Preparation for the winter and weather proofing for cold temperatures is very important for all types of homes. There are some general winterizing tips which are applicable to anyone wishing to maintain his home during the winter. The general tips are not very effective especially with manufactured. So, what should manufactured home owners do to prepare their homes for the winter effectively? The following are some useful manufactured home winterization tips that you may consider to maintain your home.
Top Manufactured Home Winterization Tips
1) Wrap or cover the water heater:
This will help you save money on your electricity or gas bill. It is advisable to use an insulated blanket to cover the heater since it is uses about 15% of your heating bill. Insulating it will reduce energy consumption and help you save money.
2) Check carbon monoxide and smoke alarm detectors:
The winterization process is all about keeping your home safe, lowering your energy bills and save money. It is therefore possible for you to keep your home in good conditions even with the safety equipment it needs. So, be sure to check all the necessary safety equipment such as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers to enhance safety. Most safety equipment is affected by cold temperatures and hence important to ensure they are properly maintained during the winter.
3) Seal and weatherstrip drafts using door sweeps:
This insulates the underneath of your doors to prevent constant cold breeze from entering your manufactured home. You may also look for drafts from the walls and spots where the cable turns into the house and seal them correctly.
4) Clean the gutters:
Check your gutters regularly for residue and leaves that may cause problems such as flooding. Regular checks will ensure they are clean to drain water of your home and prevent formation of ice.
5) Winterize the pellet stove or fireplace:
Get the chimney of your pellet stove or fireplace cleaned to prevent chimney fires and make sure they are safe for use since they are usually used as the source of heat during the winter. Carbon monoxide alarm detectors may indicate that there is smoke leaking into your room.
6) Clean air ducts:
Dirty air and heating ducts are not effective. They are usually cleaned during the winter at discounted prices. Manufactured home owners should ensure these ducts are cleaned to increase the quality of air in your home.
Some Additional Manufactured Home Winterization Tips
The following are some proper steps that you may undertake to winterize your mobile home. They will help you keep your house warm, keep your heating bills down and ensure your home is protected from severely cold weather.
1. Insulation
Buy a spray insulation foam can from your local home improvement center or hardware store. Use the can to fill all the homes around the outer surfaces of your mobile homes including the spots where water pipes enter your home.
2. Windows
Purchase storm windows or window shrink-wrap kit to cover your windows. This will prevent heat loss around the windows which is very common and a major source of heat loss during the winter.
3. Roof
Seal the ridges of your metal roof if your home has them. You can also caulk around the vents and plumbing pipes that protrude from the metal roof.
4. Furnace
Carry out routine maintenance on the furnace of your manufactured home. Clean or replace filters, thermostats and exhaust vent to make sure they are working properly.
5. Tie Downs
Loosen the tie-downs of your home slightly to allow ground heaving and prevent damage in case the ground freezes.
It is advisable for manufactured home owners to utilize the tips above at the beginning of November or the end of October, especially for those who live in western hemisphere that includes the United States and Canada.
Nevertheless, the preparation period is determined by the weather in your region.
Make sure you get your residence weather-proofed before the cold weather moves in.
Keep the above tips in mind for they will help you eliminate expensive repairs.
