, drywall and other nearby combustibles are exposed to the flames, posing a fire and smoke hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received reports of 393 incidents, including some involving extensive property damage that could be related to these hazards, 366 of those reports were received after the November 2004 recall announcement. No injuries have been reported.
Description: The recall involves Coleman, Coleman Evcon and Red T brand furnaces. The furnaces are silver with white access panels. Coleman," "Coleman Evcon" and "Red T" brand names are located on the middle of the front access panel. The model number is written on a faceplate, found by removing both front access panels. The faceplate is found mounted on the left inside surface behind the lower panel. Models included in the recall are:

DGAM075BDD
DGAM075BDE
DGAM075BDF

DGAT070BDD
DGAT070BDE
DGAT070BDF

DGAT075BDD
DGAT075BDE
DGAT075BDF

DLAS075BDD
DLAS075BDE
DLAS075BDF

Sold by: Nationwide between 1995 and 2000 as original equipment in manufactured homes and as replacement furnaces in manufactured homes.
Manufactured in: U.S.A. between 1995 and 2000
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the furnace until it has been inspected and repaired. Consumers should contact UPG to schedule a free inspection and repair of any furnace involved in the recall.
Consumer Contact: For more information, including information about installation issues that may lead to the hazard, contact UPG toll-free at (888) 665-4640 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit their website at www.dgatprogram.com. UPG Technical Services is also conducting a comprehensive notification and communications program and working with its distributors to locate owners.

Mobile Home Rewiring

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 17:17:00 -0400

How To Rewire Mobile Home or House

How to rewire electrical DIY sites may explain rewiring your mobile home or house. However they fail to ask an important question. Why? A question I often get is " how much does it cost to rewire my mobile home ?" Well, I'll tell you that a do yourself home rewire project is a daunting task that can cost thousands. As an electrician I can tell you that lots of times I have found that just upgrading the homes old switches, receptacle outlets and light fixtures makes all the difference without having to rewire anything. During any home remodeling or demolition is the best time to do any house rewire because you are going to have to tear up some sheet rock and paneling to do it.

Inspect and Evaluate Before Rewiring

If your home was wired after 1976 then the wire itself is probably in good condition and does not need to be rewired. If wired in the early 60's or before and used varnished cambric (silver outer insulation) wire or if the home was wired with aluminum wire then you will probably want to rewire. If the home has only two wire receptacle outlet, no ground, then a rewiring is recommended. The first thing you will want to do is to look at the wire to see if there is any breakdown of the outer insulating sheath. Look under the home and if it isn't a mobile home or manufactured home and you have access to the attic inspect the wire in there too. Pull some of the receptacle outlets and switches (After you make sure to turn off the power at the circuit breaker panel) to see if there is outer insulation breakdown. Be sure to check any switches or outlets that you have either had problems with or carry heavy loads such as toasters and electric heaters. The inspection of the homes appliance wiring is basically the same except, aluminum wire was used a lot for stoves. Most all other appliances like the dryer, water heater and a/c-heater is usually copper wire. I wouldn't bother with the appliances if the rest of the lighting and outlet circuits looks OK. As a suggestion you might want to get some free estimates and inspections from as many different sources as you can. You will be amazed at how much they vary and who missed what! After all that is done now you have an informed idea on which way to go. Also be advised that if, God forbid, there was ever any problems such as a fire your homeowners insurance may not cover your home if not done by a licensed electrician and inspected. If you are having problems such as flickering lights, intermittent or total loss of power to all or part of circuit look at some of the other pages on this site that deal with those problems without a rewire.

Planning for House or Mobile Home Rewire

It is best to sit down and draw a wiring plan for homes before you rewire. Remember that all the wiring must meet local and national codes. It will also probably require an inspection. If you live in the home and you don't want to live without power for however long it takes to rewire and get the inspection you may want to consider just doing one circuit at a time. When and if you do decide to rewire whether it is one circuit or the entire home remember to plan for future demands. When I was born there were no microwaves among other things, who knows what is coming next. Dedicated circuits for computers and entertainment centers is also a good idea.

Required Mobile Home and House Circuits

As of the time of writing this webpage there are certain minimum requirements that you must observe. Bathrooms, kitchens and all outside wiring must have ground fault protection. Bedrooms must be arc fault protected. Your kitchen must have a minimum of two circuits. My kitchen is 12'x14' and I have four circuits not to mention a separate lighting circuit. Smoke detectors and more are also required to pass inspection. There are many other requirements that are outlined in the National Electric Code and probably some by your local ordinances that you need to be aware of before you can draw a circuit rewire blueprint. You will also need to determine what size wire for each of the homes circuits you intend to rewire. See the chart below for Romex copper wire. I used a #12 for all my lighting and outlet circuits on a 20 amp circuit breaker to keep from having to use #14 15 amp for the lighting. I also did it this way because I have ceiling fans in every room and did not want to start overloading from the get go.

Romex Wire Size Current Chart

Tools

Tools required are going to be wide and varied as you begin to rewire. Just for the electrical portion of the job you will need a good drill with some different sizes of wood bits. You will need screw drivers and electrical pliers/cutters also known as side cutters and a few other hand tools.You will also need a fish tape to pull the wire through the homes tight places. Next you're going to need the necessary tools to repair the sheet rock and wood and trim damage that is going to occur. In some cases you can place your drill through the homes existing outlet hole in the wall and with an extended bit drill through the floor to underneath the home to pull the wire for the receptacles, this however can't be done for the switch circuits as you begin rewiring.

Final Rewiring Advice

Doesn't the upgrade of devices sound a lot better than rewiring the home after all that?
Test your outlets with this

Mobile Home Power Pole Diagram

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 18:41:00 -0400

Mobile Home Power Pole Diagram

Overhead Underground Electrical Service Wiring Grounding Main Circuit Breaker Panel Meter Box Manufactured Mobile Homes Electrical Service Wiring Diagrams

Mobile Home Power Pole Overview

Mobile home manufactured homes 200 amp electrical service power pole diagrams shown below are for an overhead and underground configurations. The first diagram is an above ground or overhead electrical service power pole, using a utility pole or what is often called a telephone pole. The second diagram is an underground electrical service. These wiring diagrams are in accordance with the National Electric Code. Most localities are requiring now that you have a 200 Amp four wire service with 2 ground rods at least 6 feet apart for grounding mobile home electric services. The service should consist of two hot legs a neutral and a redundant ground wire (4 wires). The redundant ground is for added safety on mobile homes. The electrical services schematic diagrams can be used for reference and may differ from your local codes. These diagrams typically meet the mobile homes electric service pole requirements in many locations. Check with your local building inspections department for local mobile home power service pole requirements. Most locations allow use of a treated 6"x6"x20' pole for use as the service pole. After you have the power connected take a look at this page to test for the proper voltage levels at the main service disconnect panel.

Mobile Home Power Pole Electrical Service Wire Sizes

What size wire do I need for a 200 amp mobile home electric service power pole? I get this question a lot. It will depend on whether you use copper or aluminum conductor wires. Most all mobile homes and manufactured homes now have a minimum 200 amp requirement for electrical service wiring. All wiring shall comply with Article 550 of the National Electric Code. Use (4) separate insulated conductors approved for ampacity of main service disconnect. See wire size below.

Copper Wire Aluminum Wire

NOTE: Hot/Neutral wiring must be all copper or all aluminum, no mixing types of wire. The homes electrical service wiring if done with aluminum conductors can still use a copper ground wire that connects to the grounding rod

Over Head Electrical Service Wiring Diagram Mobile Home Power Pole

Under Ground Electrical Service Wiring Diagram Mobile Home Power Pole

Miscellaneous Mobile Home Power Pole Requirements

Here are some typical requirements in many locations for a mobile home power pole. Check with your local authority for any superseded or additional zoning codes and regulations.

Meter can be mounted on the home only if HUD approved by the homes manufacturer.
Note: Some locations will allow the electric meter to be attached to manufactured homes if it is on a permanent foundation.

Service equipment and meter must be within 30’ of the home.

Any outside receptacles must be on G.F.C.I. protection with wet location covers.

Ground Rod Installation: Install two 8-foot grounding rods a minimum of 6 feet apart. Some locations may require a grounding grid instead of ground rods, but that is rare.

Top of the ground rods must be flush or below grade ( ground level ).

Bonding at the homes main panel goes to the neutral bus bar; bonding at the sub-panel goes to the grounding bus bar. Remove the jumpers in the sub-panel so the neutral and grounding bus bars are isolated. Bond the panel enclosure.

Mobile home power pole and service entrance frequently asked questions

Q. How far should the power pole be from the mobile home or what is the distance between the mobile home and the power pole?
A. Most inspection authorities set the distance at no less than 8 feet to and no more than 30 feet from the home. Be sure to check with your local inspector for local requirements.

If you use aluminum wire be sure to use an anti-oxidant compound on the wires at the connection points.

