How To Keep A Mobile Home Warm In The Winter

Like any other home, mobile homes are susceptible to the cold temperatures that winter brings. However, that doesn’t mean you have to sit down and accept feeling cold for the next several months. You’re not alone if you’ve ever struggled with how to keep a mobile home warm in the winter.

Open your curtains and blinds, then put an insulating film on your windows to keep your mobile home warm this winter. You must also seal the gaps and cracks in your mobile home to keep the cold air out and the warm air in. Upgrade to insulated skirting, run a space heater, and prioritize furnace maintenance to keep your mobile home warm.

Even something as simple as putting rugs on the floor can help you stay comfortable in your mobile home this winter. Follow along as we explore how to keep a mobile home warm in the winter.

How To Heat A Mobile Home During The Winter

Heating a mobile home during the winter and keeping cold air out is easier than you may think. However, it may require you to change your habits and even modify your mobile home. You can keep your mobile home warm in several ways during the winter without spending a fortune, including:

1. Boost Natural Light

Natural light is your best friend during the winter, and that’s especially true if you live in a mobile home. The easiest way to keep a mobile home warm in the winter is to open the curtains and blinds. This should warm the air up by at least a few degrees during the day.

However, that may not be enough, so it’s worth doing whatever you can to increase the natural light. One easy way to do this is to strategically place decorative mirrors in spots that get a lot of sunlight. That way, you can reflect the sunlight to further heat your mobile home.

You can also achieve this with reflective art, decorations, and glossy paint on your walls. It’s worth investing in some sheer curtains, so you can get privacy without sacrificing sunlight. Your mobile home should retain a lot of this heat if it’s sealed well.

2. Install Insulated Skirting

You must invest in insulated skirting for your mobile home if you live in an area with cold winters. Not only can it help keep your mobile home warm this winter, but it can also help you save money. That’s because insulated skirting can help reduce your overall energy costs throughout the winter.

Insulated skirting can help prevent the floor of your mobile from getting too cold during the fall and winter. This way, the cold air won’t come in through the floor and spread throughout your mobile home. Insulated skirting is also much more durable than the alternative, so it can better withstand natural wear and tear.

It comes with the bonus of protecting your pipes, which is especially important throughout the winter. Many people also simply prefer the look of insulated skirting, making it practical and aesthetically pleasing. Installing insulated skirting costs between $1,000 and $4,000, depending on the size of your mobile home.

3. Use A Space Heater

You can heat your mobile home without spending a fortune if you use a space heater. However, you must be careful and make sure you buy one that’s rated for indoor use. You can only safely use a space heater if you ensure nothing flammable is within 3 feet of it.

It’s also important to keep liquids and flammable chemicals, like fuel and cleaning products, away from the heater. Place your space heater on a level surface, and don't put it on a carpet or rug. Ideally, you should clean your space heater 1-2 times each month to ensure the heating element isn’t dirty.

Never run a space heater when you’re not home or when you’re sleeping, as you can’t monitor it. Otherwise, using a space heater is one of the best, cheapest, and easiest ways to keep a mobile home warm in the winter. Mobile homes are often small enough that a single heater can keepmost areas warm, f you place it well.

4. Keep Up With HVAC Maintenance

You will struggle to keep your mobile home warm this winter if you’re behind on HVAC maintenance. Poorly maintained furnaces don’t work as well, but they typically cost as much to run or more than a clean furnace. That’s because a furnace must work harder to produce and distribute heat when it's dirty and neglected.

For example, you must replace your furnace filter every 3 months or as needed when it gets clogged. Otherwise, warm air won’t move through your mobile home as easily, and the air quality won’t be as good. That’s especially true if you have pets, as pet hair can quickly clog furnace filters.

A mobile home furnace typically lasts 15 to 20 years, depending on the model and how you use it. It’s worth replacing your furnace if it’s around that age and doesn’t work as well as it should. Schedule yearly HVAC tune-ups to keep your system running as well as possible.

5. Seal The Gaps And Cracks

Just like any other home, a mobile home will struggle to stay warm if many gaps and cracks are present. Cold air can easily creep in through the gap under your door, and warm air can easily escape through it. This will not only make your home feel cold, but it will also increase your energy bills by making your furnace work harder.

You can easily resolve this issue by installing weatherstripping at the bottom of your doors. It’s also worth walking around your mobile home, inside and outside, and inspecting the walls for cracks. You should be able to seal many of the cracks and gaps with silicone caulk.nHowever, it’s worth researching the ideal sealant based on the material you’re patching.

6. Insulate Your Pipes

Feeling cold at home during the winter is bad enough when you don’t have to worry about pipes bursting. However, things get much more stressful and potentially expensive if your pipes aren’t insulated. Insulating your pipes can prevent heat loss and ensure they don’t freeze on particularly cold nights.

It also ensures the water moving through the pipes stays warmer for much longer. That way, you won’t have to use so much energy to heat the water when you wash dishes and take showers. You can insulate the pipes in your mobile home with fiberglass insulation, heat tape, and foam insulation.

You may want to further secure the insulation with plastic wrap, especially when using foam insulation. When using heat tape, you must install it in a way that makes taking it off easier in the summer. After all, you won’t need it anymore, so it’s not worth keeping the heat tape on your pipes.

7. Cover The Floor

Cold air can move up through your floor and lower the room’s temperature in your mobile home. You can largely avoid this problem if you cover the floor to keep your mobile home warm in the winter. Even a simple rug can help insulate the floor and stop cold air from affecting the rest of your mobile home.

That’s especially true for wool rugs, which are equally warm, comfortable, and visually appealing. However, some people prefer rugs made of synthetic materials, such as polypropylene. You won’t notice a huge, drastic change during the day between the two materials, but you’ll notice the difference at night.

8. Use An Insulating Film

As previously mentioned, uncovering your windows can help keep your mobile home warm in the winter. However, cold air can still come in through your windows despite the sunlight warming the space. That said, this won’t be a problem if you place an insulating film on the window panes.

Today, you can find window insulating film kits for as little as $5-$15, depending on the brand and size. Applying insulating film is easy, and it doesn’t require professional help, as it’s like applying two-sided tape. This film will reflect heat into your home during summer while keeping cold air out.

While insulating film isn’t perfect, it’s cheaper than upgrading your mobile home’s insulation or skirting. You can also easily remove the film if and when you decide to move out of your mobile home.

Summing It Up

You can help keep your mobile home warm in the winter if you boost natural light using reflective surfaces and glossy paint. It also helps to put an insulating film on your windows and to place weatherstripping at the bottom of your doors. Use a space heater as needed, but only if it’s level, clean, rated for indoor use, and away from flammable materials.

Related Guides:

• What Are The Best Gutters For Mobile Homes?
• How Much Wind Can A Mobile Home Withstand?