How to Winterize a Vacant Mobile Home

Prepare a vacant mobile home againt winter freezes.

A vacant mobile home qualifies as an investment that needs to be protected. Winter storms and freezing temperatures can cause extensive damage to a vacant mobile home. Winterizing a mobile home is straightforward and doesn't take much time. Take budget-friendly, easy steps to winter-proof a vacant mobile home. Make the necessary adjustments with basic household tools and get a vacant mobile home ready for whatever Old Man Winter has to offer.

Things You'll Need

• Plumbing antifreeze
• 6-millimeter polyethylene sheets
• Staple gun
• Utility knife
• Silicone caulk

Instructions

1. Shut off water at the outside stopcock. If the home draws water from a well, set the water supply valve in the off position. Flush all toilets and add 1 quart of plumbing antifreeze to each commode. Open all faucets inside the house and open all exterior water faucets.

2. Turn off the power to all utilities. Attach a length of garden hose to the water heater's drain valve and run it away from the house. Open the valve and drain out all the water from the heater's supply tank. Remove the garden hose and close the drain valve.

3. Remove the clean-out plug on the plumbing traps of every sink in the home. Clean foreign matter out of each trap and replace the plug. Pour 1 cup of plumbing antifreeze into each trap.

4. Add 1 quart of plumbing antifreeze to each bathtub and shower drain. If a laundry room has a floor drain, pour 1 quart of plumbing antifreeze into it for protection against freezing.

5. Cover trellising around porches with polyethylene sheeting. Attach the sheets to the porch foundation with a staple gun and trim off the excess with a utility knife.

6. Check for cracks in the skirting of the mobile home. Seal openings with silicone caulk to prevent air from infiltrating the home. Check and seal openings in and around seams in gutters and downspouts, flashing around roof vents and pipes and the flashing between roof shingles and soffits.

Tips & Warnings

• Plumbing antifreeze is available at your local home center or hardware store.

• Do not pour plumbing antifreeze into a dish washer or washing machine; it could damage the components.

References

• Workshop on Wheels: How to Winterize a Vacant Property
• My Great Home: How to Winterize Your Manufactured Home
• Prevention of Frozen Services: Preventive Maintenance