Mobile Home Duct Work

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 18:18:00 -0400

Mobile Home Duct Work
Crossover Duct Single Wide Double Wide Heating Air Conditioning System Duct Work Repair Diagrams and Pictures

Mobile Home Duct Work and Double Wide Crossover Duct

Manufactured homes use an integral HVAC duct work for the heating and cooling system. The problem I see with most mobile homes duct work is where the boot from the trough comes through the floor, especially if any flooring or floor repairs have been done around the duct work. Quite often there is a gap between the mobile home duct work boot and the floor causing an duct work air leak. This can usually be sealed with a good quality duct tape or silicon caulking, however mastic is the ideal way to do it. Be sure that there is not any damage to the trough that usually runs the entire length of the mobile home, in the case of double wide mobile homes there are two troughs interconnected by a crossover. The double wide mobile homes crossover duct is usually a 14" or 16" flexible insulated duct. Flex duct is rated in "R" values for the insulating properties they possess. You can easily check for trough leaks by going underneath while the air conditioner is on and if you can find a location to stick your hand up through the belly wrap or belly board. If between the insulation and the floor you feel air flowing or cold air you may have a mobile home duct work leak that will require further investigation or the calling of a expert. I completely removed the trough and installed the boots used in standard homes with flexible duct attached to a main trunk line from the heating and A/C unit as it is done in standard homes. Works great and is much more efficient. Some local codes now will only allow the black flexible and not the silver flex duct to be used on mobile homes, check your local codes. Look at these schematic diagrams and pictures below.

Double wide mobile home duct work with crossover layout diagram

Boot Mastic Seal

Duct Work Inspect

Flex duct connection on crossover duct work

Duct work air leak locations

Mobile Home Duct work Insulation

I get lots of questions about how to insulate the duct work on a mobile home or manufactured homes. Condensation in duct work on mobile homes is usually caused by poor insulation. I have yet to see a factory individually insulate the duct work. Think about this, let's say you have a glass of ice tea you will notice that water condensation builds up on the outside of the glass and drips onto your table. However if you place the glass in a cup koozie it stops sweating. The same idea applies to your duct work. Below I have included a picture of the ideal way to insulate the main duct work trough. The picture shows an ideal situation where you have access completely around the duct work. This is not always the case. You can however wrap all of the duct work that you can and then staple the insulation to the floor or joists in a cradling fashion. Then insulate underneath the mobile home as suggested on the mobile home insulation page.

Mobile Home Duct Work Insulation Diagram

Duct work Cleaning

Keeping your homes duct work clean can mean a huge improvement on your health. Most of the mobile homes I have worked on have had some serious issues with this problem. If you have an older home or have purchased a used manufactured home you may have a problem with contaminants in the duct system. There are many services that provide duct work cleaning. If you have a lot of moisture in the duct or notice any debris in there you might want to consider getting it professionally cleaned. I have installed a ultraviolet light in the return duct on my heating ac system that kills many airborne pollutants as they are drawn through the heating an air conditioning system and it seems to have helped. Look at the Mobile Home Indoor Air Quality page for more info about pollutants in homes.

A/C-Heating Maintenance

Be sure to keep the filters changed. Check the condensing tower to be sure that it is not clogged. Check for air leaks in the a/c heating compartment around the corners and metal framing/access doors. Incoming air should only be allowed into the compartment through the filter via the return grill. If air is squeezing in around any cracks repair them with caulking. Make sure that the blades on the squirrel cage fan have no buildup on them. This will cut down on the efficiency of the fan. Proper A/C-Heating Maintenance will keep your homes air conditioning unit running longer and help keep your power bill low. Take a look at the Electric Furnace page for more about heating systems.

Frequently Asked Duct Work Questions

Q. How do I find a water leak in the duct work or why is there so much water in my A/C ducts?

A. If you have water in your duct work there are 4 possible reasons. Since water lines are not run through any duct work there could be either 1. a water leak on a water line running on top of or near enough to the duct work to allow spraying water into the duct. 2. A water leak inside the home has run into the duct work through a register vent or 3. but this is the most probable cause, since the ducts are usually very poorly insulated condensation builds up in them a will result in quite a puddle making it look like there is a water leak if the air conditioner has been running for any length of time and 4. if the drip pan is clogged and overflows the water can get into the duct work.

Mobile Home Electric Furnace Troubleshooting and Repair

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 17:44:00 -0400

Mobile Home Electric Furnace Troubleshooting and Repair

Electric Furnace Overview

Electric furnaces are the most common heaters used in mobile homes especially in the southern US and other temperate climates around the world. Gas furnace units will be covered on a different web page. I suggest checking out the furnace well in advance of cold weather. The furnace is the number 1 mobile home repair required during the winter.The most common brands used in manufactured mobile homes are Intertherm, Coleman, Nordyne and Revolv. Understanding how they work is not really difficult. The information provided is to help you understand how an electric furnace works. I strongly recommend that if you are having problems that you seek a qualified and licensed technician to repair your heater furnace. You can look at the ductwork page to see how it all ties together.

How an Electric Furnace Works

The thermostat senses a level set by the homeowner at a predetermined level, once that threshold setting has been gone below the thermostat sends a signal to a relay in the furnace to begin the heating sequence. Most thermostats for heating systems are set to trigger 2 degrees below what the thermostat has been set at this is called offset, for example if you have you thermostat set at 72 degrees the heater will start to come on when the ambient temprature is 70 degrees and turn off once it reaches 72 degrees. Some thermostats allow you to change the offset, such as programmable thermostats up or down in 1 degree
increments. Changing these setting can affect the operation and efficiency of the electric furnace heating system. The thermostat gets it's power from a transformer that is mounted in the heater which gets it power from the circuit breaker in the unit to provide low voltage, usually 24 volts, to operate the thermostat. Once the sequence has started a relay is engaged that passes power through a series of sequencer relay switches to turn on the different segments of the heating coils in stages. This prevents the heater from placing a sudden large load demand on your homes electric service. The heating strips are usually divided into 5000 watt sections so that only 5000 watts at a time come on until all the elements are up to full temperature at which time the blower motor comes on with the aid of a capacitor to distribute the warm air throughout the house via the duct work. As a fail safe the heater has a limit switch that will shut off the heater coils if the temperature is excessive to prevent fire danger. There is very little difference in the operation of furnaces by brand name. Component layout and wiring color codes may vary by brand. Below is a picture of the components of an electric furnace. This unit is a Nordyne. Note that this component layout diagram picture shows an air conditioning evaporating unit that is not discussed on this web page.

Mobile Home Electric Furnace Layout

Troubleshooting Electric Heater Furnace Problems

The main components of the electric furnace system are the thermostat, transformer, heating coils, sequencer relay switches, limit switch, motor start capacitor and blower fan motor. If you have an electronic type of thermostat with a digital display and you notice that there is no display this could mean that 1. the thermostat is defective 2. the the transformer is bad or 3.the circuit breaker has tripped. If you have heat and it seems to only be blowing slightly warm air one of the sequencer switches may be bad and is not allowing all the elements to come on or a coil is defective. Sometimes this problem will also cause the heater to kick on and off more often in an attempt to maintain the homes temperature as set on by the thermostat. The heating unit kicking on and off excessively will make your power bill go up. If the sequencer relay is bad you will have no heat at all. If the blower fan motor or capacitor is defective the strips may come on but the fan will not come on and the limit switch will then turn the elements off for safety. The heater strips may break after a period of time, in which case you would have no heat or reduced heat, and can be replaced as single component. Any components that are changed need to be an exact match by part number of the defective device you are replacing. Not doing so can cause further problems and create dangerous hazards. Below is some pictures of the the heater components I spoke about. Hover your mouse over each picture for description.

Electric Heat Strip Assembly

Electric Furnace Sequencer Relay

Furnace Transformer

Electric Heater Limit Switch

Furnace Blower Fan Motor

Furnace Blower Fan Motor Capacitor

Maintaining Electric Furnace

The number one service thing to do is to always keep the filter changed to allow good air flow for maximum operating efficiency. Some fan motors have oil ports on them that need to have a drop or two of oil injected into the bearings, though now a lot of fan motors have sealed permanent lubricated bearings. Build up on the fan blades is a problem that I have seen in many cases. This cuts down on the fans ability to move the maximum amount of air through the duct system. You can clean this off by scrubbing squirrel fan blades with an old toothbrush and vacuuming the fan blades, which can be tricky to do because of the tight clearance spaces involved.

Safety

If you choose to do any work inside the unit ALWAYS turn off the power at the homes main circuit breaker panel and inside the unit itself. Once again I recommend that repair service and parts replacement be done by a professional. Most electric heaters are generally on a 60 amp double pole breaker. If they have the air conditioning option that will mean that they also usually have a 30 amp double pole breaker that needs to be turned off before doing any tasting or inspection inside the unit, turn the breakers off at the unit and inside the homes breaker panel to avoid electric shock.

Energy Saving Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 17:17:00 -0400

Energy Saving

Landscaping, LED Bulbs, Insulating, Turn Off or Leave Lights On, Water Heaters, Refrigerators, CFL Bulbs, Dimmer Switches

Energy Savings Ideas with Landscaping

A great way to use mother nature to reduce your homes heating costs and cooling bills is with smart landscaping ideas. Blocking cold winds and using sunlight in the winter can help significantly with your heating bill and and shading in the summer can help reduce you cooling cost. Take a look at the picture below for some landscaping techniques for energy savings ideas to reduce power bills.
Blocking Cold Winds Landscaping

LED Bulbs

I just got my first L.E.D. (light emitting diode) bulbs to test out. They consume a fraction of the power that an incandescent or even a florescent bulb would use. The one I got draws about 1.5 watts (less than half of a night light bulb) and gives off about the same amount of light as a 25 watt bulb.This bulb is great for accent lighting or a low light lamp use. In my case we use it in the lamp on baby's changing table so as not to have a harsh overly bright light in the middle of the night. The draw back of these bulbs currently are the cost and some people may not like the color of the light. The bulbs I have are about $6.00 a piece and would not be useful where a lot of light is required. The brighter bulbs comparable to 60 watts can cost about $60.00 apiece. From the data I have seen if you use these bulbs 4 hours a day they should last 63 years. WOW! More on this later.

