Consumer
Information
Energy
Saving Tips
1. Check weather
seal around doors and windows. If seal is cracked, replace. Silicone
seal is preferred.
2. Use weather stripping.
3. Use heal deflectors on registers (if room arrangement and register
placement allow, usually on outside walls.) Make sure registers
are tight and sealed to heat duct line.
4. Pull shades or drapes at night. South-facing window shades
or drapes should be open during daylight hours for solar heat
gain.
5. Make sure your damper on exhaust fans and clothes dryer vents
close completely to keep wind from flowing in.
6. White roof coating may be of value during both winter and summer
depending on the age and type of home you own.
7. Clean furnace filter often to reduce energy consumption. Make
sure roof jack and crossover duct are installed and working.
8. Install storm windows.
9. Use tight-fitting window shades to reduce temperature condensation
through the glass.
10. Research has proven that turning down the thermostat when
you are away saves energy.
11. If the home has a forced air furnace, all registers should
be kept clear of obstructions. To ensure adequate return air,
do not block furnace doors. This will allow maximum circulation
of air and a lower thermostat setting.
The above
items are merely suggestions for maintaining your home. You should
always consult your manufactured home owner's manual for specific
instructions.
Tips on
Preparing for Winter in Your Manufactured Home
1. Skirting
should be installed per the manufacturer's instructions, keeping
in mind to provide for adequate ventilation so that odor or condensation
problems do not occur. Make sure all drain lines from air conditioner,
heat pump, etc. drain to outside of skirting of home.
2. Close all access points in skirting to keep rodents and other
wild animals from living under your home. Adjust storm door closures
for proper closing action and latch function to allow for a minimum
of air infiltration.
3. Vent the clothes dryer directly outside the home. Improper
venting will contribute to major condensation problems in the
home.
4. Water lines should be protective by wrapping them first with
an approved heat cable. Install the heat cable per the manufacturer's
instructions, which may vary according to the type of water riser
in place; or contact an IMHA member service firm. At the beginning
of cold weather, check to be sure heat tapes are plugged in and
in good working condition. If gone for extended time, it is wise
to shut off water supply.
5. Sewer lines should be installed to allow proper angle for good
drainage. If your sewer line has any sag or low spots, tie it
up to the frame or block it underneath. Water will lie in these
low spots and freeze.
6. Furnace filters should be installed and cleaned regularly (monthly
minimum) as air cannot pass freely through a dirty filter thereby
increasing your operating costs.
7. Check for ice or snow buildup around your furnace or water
heater roof caps. It is important to keep this area open to provide
for the proper operation.
8. During periods of severe cold, leave cupboard and closet doors
open at night and when you are away so that heat may circulate
in these otherwise cold areas.
9. Avoid pouring small amounts of liquid in sinks and toilets,
as a small amount of liquid by itself may freeze in your drain
in severe cold weather. Do not leave a small stream of water running
from the faucet as this may cause sewer lines to freeze.
10. Check the underside of your home for any holes in the belly
covering and patch as this will let in wind and cause cold interior
floors. Be sure all registers are in working order and sealed.
Replace any inoperative or damaged registers. On multi-section
homes, make sure crossover pipe is installed to both halves of
the home and is in good working condition. (Note: There should
be no holes and no water in this pipe and it should be fully insulated.)
11. Check to be sure heat tapes are plugged in and in good working
condition.
12. Keep fuel tanks as full as possible to avoid freezing.
13. Fix all plumbing leaks to keep sewer lines from freezing.
Sometimes toilet tank leaks can be small and unobservable. To
check toilet tank for leak, tie the float up in the evening; and
if the tank is lower in the morning, it leaks.
14. Unhook garden hoses in order to allow freeze-proof faucets
to drain.
The above
items are merely suggestions for maintaining your home. You should
always consult your manufactured home owner's manual for specific
instructions.
