3 Important Mobile Home Maintenance Tips
Mobile homes have gradually become a favored housing choice for most people primarily because of their affordability and adaptability. However, like stick-built homes, you should dedicate enough time and effort to maintain your mobile home. Maintenance for mobile homes isn’t different from maintaining regular homes. Below are three maintenance practices for your mobile homes.
1. Preserving your Mobile Home’s First Impression
There’s a lot to consider when searching for mobile homes for sale. Most people prioritize the size, color, interior room partitions, and roofing. You should work towards maintaining your home’s initial appearance through the years. This is the first thing your guests and passersby notice in your home.
The best place to begin is the siding and skirting. Inspect the siding for loose or damaged panels. Repairing or replacing damaged panels ensures that your home maintains its initial aesthetics. Repairing these panels also maintains your home’s insulation levels, keeping your energy costs in check. Regular pressure washing helps keep the panels dirt and grime-free.
You should also check on the roof for signs of leaks and damage. Roof leaks can allow water into your home, causing several problems. Besides damaging your belongings, a leaking roof also causes structural damage and potential mold issues. Similarly, remember your doors and windows. Inspect and repair worn-out seals and weather stripping to prevent drafts and energy loss.
2. Prepare your Home for the Seasons Ahead
Maintenance needs for your mobile home do change with seasons. During winter, you should take the necessary steps to prevent plumbing systems from freezing. This may necessitate insulating or using heat tape in exposed areas. You should also check on your HVAC unit or schedule a professional inspection and seal gaps and cracks in your mobile home’s exterior to keep warm air in and cold air out.
Maintenance practices for spring revolve around cleaning and inspection. Spring is the best time to trim overgrown branches that can damage your siding and roof and check your air conditioning in preparation for summer. Clean and replace worn-out air filters for smooth airflow.
There’s nothing much to do during summer other than inspecting your mobile home’s skirting to prevent pests from nesting. Summer’s warm weather makes the underneath of your mobile home a perfect nesting ground for pests. Lastly, take your time during fall to prepare your mobile home for winter. Clean the gutters, inspect the roof for loose shingles, and seal gaps.
3. Ensure your Mobile Home is Properly Leveled
You should always ensure that your mobile home remains leveled. While mobile homes are leveled during installation, they need some adjustments over time. You should learn to observe some signs that indicate your home isn’t balanced out, such as doors not closing properly and windows not fitting right.
Creaking floors and cracks on the wall and ceiling are also indications that your home needs re-leveling. Balancing your mobile home isn’t a simple procedure, and you should consider calling a professional.
Endnote
Like regular homes, mobile homes require routine maintenance. Because of their relatively smaller size, mobile homeowners shouldn’t skimp on regular maintenance as it can cause further problems. For instance, ignoring your home’s plumbing systems can make your home totally uninhabitable. Similarly, your home’s flat roof has special needs, especially during winter. You should also consider enlisting the help of professionals yearly.