Update...The prices have come down a lot on LED bulbs. I have now replaced several of my CFLs with the LEDs and I am very happy with them.

Keep the Cold Out

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the most common places where air escapes in homes are:
Floors, walls, ceilings …….. 31 percent
Ducts ……………………….. 15 percent
Fireplace …………………… 14 percent
Plumbing …………………… 13 percent
Doors ………………………. 11 percent
Windows …………………… 10 percent
Fans and vents ……………. 4 percent
Electric outlets …………….. 2 percent
Reducing air leaks could cut as much as 10 percent from an average household’s monthly energy bill. You can take easy, inexpensive steps to reduce household energy consumption and minimize energy loss.

Seal leaks around doors, windows and other openings – such as pipes or ducts – with caulk or weather-stripping.

Household Furnishings

Household furnishings can have a lot to do with energy savings. I go into homes and mobile homes that have sofas, chairs, dressers etc. blocking a/c and heating vents. To make it worse I see homes and mobile homes that have the return register blocked and when we look at the filter they look like a wool blanket. Please be sure to change your filters regularly. If needed there are devices called register deflectors that can help to redirect air flow around your homes obstacles (see picture below) these can solve a lot of problems and they are inexpensive.

Register Deflector

Heating and A/C Mini Split Units

One really smart idea that I have seen is in heating and a/c. There are units called "mini splits". If you get a chance check it out. It could solve a lot of problems since it requires no duct work and heats and cools with great energy savings. The system installs easily in most homes.

Common Sense Heating and Cooling Tips

I see many places that do not use common sense when it comes to heating and cooling. Use blinds and curtains to block sun light in the summer and use the sun light in the winter to help heat. This little common sense tip could help with your homes energy costs. Good weatherization practices go a long ways. Works at my home.

Insulating Outlets Switch Drafts

Insulation is a great idea to help make homes energy efficient. One thing that seems to get over-looked is the air flow through electrical outlets and switches. Try this some time when it is cold out side and windy. Put your hand in front of different outlets around your home and see if you can feel air blowing in. You can get outlet and switch insulators (see picture below of a outlet insulator) at most hardware stores to help stop this problem. Then when you have done that I highly recommend using those child safety plugs to finish it off (see picture below of a child safety plug). Ever felt a draft while sitting down and reading your favorite book or watching TV and could not figure out why? HMMM.

Outlet Insulator

Child Safety Plug

Under Home Moisture

One problem I see around here is moisture under homes. When I look around I find that there is inadequate ventilation and no moisture barrier under the house.This also is a great attractor for damp wood termites and other critters.

Clothes Dryer Duct
How is your clothes dryer duct work doing? Most people don't check. If yours is the plastic type upgrade it to the newer metal flex or even "hard" pipe.The plastic type not only cracks and splits over time most of the ones I see are drooping and causing lint to build up inside. This not only reduces the efficiency of the dryer it can be a potential fire hazard.

Duct Tape and Adhesives (Glue)
No duct tape does not fix everything! Even though my father-in-law comes close. Use the proper adhesives or tape for the job. There are many out there, so read the label or ask someone with knowledge on the subject. If something is repaired wrong the first time it may stop you from fixing it right the second time. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

I found this on a "under the kitchen sink water leak" call. Surprisingly it was not the source of the leak. The cold water supply line was the culprit. This wins my DUCT TAPE ENGINEERING AWARD! (Yes, it was replaced anyway.)

Duct Tape Engineering Award

Screws or Nails

Consider using screws instead of nails on your projects. They hold better and can make for easy disassembly and repair if needed. Be sure to use the proper type of screw for the job. Multi-purpose or sheetrock screws are great for a variety of repair jobs. They are available in an "indoor" and "outdoor" types.

Refrigerator Coils

Often something that is overlooked is the cleaning of the coils on the refrigerator. Cleaning these out with a vacuum or blowing them out will help to keep the unit working better and using less power. Try using a cardboard paper towel tube on the end of the vacuum hose to squeeze between the coils.

Roof Vents

Venting out the hot attic air is important in mobile homes. Generally one square foot of vent for every 300 square feet of ceiling is adequate. 1800 square foot home would require 6 square foot of vent. If you have any less you could have heat and possibly moisture buildup. If you already have vents make sure you have enough and that they are not obstructed. Vents can be purchased at any D.I.Y. store.

Water Pipe Insulation

A good energy saving idea tip is to wrap your homes hot water pipes to cut down on radiation cooling. Ideally this should be done from the water heater throughout the home to all points.

Turn Off or Leave On Lights Energy Saving Tip

Turn it off or leave it on? I sometimes get asked the question if it is less expense on your power bill to leave a light on rather than turn it on and off as you enter or exit rooms. Recent tests results I have seen say turn it off. This makes sense in a two ways. 1. The light is not consuming power while it is not needed and 2.The life of the bulb and fixture is extended. This applies to incandescent and fluorescent lighting. Yes, it takes more power to cause a light to light up than it does to leave it on... However you would have to exit and re-enter the room in microseconds to have an issue with this. Save power and turn it off!

Water Heaters and Refrigerators Energy Saving Ideas

When considering ways to cut energy cost a lot of people overlook the two things that consume power 24/7. They would be your homes refrigerator and the water heater. Look for the rated power consumption sticker for comparison (the yellow one) and pick out the lowest. Now if your not about to buy any new ones maybe you could adjust the fridge with the use of a thermometer designed for this purposes and get the settings for the fridge and freezer to their proper levels. These levels are indicated on the thermometer. Remember that any adjustment that you make could take a lot of time before the temperature may actually change in the unit. Read the instructions that comes with your thermometer. Don't forget to keep the coils cleaned and make sure that there is adequate space for the unit to breath. Now, for the water heater turn down the thermostat to about 120 degrees or less and install a timer switch. When going off for a while, like a vacation, turn off the breaker. These two things help keep my homes power bill down.

Compact Florescent Bulbs

I highly recommend compact fluorescent bulbs as an alternative to incandescent lights if your not going to use LED bulbs. I have been using them with great results for years. My power bill was reduced by 30%. They last far longer than regular bulbs and they produce very little heat. They come in many varieties such as dimmable, three way and flood type bulbs that are great for recessed lights. Recessed lights can get very hot and anytime you can reduce heat you can prolong the life of the fixture. Outdoors is a great place to use CFL too! Be sure to use the types suitable for outdoor use.

Surge Protectors

Did you know that surge protectors wear out and loose their ability to protect those precious electronics. They should be changed out every few years or in the case of a big surge that may have occurred, such as a nearby lightning strike. Some models come with a light that will alert you when they have lost their ability to protect. They are rated in joules, which is a current or amperage measurement, the higher the joule rating the better the protection.

Extension Cords

I dislike is extension cords. They are potential problems. Extension cords are really meant for temporary use. If you have to plug something in with a extension cord long term because there is not an outlet nearby I recommend that you have a licensed electrician add an outlet. Extension cords are responsible for many fires.

Dimmer Switches

Dimmer switches DO NOT save energy. They simply dissipate the energy that would be used at the light bulb across an internal resister and end up using the same amount of power anyway. They also tend to fail more often that a regular switch.

Power Usage Time

Did you know that power companies generally vary their rates at different times of the day. Power companies charge more during peak usage hours. Typically this is 9 to 5 or so. The later at night you wait to use your homes major appliances such as clothes washers, dryers and dishwashers the cheaper they will be to use. Some power companies can provide you with the rate breakdown by time. Over time this adds up to big savings.

Indoor Air Quality

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 17:06:00 -0400

Formaldehyde, Mold, Radon Gas and Chemical Fumes in Homes

Any home can have indoor air quality pollution problems that can cause serious health problems. Here is some Testing Information for those problems.

I suggest that you test for Mold and Radon Gas at least once while living in your home, if not on a regular basis. The cleanest of homes can have indoor air quality problems without you knowing it. Mobile homes are very air tight and need to have testing and good air ventilation to help reduce the problems with construction and environmental air pollution contaminants.

Formaldehyde Fumes

There have been a lot of concerns about chemical fumes and indoor air quality pollutants in mobile homes. When you first get a new mobile home it is a good idea to allow as much air exchange with outside air as possible until the fumes are gone. This may take several days. Here is a government website about formaldehyde that addresses that question. When I got my first new single wide mobile home there was a warning sheet that came with it, I don't know if they still give that warning sheet out anymore. Formaldehyde is also present in lots of building materials used in site built and modular homes. Pressed wood products made using adhesives that contain urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins pressed wood products made using adhesives that contain urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins. Pressed wood products made for indoor use in homes include: particleboard used as sub-flooring and shelving and in cabinetry and furniture; hardwood plywood paneling used for decorative wall covering and used in cabinets and furniture; and medium density fiberboard (MDF) used for drawer fronts, cabinets, and furniture tops.

