When it comes to heating, you want to keep your home as energy efficient as possible. Mobile or manufactured homes can benefit from many of the same strategies used to increase the efficiency of a stick-built house, but there are also key differences you should address. These tips help you tackle the five areas where heat loss commonly occurs in a mobile home.

Tip #1: Check Your Floor

Mobile and manufactured homes can lose a lot of heat through the floor, due to poor insulation and the cold air trapped beneath the home. Adding blown-in or foam insulation between the joists in the floor beds improves energy efficiency by slowing heat loss. When adding insulation, avoid covering the vents for the furnace. It's best to call a professional if you are unsure how to do this safely.

If your home isn't on a permanent foundation, use an insulated skirt around the base to further minimize heat loss.

Tip #2: Look to the Roof

After the floor, the roof is the second most likely place on a mobile home to have poor insulation. For the best insulating quality, the insulation should fill up the empty space in the ceiling to within 4 to 6 inches of the roof. The space is necessary to allow air circulation and prevent moisture condensation on the underside of the roof.

Exhaust vents on the roof may also leak hot air. Make sure these are sealed well and there's no gap between the vent pipes and the roofing material. Caulking and flashing can fix any issues.

Tip #3: Seal Everything

Your windows, doors and other outlets to the outside can cause a lot of heat loss if they aren't properly sealed. Make sure the weatherstripping is in good condition, and replace it if damaged or worn. Holes around pipes and cables are another area where heat loss is common. Caulk around these with silicone caulk so they are sealed.

Tip #4: Upgrade Doors and Windows

If your mobile home is builder's grade, it likely has inefficient windows and storm doors. You can add insulation to the windows with one of three methods:

  1. Replace the windows with insulated storm windows.

  2. Add external storm windows over the existing windows, and remove them each spring.

  3. Cover the windows on the inside with a temporary shrink film. You tape the film around the window and heat it with a blow drier to create an airtight seal. In spring, you take the film down.

Tip #5: Don't Overlook the A/C

A window A/C unit can be easy to overlook once you turn it off for the season. Unfortunately, leaving it in place lets cold air in and can shorten the life of the unit. Remember to take it down each fall and store it indoors out of the weather.

These simple improvements will keep you warmer and lower your heating costs in winter. Making your home cozy doesn't require a lot of work or expense. Talk to an expert like L L Climatic Insulation Ltd for more ideas.

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