How to Heat a Mobile Home

Mobile homes make a cheap and efficient place to live for many people. Unfortunately, they are not so efficient when it comes to energy needs. Not only do mobile homes have a tendency to become very hot during the summer, but they lose all of their heat during the winter. This makes the winter heating costs very high for anyone living in a manufactured home, but it doesn't have to be this way. There are steps you can take that will make your mobile home much more energy efficient.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Under pinning Insulation Storm windows Old towels

1. Install under-pinning on your mobile home. This is a basic part of living in a manufactured home, but is something that many people neglect and overlook. Putting under-pinning on the mobile home not only improves the appearance of your home, but prevents cold winds from blowing under the home. Restricting these winds helps keep the floor of your home warm.

2. Enhance the insulation in your home. Most mobile homes have poor insulation. Many have no insulation at all. Improving your home's insulation can be a large project that consumes most of a weekend, but you will reap the benefits for years. Carefully remove the paneling from the interior walls of your mobile home. Fill the walls with a high quality insulation made from foam or fiberglass. Replace the wood panels on the walls when the inside is well insulated. Also insulate the ceiling if it is possible to remove ceiling panels.

3. Consider upgrading your windows. Most mobile homes have very cheap windows. Cheap windows not only allow heat to escape, but also allow cold air to penetrate your home. Replacing your old windows with new storm windows will help heat your mobile home during winter and remain more energy efficient all year.

4. Inspect and service your heating unit annually. Most mobile homes have central heat and air. These units can operate for years without the need for maintenance. However, you should hire a heating professional to inspect your unit each year so that you can repair any problems in advance. This will prevent you from suddenly finding yourself without heat in the middle of winter.

5. Think about building a solar panel to heat the air in your home. This is not an expensive solar panel that generates electricity. It is a simple, low-tech panel that uses the sun's rays to heat air temperature. Detailed instructions for heating a mobile home with one of these panels can be found by clicking the "Inexpensive Solar Heating" link in the Resources section.

Tips & Warnings

• Roll up old towel and place them across the bottom of any door that leads outside. This will help prevent any heat exchange through the bottom of the door.

Resources

• Inexpensive Solar Heating

[chercares]

on 3/3/2009 I especially like this on your resources link:http://www.mobilehomerepair.com/article17solar.htmGreat info! 5*'s!

[BlueOx]

on 12/18/2008 It usually pries away from the wall very easily once you get it started. Try using a small, thin screwdriver to get under the seam so you can lift it a little, then just use the claws on your hammer to pry out the nails. Old panels will have a tendency to try to bust, so just go slow and be gentle.

[soanyway]

on 12/7/2008 How do you remove the paneling? I live in a very nice and cozy older mobile. And your right! it's still like living in a tin box! ~thanks~
I recommended you~