Mold

Mold is a big indoor air quality pollution problem in homes. To me there are two types of mold, the mold you see and the mold you don't see. Did you know that mold can grow in places like the back of wallpaper? The EPA has a good site with lots of information on mold detection and cleanup. If there has been any water leaks problems, such as in the roof or window areas, mold will shortly develop. This is a health problem for people without allergies and can be especially dangerous for people with allergy problems. If you have any mold the first thing you need to do is clean up the mold. A mild bleach and water solution is a great way to clean mold. Once the mold is cleaned up it can be painted over with an anti-microbial primer paint and then painted with whatever color paint you desire. Don't forget to repair the water leak problem. If you think you have a mold problem there are mold test kits available at most home improvement stores.

Radon Gas

Radon is a cancer causing radioactive gas. You cannot see, smell or taste it. The Surgeon General said that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, you're at high risk for developing lung cancer. Some studies indicate that children may be more sensitive to radon than adults. Test kits are available also for Radon testing. The EPA has lots of information on Radon. The site includes a state map of radon hot spots and information on how to get test kits, either free or get coupons for radon test kits.

Mobile Home Floor Repair

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 17:00:00 -0400

Most mobile home floor repair jobs are in the bathroom or kitchen. Sometimes only a spot repair is needed. Simply cut out the bad area then frame it in, so that you have something to attach the new section of subfloor to on all edges. I like to use screws instead of nails. Screws will be less likely to back out like nails and squeak. In order to prep for a finished job remove all the all the shoe molding and then re-install after the new flooring is in place. Use the subfloor of your choice either plywood or OSB will work. Be sure to get the same thickness or as close as you can. The thickness can be compensated for later. If your are going to use carpet, which I do not recommend in kitchens or bathroom you just need to make sure that you have matched the surrounding floor height by installing the new floor joist at the proper height to bring the homes sub-floor flush with the existing floor and then install the carpet. If you are going to use sheet vinyl or tiles then I recommend placing luan over the homes subfloor to give a good surface for the vinyl to adhere to, and remember to figure the combined thickness of the subflooring and the luan in order to flush up to the existing floor. Be sure to use floor putty, such as Durhams Rock Hard to fill in any cracks and the screw heads that need to be screwed down just below floor level. Floor putty is especially important if you are going to cover the floor with sheet vinyl. If you need to remove and replace a toilet, there are flange extenders available if needed so that the toilet can be remounted properly, however this is usually not necessary. Always replace the wax seal and flange bolts. I will sit on the toilet to press down the wax seal before I tighten the flange bolts. Don't over tighten and snug them down evenly. Flush the toilet to check for water leaks. If no there are leaks and the toilet does not rock caulk around the toilet for a better looking job and water tight seal, the same around a bathtub. Replace the shoe and your mobile home floor repair is done.

Here is a picture of what you will see when the bad spot in the floor has been cut out.

Once the new floor joists are installed you can proceed with flooring.

Mobile Home Insulation

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 16:33:00 -0400

Mobile Home Insulation

Replacing Mobile Home Insulation Mobile Home Belly Wrap Long-Term Savings Tips Recommended Zip Code Insulation Calculator Applies to Site Built Homes Also

Recommended Mobile Home Insulation

First, check the insulation in your homes attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area. Insulation is measured in R-values—the higher the R-value, the better your walls and roof will resist the transfer of heat. DOE recommends ranges of R-values based on local heating and cooling costs and climate conditions in different areas of the nation. The map and chart below show the DOE recommendations for your area. State and local code minimum insulation requirements may be less than the DOE recommendations, which are based on cost effectiveness. For more customized insulation recommendations, check out the Zip Code Insulation Calculator. This tool provides insulation levels for your new or existing homes based on your zip code and other basic information about your home. Although insulation can be made from a variety of materials, it usually comes in four types; each type has different characteristics.

Rolls and batts—or blankets—are flexible products made from mineral fibers, such as fiberglass and rock wool.
They are available in widths suited to standard spacings of wall studs and attic or floor joists: 2x4 walls can hold R-13 or R-15 batts; 2x6 walls can have R-19 or R-21 products.

Loose-fill insulation—usually made of fiberglass, rock wool, or cellulose in the form of loose fibers or fiber pellets, it should be blown into spaces using special pneumatic equipment. The blown-in material conforms readily to the homes cavities and attics. Therefore, loose-fill insulation is well suited for places where it is difficult to install other types of insulation.
Rigid foam insulation—foam insulation typically is more expensive than fiber insulation. But it's very effective in buildings with space limitations and where higher R-values are needed. Foam insulation R-values range from R-4 to R-6.5 per inch of thickness, which is up to 2 times greater than most other insulating materials of the same thickness.

Foam-in-place insulation—this type can be blown into walls and reduces air leakage, if blown into cracks, such as around window and door frames.

Insulation Tips

Consider factors such as your climate, building design, and budget when selecting insulation R-values for homes.
Use higher density insulation on exterior walls, such as rigid foam boards, in cathedral ceilings and on exterior walls.
Ventilation helps with moisture control and reducing summer cooling bills. Attic vents can be installed along the entire ceiling cavity to help ensure proper airflow from the soffit to the attic to make homes more comfortable and energy efficient. Do not ventilate your attic if you have insulation on the underside of the roof. Check with a qualified contractor.
Recessed light fixtures can be a major source of heat loss, but you need to be careful how close you place insulation next to a fixture unless it is marked IC—designed for direct insulation contact. Check your local building codes for recommendations. See Lighting for more about recessed cans.
As specified on the product packaging, follow the product instructions on installation and wear the proper protective gear when installing insulation.

Long-Term Savings Tip

One of the most cost-effective ways to make homes more comfortable year-round is to add insulation to your attic.
Adding insulation to the attic is relatively easy and very cost effective. To find out if you have enough attic insulation, measure the thickness of the insulation. If it is less than R-30 (11 inches of fiber glass or rock wool or 8 inches of cellulose), you could probably benefit by adding more. Most U.S. homes should have between R-30 and R-60 insulation in the attic. Don't forget the attic trap or access door.
If your attic has enough insulation and your home still feels drafty and cold in the winter or too warm in the summer, chances are you need to add insulation to the exterior walls as well. This is a more expensive measure that usually requires a contractor, but it may be worth the cost if you live in a very hot or cold climate. If you replace the exterior siding on any homes, you should consider adding insulation at the same time.
You may also need to add insulation to your crawl space or basement. Check with a professional contractor.

New Construction

For new homes in most climates, you will save money and energy if you install a combination of cavity insulation and insulative sheathing. Cavity insulation can be installed at levels up to R-15 in a 2 in. x 4 in. wall and up to R-21 in a 2 in. x 6 in. wall. The insulative sheathing, used in addition to this cavity insulation, helps to reduce the energy that would otherwise be lost through the homes wood frame. The table below shows the recommended combinations. For example, in Zone 5, you could use either a 2x4 wall with R-13 or a 2x6 wall with R-21. For either of those two walls, you should also use an inch of insulative sheathing that has an R-value of R-5 or R-6.

Today, new products are on the market that provide both insulation and structural support and should be considered for new homes construction or additions. Structural insulated panels, known as SIPs, and masonry products like insulating concrete forms are among these. Some home builders are even using an old technique borrowed from the pioneers: building walls using straw bales. Check online at www.energysavers.gov for more information on structural insulation.

Radiant barriers (in hot climates), reflective insulation, and foundation insulation should all be considered for new homes construction. Check with your contractor for more information about these options. Look at Insulation R value zone map below.

All of Alaska in Zone 7 except for the following boroughs in Zone 8:

Bethel
Northwest Arctic
Dellingham
Southeast Fairbanks
Fairbanks N. Star
Wade Hampton
Nome
Yukon-Koyukuk
North Slope

Zone 1 includes:

Hawaii
Guam
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands

*These recommendations are cost-effective levels of insulation based on the best available information on local fuel and materials costs and weather conditions. Consequently, the levels may differ from current local building codes for homes.

Cost Effective Insulaton Values

Mobile Home Insulation and Belly Wrap

Any gaps or damage in the under floor mobile home insulation can be repaired as you would any homes, with minor exceptions. Simply install roll type insulation of sufficient "R" value in between the floor joists and affix in place with insulation support wires. Use the insulation that has the facing on it. The fabric on the underside of manufactured homes is generally called "belly wrap", some homes have a hard fiber board called "belly board" You need to either then pull the belly wrap cover over the new insulation or if that is not possible you can leave the new insulation exposed as it would be in site built homes. I do recommend repairing the belly wrap. Belly wrap to fix any damaged areas can be purchased from a mobile home supply. Belly wrap is available in lots of sizes and is not expensive. Here is a great place to get Belly Board Wrap. They have all the supplies you need to repair the belly wrap and board. I have also seen the underside of the home closed off with foam board after insulating. This may be over kill, unless you are in live in extreme conditions. This is also a good time to insulate pipes or duct work. Be sure to correct the reason for damage before doing the repair, such as water leaks or critters. The belly wrap is used to prevent moisture under homes from getting up into the under side of the floor and cause rot and mildew. I suggest putting down a vapor barrier under the home, such as sheet plastic. Be sure to check with local regulations.

