6 Tips for Winterizing Your Mobile Home

Manufactured housing has come a long way in terms of climate control. Our mobile home dealership offers a variety of modern, well-constructed homes that will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. However, there are some simple extra steps to take when fully winterizing your mobile home.

Below, check out some of the easiest ways to winterize your mobile home. 

Reverse Your Mobile Home’s Ceiling Fans

Ceilings are essential to cooling your home in the sweltering San Antonio heat in July. This is done by spinning the fan blades counterclockwise, which pushes cool air down and pulls warm air up. It seems like magic, but it’s science: cool air naturally wants to go down, and warm air naturally wants to go up, making this an effective cooling strategy.

Many don’t realize that ceiling fans are helpful in winter too. All you have to do is reverse them, so the blades spin clockwise instead. This pulls up cold air, pushing all that naturally rising warm air around the room. Doing this will keep your manufactured homes warmer while using less energy.

To switch the fan blade direction, there should be a switch on the fan. If you can feel a breeze when standing directly under the fan, it’s probably spinning counterclockwise (the summer setting).

Inspect Your Water Heater

In general, water heater tanks last about 10-15 years. If your manufactured housing properties have aging or deteriorating water tanks, you should consider replacing them before they break, which can flood the property. You (or a professional) should inspect the tank for cracks. If there’s any cracking, the tank must be replaced. On the other hand, damaged or cracked valves and drain lines are easy to replace, so inspect those as well.

Keep The Heat On 

It may seem counterintuitive: Wouldn’t shutting it off save you money if you don’t need the heat? This can cause issues with your pipes if the temperature drops. How low is too low? As a general rule of thumb, the thermostat should never be set below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Skirting for Your Mobile Home

Skirting helps manufactured homes retain heat and prevents snow from building up under the house. It’s much harder to warm pipes sitting on a pile of snow. Any exposed areas should be skirted.

Crack Open Closets and Cabinets

To be clear, no one is saying you need to have all your closets and cabinets open at all times. You don’t need to turn your mobile home into an obstacle course! But by exposing spaces that don’t have vents to circulate heat, you keep the walls and floors heated everywhere. This also better protects pipes throughout the house.

Caulk Windows and Doors

Caulk is inexpensive and easy to apply to gaps in windows and doors. You can’t winterize manufactured homes without ensuring the caulk is in place. If caulk or weatherstrip seals aren’t enough to prevent drafts, the window or door may need to be replaced.

Doors and windows are obvious candidates for caulking, but some people forget the exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms. Caulk around these built-in fans to prevent cold air from slipping through the cracks.

Last, don’t neglect the light fixtures. Manufactured homes often contain air gaps between the interior and outer walls (e.g., the roof and siding). With regular maintenance, any cracks should be small and relatively easy to caulk over.

We hope these tips help you keep your manufactured home in tip-top shape this winter. If you are in the market for a new mobile home, contact our mobile home dealership in San Antonio today!