Manufactured Housing News

Spring has finally arrived! Besides being the season when nature bursts back into life, spring is also the perfect time to get outdoors and tackle some larger home projects. But with so many things to do around a manufactured home, the fact that many manufactured homeowners don't know where to begin comes as no surprise. This home maintenance checklist outlines the most important chores you should complete in the spring in order to get your manufactured home ready for the summer.

Inspect and Clean Your Air Conditioning System, Ductwork, and Vents

Just like you prepare your heater for top efficiency and performance before the cold weather arrives, it's important that you check and clean your cooling system before the summer heat kicks in. Because the hot weather puts a lot of strain on your air conditioning system, inspecting it in the spring will allow you to identify any problems that may prevent it from operating at peak performance during the summer.

When inspecting your air conditioning system, make sure that you clean the outside of the unit, the evaporator coil, and the condenser coil as well. Additionally, you should replace the blower filter, clean the ductwork and vents, and check the thermostat. If you have a ductless cooling system, you'll never have to worry about cleaning the air ducts and vents.

Clean and Inspect Your Manufactured Home's Siding

Cleaning your manufactured home's siding and inspecting it for damages every spring can help you extend its life and delay the need for replacement. Whether you have vinyl, aluminum, or wood siding, an annual cleaning will allow you to remove dirt, grit, grime, and mold. The easiest way to clean your manufactured home's siding is to scrub it using warm, soapy water and a soft-bristled brush attached to a long handle. After scrubbing one section of your siding, rinse it thoroughly with clean water to remove any remaining traces of dirt and soap.

When scrubbing and rinsing your siding, make sure that you also keep an eye out for damage. If you come across any signs of damage, like discoloration, warping, cracks, and/or peeling paint, it's important to address these issues right away in order to prevent them from escalating into more serious problems. 

Check Your Roof

The easiest way to check your roof in the spring is to carefully inspect your manufactured home's ceiling for common signs of roof damage, including discolored spots, stains, peeling or cracking paint, and mold growth. If you observe any of these problems, check the exterior of your roof for loose, cracked, or missing shingles.

Check Your Manufactured Home's Skirting and Underbelly

Together with your manufactured home's siding and roof, the skirting and underbelly form an indispensable barrier that protects your home not only against the elements but also against pests, rodents, and bugs. It is for this reason keeping your home's skirting and underbelly in good condition is extremely important.

As the rain and snow from the winter may have damaged the skirting, start by visually inspecting it. If you observe any damage, you can either repair the area affected or replace the entire skirting. Repairing your home's skirting makes sense if the affected area is relatively small or out of sight. If the skirting is in bad shape, it may be more cost-effective to replace it entirely.

Next up, inspect the underside of your manufactured home for damage, like small holes and older insulation. While small holes can be sealed with polyethylene or spray foam insulation, older insulation should be replaced with new insulation products. When checking your home's underbelly, make sure that you also remove any debris that may have accumulated during the winter and inspect your plumbing system for leaks. If you observe any leaks, your pipes may have frozen over and burst in the winter.

You should also check to ensure that thevapor barrier under your manufactured home is intact. The main role of this barrier is to prevent residual moisture from rising up and causing different problems, which may range from mold growth and musty smell to structural damage. As well, don't forget to open the vents in your manufactured home's skirting and remove any objects that may obstruct them. Ventilation is very important for the skirting because it allows the excess moisture in this area to evaporate.

If you don't feel comfortable completing these tasks yourself, you can always call in professional contractors, who are able to identify and fix any problems that could affect your home. With their help, you'll be able to keep your manufactured home in tip-top shape for many years to come.

But with so many things to do around a manufactured home, the fact that many manufactured homeowners don't know where to begin comes as no surprise. This home maintenance checklist outlines the most important chores you should complete in the spring in order to get your manufactured home ready for the summer.

Inspect and Clean Your Air Conditioning System, Ductwork, and Vents

Just like you prepare your heater for top efficiency and performance before the cold weather arrives, it's important that you check and clean your cooling system before the summer heat kicks in. Because the hot weather puts a lot of strain on your air conditioning system, inspecting it in the spring will allow you to identify any problems that may prevent it from operating at peak performance during the summer.

When inspecting your air conditioning system, make sure that you clean the outside of the unit, the evaporator coil, and the condenser coil as well. Additionally, you should replace the blower filter, clean the ductwork and vents, and check the thermostat. If you have a ductless cooling system, you'll never have to worry about cleaning the air ducts and vents.

Clean and Inspect Your Manufactured Home's Siding

Cleaning your manufactured home's siding and inspecting it for damages every spring can help you extend its life and delay the need for replacement. Whether you have vinyl, aluminum, or wood siding, an annual cleaning will allow you to remove dirt, grit, grime, and mold. The easiest way to clean your manufactured home's siding is to scrub it using warm, soapy water and a soft-bristled brush attached to a long handle. After scrubbing one section of your siding, rinse it thoroughly with clean water to remove any remaining traces of dirt and soap.

When scrubbing and rinsing your siding, make sure that you also keep an eye out for damage. If you come across any signs of damage, like discoloration, warping, cracks, and/or peeling paint, it's important to address these issues right away in order to prevent them from escalating into more serious problems. 

Check Your Roof

The easiest way to check your roof in the spring is to carefully inspect your manufactured home's ceiling for common signs of roof damage, including discolored spots, stains, peeling or cracking paint, and mold growth. If you observe any of these problems, check the exterior of your roof for loose, cracked, or missing shingles.

Check Your Manufactured Home's Skirting and Underbelly

Together with your manufactured home's siding and roof, the skirting and underbelly form an indispensable barrier that protects your home not only against the elements but also against pests, rodents, and bugs. It is for this reason keeping your home's skirting and underbelly in good condition is extremely important.

As the rain and snow from the winter may have damaged the skirting, start by visually inspecting it. If you observe any damage, you can either repair the area affected or replace the entire skirting. Repairing your home's skirting makes sense if the affected area is relatively small or out of sight. If the skirting is in bad shape, it may be more cost-effective to replace it entirely.

Next up, inspect the underside of your manufactured home for damage, like small holes and older insulation. While small holes can be sealed with polyethylene or spray foam insulation, older insulation should be replaced with new insulation products. When checking your home's underbelly, make sure that you also remove any debris that may have accumulated during the winter and inspect your plumbing system for leaks. If you observe any leaks, your pipes may have frozen over and burst in the winter.

You should also check to ensure that the vapor barrier under your manufactured home is intact. The main role of this barrier is to prevent residual moisture from rising up and causing different problems, which may range from mold growth and musty smell to structural damage. As well, don't forget to open the vents in your manufactured home's skirting and remove any objects that may obstruct them. Ventilation is very important for the skirting because it allows the excess moisture in this area to evaporate.

If you don't feel comfortable completing these tasks yourself, you can always call in professional contractors, who are able to identify and fix any problems that could affect your home. With their help, you'll be able to keep your manufactured home in tip-top shape for many years to come.