Replacing Mobile Home Insulation

I removed all the belly wrap and blown in insulation under my double wide and replaced it with batt insulation, I also used insulated flex duct work with no problems. That was 5 years ago and still no problems. If you live in a climate with very cold winters I would recommend that you insulate the homes water pipes with pipe insulation that can be found at your local home improvement store and cover all your pipes before installing the batt insulation. These are the long foam sleeves you place over your pipes. For over kill you can wrap the pipes in aluminum foil before you put the foam sleeves in place. Be sure to cover everything with the sleeves and leave no gaps using quality duct tape to make the foam sleeves stay in place. Select the highest R value for the insulation batts that you can afford. There is a data sheet in your mobile home somewhere that has these R values, usually found in the laundry area cabinets and it has a zone map, also called a data plate, (see below for picture of mobile home data plate) with other info on it like the serial number. It will tell you the homes wall, floor and ceiling insulation values. Match or exceed these values. I left no dead air space when I did mine. The batt insulation tells you on the paper side whether to place the paper side towards the living space or not follow those instruction. Be sure to cover the homes pipes with the insulation where you can, if there is any dead air space because of that it should be fine. Determine how much square feet you have and buy the insulation accordingly. The belly wrap can be replaced, if you so desire after re-insulating and is available through some of the mobile home supply vendors advertising on my site and is cheaper than you might think. However that is a lot of work. Don't forget the wire hangers to hold the insulation in place. You also may want to consider using a heat tape to further prevent problems in the area the pipes cannot be adequately insulated, like where the water line come up into the homes interior, follow the package instructions on the heat tape. Lastly airtight underpinning is important. There are even insulated skirting underpinning panels you can use.

Here is anatomy view of a single wide mobile home showing the placement of insulation. Double wide homes are very similar.

Mobile Home Data Plate

Home Safety

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 16:17:00 -0400

In Home Safety Tips for Fire Tornado Hurricane Flood Children and Elderly. Here is some important home safety information that can save lives.

Home Fire Safety

I am very saddened by the number of reports I read daily concerning fires in mobile homes. The distressing part is the number of fatalities especially children that occur. To give you an idea of what it is like to be inside a home during a fire, try this, Close you eyes, spin around a couple of times keep your eyes closed then imagine being gripped by overwhelming fear, panic, disorientation, stifling heat, smoke, and toxic fumes. This will give you an idea of what it is like being in that type of situation. Hollywood makes it seem different though. I will tell you from the training I have received it is pitch black you can not see anything and you have very few seconds to save yourself or any loved ones. Forget attempting to save any personal property. Are you scared yet? Don't be afraid, stay prepared. The biggest causes of home fires seem to be from smoking, clothes dryers, faulty electrical outlets, heaters and stoves.
Always have and test smoke detectors.
Did you know smoke detectors as well as CO2 detectors wear out? After about ten years maximum they are not working. If your smoke or CO2 detectors have some age on them GET NEW ONES.
Researchers have found that many kids never wake up during a smoke detector alarm. There are now smoke detectors available that you can record your voice on that seem to get a much better response.

Go over a fire evacuation plan with your family and especially the children because you may not be able to reach them. No one is superman!

Have a fire drill! Seriously!

Have a meet up spot a safe distance from the home and make sure everyone gets there for accountability.

The smoke and fumes will cause your eyes and airway to swell shut almost immediately. This is one reason so many people are found dead from smoke inhalation in bed. They wake up in a panic, sit up taking a gasping breath and fall back into the bed dead. Smoke inhalation probably is the number one cause of death in home fires. Stay low, you have a few inches of breathable air near the floor. This is one reason I'm no big fan of bunk beds for children. When you are awaken immediately roll out of bed and hit the floor crawling towards one of your planned escapes points. Teach the kids the same thing.

Feel doors before you open them, if they are hot then fire is more than likely on the other side so head for the next escape point. Have more than one escape route.

When you get out then have someone call the fire department from a safe location or a neighbors. Do not go back into a burning home. There are no personal possessions that are worth your life. You may want to consider keeping important documents in a fire proof box.

General Fire Prevention Tips for Home Safety

Keep all matches and lighters out of the reach of children.

Store and use flammable liquids, including gasoline, mineral spirits, lubricants, and nail polish remover properly, away from open flame. Never store gasoline inside homes, it should be used only for fueling internal combustion engines! Don' not store gasoline or any flammable liquid near a gas appliance.

Never store combustible materials under homes.

Your home and yard should be kept free of debris. Don't allow magazines, newspapers, and other combustible items to collect.

Always keep all the homes exits clear and easy to reach.

Secure candles in non-combustible holders, and not near curtains and other flammable materials.

If smoking is allowed in your home, provide large, deep ashtrays and empty them into metal containers. Check around cushions for smoldering cigarettes before going to bed. No one should ever smoke in bed or while drowsy. Do not empty ashtrays in the trash can unless it is fireproof before going to bed, this is how a lot of bars and restaurants burn down.

Maintain the homes water heater temperature at 120-125 degrees. Have it checked at least once a year. If you have a gas water heater, pay special attention to the flue area. If the heater is electric, check for loose wiring. The water heater's pressure relief valve should be checked for corrosion. Never close up or cover a floor or wall vent in a gas water heater compartment.

Never leave cooking unattended. If you must answer the phone or go to the door, take a spoon or hot pan holder with you to remind you that you must return quickly. Keep pan handles turned in toward the center of the stove and wear short or tight-fitting sleeves while cooking. Keep combustibles away from the stove and maintain cooking areas, including the hood and duct, free of grease and dust. In case of a grease fire in a pan, NEVER attempt to pick up the flaming pan. Instead, slide a lid or cookie sheet onto the pan, turn off the heat, and wait for it to cool.

Be careful not to overload the homes electrical circuits. Lights that flicker or dim indicate trouble. When replacing fuses, install only recommended fuses. Only use fuses and breakers that are the proper size for the wire. If you are inexperienced in working with electricity, don't try to correct electrical problems yourself. Call a licensed electrician.

Extension cords are meant to be used temporarily. If your using one year-round, move the appliance nearer the outlet or call a qualified electrician to install an additional outlet. Never plug heaters into extension cords and make certain that an extension cord is heavy-duty enough to handle whatever is plugged into it. Power strips with their own circuit breakers are great for your homes entertainment centers and computer systems.

Replace frayed or broken electrical cords and never run cords under rugs. Only buy electrical appliances and equipment approved by a certified testing laboratory, and make sure all your homes electrical appliances are properly installed and maintained. Keep dust accumulations from televisions and other appliances.

Keep dryer vents and ducts cleaned out. If you are using the plastic duct, replace it with the new metal duct that is now required by code in most locations.

These are a few in home safety tips on staying alive if a fire happens. Contact your local fire department for more tips they are a hearty and helpful breed of people who would rather talk to you than have to write a report about you.

Tornado and Hurricane Home Safety

Everyone has seen the devastation caused to homes by tornadoes and hurricanes in the news. Not many structures can withstand the wind forces produced during these storms. Mobile Homes are particularly vulnerable to such events. Here are a few guidelines recommended by safety experts. I lumped these two topics together because there isn't much difference in the severity of damage and injuries they can cause. Hurricanes typically spawn tornadoes and along with the high potential for wind damage there is also a possibility of flooding due to rain and, if you live near large bodies of water, storm surge flood.
Even if mobile homes or manufactured homes are anchored, which I highly recommend, the best plan of action is to get out and find a suitable shelter. When you know that a possibly severe weather condition such as in the case of hurricanes is coming it is best to stay informed and tuned into weather advisory media. Locate a better structure that is more likely to survive such events ahead of time before you need it. Also be sure to look out for your neighbors and elderly who might be in danger. Keep them informed and take them with you.

To prepare for a weather event takes just a little bit of preparation. You need to have suitable supplies that you can quickly take with you wait out the storm. The list usually includes things like flashlights, radios, communication devices like a cell phone (that may not work after a storm but handy to have). Pack some creature comfort items that you and the kids or pets might need. While you are hunkered down. There are many websites and governmental agencies where you can find recommended items on a list. Look at Ready.Gov , National Hurricane Center and the Red Cross are some good site for supply ideas

Here are some general guidelines to help prepare your mobile home.
Have a licensed installer inspect your home for safety.
Make sure straps are tight and properly aligned.
Make sure your home has the proper number of anchors. Look at the info on the Skirting and Underpinning page for anchor placement.
Make sure ground anchors and stabilizer plates are installed properly and are flush with the ground.
Make sure piers are in contact with the manufactured homes frame.
Make sure straps and anchors are not damaged or corroded. If they are, replace them immediately.
Boarding up your homes windows to protect from flying debris may also be a good idea.

If you are in a site built home and a tornado comes upon you before you can seek storm shelter the recommendations are:
The safest place in the home is the interior, preferably under something sturdy like the table. Stay out from under heavy objects like pianos or refrigerators located on the floor above. If you have no basement, or cannot get there, go to an interior room on the lowest floor of the house, like a closet, hallway or bathroom with no windows. For added protection, get under something, like a workbench or heavy table. If possible, cover your body with a blanket or sleeping bag and protect your head with anything available, even your hands.

If you are caught outside or in your car the recommendations are:
Do not try to outrun a tornado your car. If you see a tornado, stop your vehicle and get out. Seek shelter away from the car in a nearby ditch or ravine; do not get under your vehicle. Lie flat and put your arms over your head.

If you encounter a flood situation
Find and stay on high ground. Never attempt to enter or cross any flooded streams. If you are in your car don"t try to drive through a flooded area. You don't know how deep the water is or if there is any hidden hazards. You also stand a very good chance of getting swept away.

Child In Home Safety

Children safety is a subject I consider very important. The number of avoidable injuries and deaths is staggering. There have been two deaths locally from a TV falling on a child and a clothes dresser falling on another. There are so many easily implementable things that can be done to identify and correct these types of hazards. Child safety locks on cabinets and electrical safety plugs is just a start. Here is some info from Kids Safe website including tutorial videos for safety proofing homes. They even have a section for special needs kids.

Elderly In Home Safety

The most commons causes of in home injuries to elderly persons from the reports I have read is from fire and falls. Getting "long in the tooth" is not a disability however it does put someone in a category of being disadvantaged and vulnerable to potential dangers in their own homes. If you are in that situation or know someone that this applies to there are lots of things that can be done to adapt the home for elderly safety.
You first need to start identifying the potential hazards at take action to correct them. There are businesses that can help with any changes that may be needed to make homes safer. Things like changing the types of home appliances or lower cabinets looking for trip hazards and adding hand rails or safety grab bars can be a big help.
Safety bathtubs and fall detectors are just a few of the many products out there that positively impact that special someone in your life. Lets face it your not going to get Mom, Dad, Grandma or Granddad to give up their homes (Look up definition of "Kicking and Screaming" in Websters) so do them and yourself a favor for piece of mind. Help make their golden years safer. Here are some good sites to look at for Older Adult Falls and for Senior Fire Safety .

How to Replace a Kitchen Sink

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 16:06:00 -0400

Replace Kitchen Sink

Kitchen sinks for homes come in 6", 7" and 8" depths. To change to a deeper sink will usually involve shortening the down tube that goes to the trap and into the wall. Sometimes it's necessary to enlarge the cut out in the counter top. This is most easily done with a jig saw. You can get drain waste kits of which there are two kinds, end waste and center waste for under $10 at almost any home improvement store. These will be either an 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" diameter, so it is best to match what you have now.
The problems that I have run into from experience are making sure that you have enough clearance from front to back and side to side. Use the template provided on the box to position your sink before you do any cutting on the counter top. You can also place the sink upside down on the homes counter top and take some measurements to be sure that you have enough room for the sink so as not to be to close to the wall/back splash or cabinet face. Side to side clearance is usually not a problem but check anyway. Always measure and measure again before you cut anything.
I also recommend that you caulk under the lip of the sink with some quality bacteria resistant waterproof silicon to prevent any water splash from getting under the sink and ruining the counter top, causing repairs later on, and then caulk again around the sink edge when you have the sink installed. I use the same caulk to install the sink basket strainers.

These are things that you can do if you are patient, follow the instructions and above all be SAFE.

Mobile Home Roof Repair

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 15:33:00 -0400

How To Repair Mobile Home Roof

Roof Coat

Roof coating on mobile homes is often overlooked or put off too long until serious mobile home roof repair problems develop. The roof should be checked at least once a year for rust or peeling of the roof coat. Most suppliers and repair persons recommend the roof be recoated every two years. Roof coat should be applied to a clean and rust free surface. Preparation is a very important part of roof repair. Be sure to make any gutter repairs and check for any gaps between gutter and roof edge, this is where water can seep in to stain ceilings and run down inside walls. There are different types of roof coat. The fibered type works well and is relatively inexpensive, there is also an elastomeric type that cost more but last a lot longer. Elastomeric can even be used to coat shingles.The seams on metal mobile home roofs should be coated. I will generally coat the entire roof if it has never been done. Some people use a 1" thick paint roller nap. I use a cheap string mop. Simply mop the coating on in an even coat over the entire roof. Be sure to get the seams well. Five gallons will easily cover average single wide mobile homes. Small holes and cracks should be filled in with roof cement before you start. You can get roof cement in can containers or tubes to use in caulk guns. If you have large holes from damage or want to do an entire re-roofing there are patch strips that can be purchased to repair them. These are called peel and seal strips available at mobile home parts store. When working on the roof be careful to not step between the roof beams, this will cause stress on the seams as the these are weak spots and is unsafe.The hardest part of the job is stirring up the roof coat, using an electric drill with a paint stirring paddle is the best way. The roof coat must be completely mixed to coat properly. If you have any damage from roof leaks look at the ceiling repair or wall repair page for help with those problems.
CAUTION:The roof coat is very slippery when wet!

Tools required

Ladder for climbing up the roof
Glass fiber or melted plastic to seal the leaks
Broom to clean the surface from the roofs
Patching cement for sealing the leaks
Cement sealer for laying a base for the sealing material
Paint brushes and rollers to apply the cement and the sealers
Paint tray to preserve the paintbrush
Elastomeric roof coating for overall protection in the roof.
Paint to repair the surface on the roof.

11 Steps for mobile residence roof repair

Use a ladder to climb up the roof and make sure that the roof is powerful enough to bear your weight, or else you need to use wooden beams as an additional support.
Use a broom to clean the surface for any dirt or old paintwork.
Begin of the coating, according to the type in the roof.
Use the roof coating to fill up little leaks, which glimpse from your rust within the roof.
Apply the patching cement over a surface to fill within the smaller leaks.
Apply the cement sealer liberally; around two coats.
Allow the sealer dry for around 12 hours, prior to applying the roof coating.
Use a paintbrush or a paint roller to apply the roof coating.
Coating the whole surface will make the roof last longer.
For larger leaks, use glass fiber or melted plastic to overlap the surface and apply silicone caulking more than it.
Finally, paint the whole roof to cover the patching.

Roof Over Kits

If the roof is not repairable you may want to consider a roof over, which are available in kit form. There are basically two types of roof over kits available. There are metal panel kits or rubber roll kits. I currently have no vendors that provide these kits. You can search the internet for roof over kit supply providers that sell these. These can be purchased as do it yourself and some suppliers offer installation services. Once installed they will provide years of roof protection without requiring any maintenance. They also give your roof a better insulation and reflective factor.

Roof Vent

Venting out the hot attic air is just as important in mobile homes, single wide or double wide, as it is in site built homes. Generally one square foot of vent for every 300 square feet of ceiling is adequate ie. 1800 square foot homes would require 6 square foot of roof vent. If you have any less you could have heat and possibly moisture buildup. If you already have vents make sure you have enough and that they are not obstructed. Double wide mobile homes manufactured homes will usually have gable end vents. They may also have eave and roof vents. Vents for mobile homes can be purchased on the parts page.

Closing off a turbine roof vent for winter

Instead of using an unsightly garbage bag that looks bad and can cause mechanical damage to the turbine vent, try this tip. I took some old sofa cushions and cut out some plugs to insert inside the vent. Usually there is a lip inside the vent housing from where the roof was cut to install the vent that will support the plug. The best way to cut these cushion plugs is with an electric carving knife. Simply remove the three screws that hold the turbine blades on and put the plug in that has been cut for a snug fit and re-install the turbine. This is also a great time to lubricate the turbine shaft. I recommend a white lithium grease spray because it is moisture and run resistant.

Mobile Home Wall Repair for Gypsum Sheetrock Drywall and Paneling

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 14:58:00 -0400

Mobile Home Wall Repair

A mobile home wall is usually 3/8 inch sheetrock drywall covered with a wallpaper design. This vinyl covered drywall can be hard to match if you are looking to repair or replace a piece making mobile home wall repair difficult. The vinyl covering also act as a vapor barrier in new home. Repair the hole by patching and then paint the wall or entire room, you can use a wall patch to fix this. I like to remove the batten strips that cover the sheetrock seams, then tape and mud them to give it the look of site built homes. You can remove the batten strips then tape and mud, with drywall compound, the seams as you would any sheetrock drywall. This is extra work, but looks good when you are done. I did mine that way. This really makes the rooms look great. This does not cost a lot and is an easy to do repair. If you paint just one wall with a slightly off setting color this will give an illusion of a larger room if you use a lighter color. If you are replacing or repairing sheetrock drywall in the home be sure to use the mold resistant type in areas that are prone to moisture such as the bathroom. The mold resistant sheerock is light green in color to distinguish it from regular drywall board and is now mandatory in some locations.

Sheetrock Drywall Patch

Mobile Home Wall Repair for Paneling

You basically have two choices, either panel over all the existing paneling or replace the damaged piece of paneling. You can easily do it yourself. Remove the batten strips and top and bottom molding. If there is enough of the old paneling left on the wall you can put the new paneling over it if not you will have to take down all the damaged paneling to keep the wall flat and not have any dips, then simply nail up new paneling and then re-install the top and bottom molding and batten strips. The batten strips do not have to be re-installed if you wish. DIY stores carry paneling starting at about $9.00 a 4'x8' paneling sheet. Matching the homes other paneling exactly would be the biggest problem, however you can always paint the whole room to get everything to match. You will need a saw to cut to fit the paneling and a hammer and paneling nails. If can not do it yourself then get some estimates from a local handyman or carpenter. Do you homework on the the material and labor cost.

Door Knob Hole Repair in Sheetrock Drywall and Paneling

A Door Knob Hole in Sheetrock Drywall and Paneling is very easy to repair without patching and you can eliminate any future damage by installing a self adhesive wall protector door stop. They stick easily and are paintable. These are also great for places that a standard door stop won't work.

Wall Protector Door Stop

Drywall Crack Repair

Drywall cracks can be repaired in one of two ways. If the crack is small you may just be able to use spackling putty to fill in the crack. If the crack is large or if it may have a tendency to run or widen then I suggest taping it with drywall tape then apply drywall compound, sand and paint to match the homes interior.

Painting

You would primer the walls as you would any wall. You may wish to use a primer like KILZ or ZINSSER for a better looking job, this works great on ceiling stains also that can occur in homes with roof problems. These primers come in white and they will do a good job of covering any prints or stains in homes before painting. Then paint any color you want. Personally I use only latex paints. Less fumes and cleans up easier. Semi gloss paint will stand up to any water splash that may occur around the kitchen, bath or laundry area.

Tub Surround Wall Panel Installation Guide

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 14:40:00 -0400

Tub Surround Wall Panels

A tub surround wall panels kit installed in mobile homes and site built homes bathtub walls are a fast easy inexpensive way to cover up ugly bathroom tub walls. Tub surrounds work where you have tubs with showers or without showers. Shower door kits can be easily installed after the wall shower panels are installed to finish off you bathroom wall. When it comes to tile vs. tub surround I find that the average person can easily install a tub surround panel kit without the problem of grouting and for a lot less expense. Tub wall enclosure kits are easier to maintain and clean than tile. The bathtub wall panels can be plain or have niches for soap, shampoo and towel holders. Tub surround wall panels come in a variety of colors to match the tub. I first wrote an article in my mobile home repair tips blog in response to an email I received. The large viewership of that page prompted me to add this page that give more of an explanation for an easy bathtub wall panel repair idea.

Typical tub surround.
Tub Surround Wall Panels Example

Bathtub Wall Preparation

Preparation is everything when it comes to the tub surround install or wall repairs. Installing a tub surround requires that certain things be done before installation. The surround kits come in 3-5 piece sections. First thing is to look at the wall and inspect it for any damage that may hinder the installation and second to check for mold. If there is a lot of damage to the sheetrock around the tub that would prevent a good adhesion of the surround kit it may have to be replaced. If you do replace it I suggest using the green colored mold resistant sheetrock. Now remember that the sheet rock you install doesn't have to be completely taped, mudded and sanded to install the kit. You only need and good clean smooth surface for the surround adhesive to affix properly. You can even use 3/8" sheetrock if your local code allows it, nothing heavy or thick is required. Mold is going to be the next thing to take care of before an install of the tub surround wall panels. You can clean up mold using anti microbial bleach, your paint or home improvement store will have this. After the mold is all cleaned up and you have scraped out all the moldy caulk I recommend you paint the wall with a mold inhibiting primer paint before installing the kit whether you replace the wall sheetrock or not.

Installing the Tub Surround Wall Panels

Installing the homes wall panels is a simple as following the how to install instructions provided with the kit. You will probably need to cut holes in one end panel to slip over the water valves and tub spigot after you have removed the knobs and tub faucet, which should just unscrew. Carefully measure the distance up from the tub and over from the corner of the wall where the end panel will touch the back wall. I made a template from the back of the box that the kit came in and then after making any adjustments use it to trace your holes on the end panel before you cut. You can cut the holes out with a good razor knife. Do a dry fit before applying any adhesive to check for alignment. Use only adhesives made for tub surrounds, anything else will bleed through. What I do is to use painters tape to first position the tub surround panels for a fit and leveling then make marks with a pencil before I even think about making any cuts or applying the adhesive, especially if it is a 5 piece tub surround kit. Finish it off with some quality mold inhibiting waterproof silicon caulk. Now step back and look at a beautiful shower enclosure job well done that will enhance your homes look and protect the walls from mildew and rot. If you need help with any plumbing repairs during installation please look at the plumbing repairs page.

Here is the best place to get Tub Surround Kits. Don't forget to order the proper adhesive and caulk!

Low Water Pressure Problem

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 14:33:00 -0400

Water Pressure at Faucet or Shower Head

Water coming out of the your homes faucets slow? Take the aerator of the end of the faucet and check for obstructions. I find this problem especially where homes are on a well, but will also occur on a public water system. Take the aerator apart and clean it well. You will see a piece in there that is usually white in color with a lot of little holes in it, this is the flow restrictor. This is to cut down on flow for conservation purposes. Some flow restrictors have a separate screen. I have seen some people leave the flow restrictor out and just put the screen back, I'm not sure this is a good idea since they are designed to help save water or puts you in violation of any state or federal regulations. This also applies to shower heads. If you find that the suggestions below do not solve your problems, consider having the water company come out and do a pressure check. If you are on a well check the pressure switch cut-in cut-out rating. You can either get a 30-50 or a 40-60. The first number is the cut in pressure and the second number is the cut out pressure in PSI. Be sure to look at the the plumbing repair page for more detailed information on plumbing problems.

Aerator Flow Restrictor

Low Water Pressure Washing Machine Filling Slowly

Usually this washing machine problem can be attributed to the filter screen being obstructed. In the end of the washing machine hoses are little filter screens that need to be taken out of the hose and cleaned. You will see this problem especially on the cold water side and is more prevalent for homes on a well.

Washing Machine Hose Filter

Wash Machine Tip

Leave the lid open on the wash machine when not in use to help deter the onset of rust in your wash tub and lid area. Be sure to check the hoses at least every few months for swelling or cracks this could help avoid a flooded home problem. If possible turn the off the valves when not in use.

Home and Mobile Home Maintenance Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 14:23:00 -0400

Home Maintenance Schedule

This page also contains mobile home winter weatherization tips. These preventative maintenance tips also apply to site built house and modular homes. Follow all manufacturers recommendations on items not covered on this maintenance schedule list.

DESCRIPTION and FREQUENCY
Clean or replace the homes AC filter -Monthly
Test smoke detector -Monthly
Test GFCI & arc fault outlets -Monthly
Check & replace or clean range hood charcoal filter -Quarterly
Check & maintain caulk at kitchen & bath counters -Quarterly
Check & lubricate moving parts on overhead garage doors & tracks -Quarterly
Check & lubricate moving parts on doors and locks-Quarterly
Check roof & gutters for debris buildup -Quarterly
Check & maintain tile grout in showers -Quarterly
Fertilize lawn & plants -Quarterly
Check & adjust your homes exterior door weather stripping & threshold -Semi-annually
Check & maintain washing machine hoses & connections -Semi-annually
Check & maintain dryer vent system for blockage -Semi-annually
Check & lubricate window tracks and moving parts -Semi-annually
Check & maintain all exterior caulk seals including doors, window, trim & hose bibbs -Semi-annually
Verify the homes main water shut off valve is accessible & functional -Semi-annually
Check & maintain all drainage, swales, culverts & drain inlets -Semi-annually
Check nuts & bolts on pull down stairs for tightness -Semi-annually
Clean condenser coils and vents on refrigerator -Yearly
Clean/Pressure wash the homes exterior -Yearly
Apply water seal to all exposed exterior treated wood -Yearly
Have a qualified professional check & clean fireplace & chimney -Yearly
Have your homes AC system checked & serviced by a qualified professional -Yearly
Check nuts & bolts on overhead garage door & tracks for tightness -Yearly
Clean smoke detector -Yearly
Renew your homes termite inspection and warranty -Yearly
Drain & flush water heater, verify operation of TPR (pressure release) valve -Yearly
Check fire extinguisher certification expiration date -Yearly
Verify AC condensation drain is flowing freely -Spring
Check AC float switch for proper operation if air handler is in attic -Spring
Disconnect & drain all exterior garden hoses -Predicted freeze
Cover & protect plants from freezing -Predicted freeze
Cover & protect back flow preventer from freezing -Predicted freeze
Put fuel stabilizer in you lawn mower weed eater and any other gas or diesel powered equipment before storing for the winter.

Mobile Home Exterior Siding Repair

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 19:18:00 -0400

Here are a few suggestions on repairing installing replacing and maintaining your homes exterior siding.

Exterior Mobile Home Siding Repair

Typically the wood type exterior sidings used on mobile homes and manufactured homes if not maintained will start to break down causing a serious problem. The siding used is usually "MDF" board. Ask your local paint guru about recommendations for stains or paint that will hold up for homes in your geographical location. If the siding is already starting to break down you have basically 3 choices.(1) you can remove and replace to the bad pieces. (2) you can sheet over the exterior with something similar to what is called T-111 siding. (3) cover the exterior with vinyl. This is my favorite, because you can easily upgrade insulation by different methods and make the appearance of your mobile home better. By just using "house wrap" under what ever exterior cover up you choose can make a big difference in heat and cooling loss. The upkeep of vinyl sidings is minimal and will last for many years. If the mobile home is new start now with coating, staining or painting. Once again consult your local painting professional for suggestions.

Vinyl Siding Over Metal

I don't see any problems with putting vinyl over the metal siding commonly used on single wide homes. You would need to prepare for the installation by removing any metal corner channel and installing the J channel where needed. Use sheet metal screws and affix the vinyl to the high spots on the ribs of the metal, other wise the installation would be about the same as installing over any flat surface. Be sure to kill any rust with a wire brush and spray paint. Repair any air leaks that you see to help with the homes heating and cooling efficiency.

HUD Guidelines for Mobile Homes

noreply@blogger.com (DMorgan) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 17:56:00 -0400

HUD Mobile Home Guidelines

HUD, which stands for Housing and Urban Development, has the absolute authority when it comes to manufactured mobile housing. They have in place and enforce several guidelines concerning the construction, sale, transportation, setup and all aspects of safety issues and even problem resolution.

I have fielded some question when it comes to HUD's regulations. The answer you may be looking for when it comes to mobile homes may sometimes be difficult and confusing to find. I went out and found the codes concerning mobile homes and placed them on this page in an outline format.

Code of Federal Regulations 24 CFR Part 3280 is the part of the huge regulation guidelines that pertain to manufactured home construction, safety setup, repair, disputes and more. I have broken them down below.

There is a link at the bottom of this page to view or download each regulation in it's entirety.

Part 3280 - MANUFACTURED HOME CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY STANDARDS
Heading 224 - Table Of Contents (Parts 3280 - 3280)
Subpart A - General
Section 3280.1 - Scope.
Section 3280.2 - Definitions.
Section 3280.3 - Manufactured home procedural and enforcement regulations and consumer manual requirements.
Section 3280.4 - Incorporation by reference.
Section 3280.5 - Data plate.
Section 3280.6 - Serial number.
Section 3280.7 - Excluded structures.
Section 3280.8 - Waivers.
Section 3280.9 - Interpretative bulletins.
Section 3280.10 - Use of alternative construction.
Section 3280.11 - Certification label.

Subpart B - Planning Considerations
Section 3280.101 - Scope.
Section 3280.102 - Definitions.
Section 3280.103 - Light and ventilation.
Section 3280.104 - Ceiling heights.
Section 3280.105 - Exit facilities; exterior doors.
Section 3280.106 - Exit facilities; egress windows and devices.
Section 3280.107 - Interior privacy.
Section 3280.108 - Interior passage.
Section 3280.109 - Room requirements.
Section 3280.110 - Minimum room dimensions.
Section 3280.111 - Toilet compartments.
Section 3280.112 - Hallways.
Section 3280.113 - Glass and glazed openings.

Subpart C - Fire Safety
Section 3280.201 - Scope.
Section 3280.202 - Definitions.
Section 3280.203 - Flame spread limitations and fire protection requirements.
Section 3280.204 - Kitchen cabinet protection.
Section 3280.205 - Carpeting.
Section 3280.206 - Fireblocking.
Section 3280.207 - Requirements for foam plastic thermal insulating materials.
Section 3280.208 - Smoke alarm requirements.
Section 3280.209 - Fire testing.

Subpart D - Body and Frame Construction Requirements
Section 3280.301 - Scope.
Section 3280.302 - Definitions.
Section 3280.303 - General requirements.
Section 3280.304 - Materials.
Section 3280.305 - Structural design requirements.
Section 3280.306 - Windstorm protection.
Section 3280.307 - Resistance to elements and use.
Section 3280.308 - Formaldehyde emission controls for certain wood products.
Section 3280.309 - Health Notice on formaldehyde emissions.

Subpart E - Testing
Section 3280.401 - Structural load tests.
Section 3280.402 - Test procedure for roof trusses.
Section 3280.403 - Standard for windows and sliding glass doors used in manufactured homes.
Section 3280.404 - Standard for egress windows and devices for use in manufactured homes.
Section 3280.405 - Standard for swinging exterior passage doors for use in manufactured homes.
Section 3280.406 - Air chamber test method for certification and qualification of formaldehyde emission levels.

Subpart F - Thermal Protection
Section 3280.501 - Scope.
Section 3280.502 - Definitions.
Section 3280.503 - Materials.
Section 3280.504 - Condensation control and installation of vapor retarders.
Section 3280.505 - Air infiltration.
Section 3280.506 - Heat loss/heat gain.
Section 3280.507 - Comfort heat gain.
Section 3280.508 - Heat loss, heat gain and cooling load calculations.
Section 3280.509 - Criteria in absence of specific data.
Section 3280.510 - Heat loss certificate.
Section 3280.511 - Comfort cooling certificate and information.

Subpart G - Plumbing Systems
Section 3280.601 - Scope.
Section 3280.602 - Definitions.
Section 3280.603 - General requirements.
Section 3280.604 - Materials.
Section 3280.605 - Joints and connections.
Section 3280.606 - Traps and cleanouts.
Section 3280.607 - Plumbing fixtures.
Section 3280.608 - Hangers and supports.
Section 3280.609 - Water distribution systems.
Section 3280.610 - Drainage systems.
Section 3280.611 - Vents and venting.
Section 3280.612 - Tests and inspection.

Subpart H - Heating, Cooling and Fuel Burning Systems
Section 3280.701 - Scope.
Section 3280.702 - Definitions.
Section 3280.703 - Minimum standards.
Section 3280.704 - Fuel supply systems.
Section 3280.705 - Gas piping systems.
Section 3280.706 - Oil piping systems.
Section 3280.707 - Heat producing appliances.
Section 3280.708 - Exhaust duct system and provisions for the future installation of a clothes dryer.
Section 3280.709 - Installation of appliances.
Section 3280.710 - Venting, ventilation and combustion air.
Section 3280.711 - Instructions.
Section 3280.712 - Marking.
Section 3280.713 - Accessibility.
Section 3280.714 - Appliances, cooling.
Section 3280.715 - Circulating air systems.

Mobile Home Parts Store

trailer parts

Subpart I - Electrical Systems
Section 3280.801 - Scope.
Section 3280.802 - Definitions.
Section 3280.803 - Power supply.
Section 3280.804 - Disconnecting means and branch-circuit protective equipment.
Section 3280.805 - Branch circuits required.
Section 3280.806 - Receptacle outlets.
Section 3280.807 - Fixtures and appliances.
Section 3280.808 - Wiring methods and materials.
Section 3280.809 - Grounding.
Section 3280.810 - Electrical testing.
Section 3280.811 - Calculations.
Section 3280.812 - Wiring of expandable units and dual units.
Section 3280.813 - Outdoor outlets, fixtures, air-conditioning equipment, etc.
Section 3280.814 - Painting of wiring.
Section 3280.815 - Polarization.
Section 3280.816 - Examination of equipment for safety.

Subpart J - Transportation
Section 3280.901 - Scope.
Section 3280.902 - Definitions.
Section 3280.903 - General requirements for designing the structure to withstand transportation shock and vibration.
Section 3280.904 - Specific requirements for designing the transportation system.

Part 3282 - MANUFACTURED HOME PROCEDURAL AND ENFORCEMENT REGULATIONS
Heading 342 - Table Of Contents (Parts 3282 - 3282)
Subpart A - General
Subpart B - Formal Procedures
Subpart C - Rules and Rulemaking Procedures
Subpart D - Informal and Formal Presentations of Views, Hearings and Investigations
Subpart E - Manufacturer Inspection and Certification Requirements
Subpart F - Dealer and Distributor Responsibilities
Subpart G - State Administrative Agencies
Subpart H - Primary Inspection Agencies
Subpart I - Consumer Complaint Handling and Remedial Actions
Subpart J - Monitoring of Primary Inspection Agencies
Subpart K - Departmental Oversight
Subpart L - Manufacturer, IPIA and SAA Reports

Part 3284 - MANUFACTURED HOUSING PROGRAM FEE
Heading 447 - Table Of Contents (Parts 3284 - 3284)
Section 3284.1 - Applicability.
Section 3284.5 - Amount of fee.
Section 3284.10 - Payments to States

Part 3285 - MODEL MANUFACTURED HOME INSTALLATION STANDARDS
Heading 452 - Table Of Contents (Parts 3285 - 3285)
Subpart A - General
Subpart B - Pre-Installation Considerations
Subpart C - Site Preparation
Subpart D - Foundations
Subpart E - Anchorage Against Wind
Subpart F - Optional Features
Subpart G - Ductwork and Plumbing and Fuel Supply Systems
Subpart H - Electrical Systems and Equipment
Subpart I - Exterior and Interior Close-Up
Subpart J - Optional Information for Manufacturer's Installation Instructions

Part 3286 - MANUFACTURED HOME INSTALLATION PROGRAM
Heading 526 - Table Of Contents (Parts 3286 - 3286)
Subpart A - Generally Applicable Provisions and Requirements
Subpart B - Certification of Installation in HUD-Administered States
Subpart C - Installer Licensing in HUD-Administered States
Subpart D - Training of Installers in HUD-Administered States
Subpart E - Installer Responsibilities of Installation in HUD-Administered States
Subpart F - Inspection of Installations in HUD-Administered States
Subpart G - Retailer Responsibilities in HUD-Administered States
Subpart H - Oversight and Enforcement in HUD-Administered States
Subpart I - State Programs

Part 3288 - MANUFACTURED HOME DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM
Heading 597 - Table Of Contents (Parts 3288 - 3288)
Subpart A - General
Subpart B - HUD Manufactured Home Dispute Resolution Program in HUD-Administered States
Subpart C - Alternative Process in HUD-Administered States
Subpart D - State Dispute Resolution Programs in Non-HUD Administered States
Subpart E - Dispute Resolution Program Rulemaking Procedures

For a more in depth look at each regulation you can go to the GPO.Gov page and search for 24 CFR Part 3280 to view the codes in PDF format or download them if you want.