Mobile homes have more insulation needs than other types of homes. They require the right type of insulation to maintain energy efficiency since their metal casing and compact structure can give extreme temperatures due to poor ventilation. Proper insulation will allow you to save on cooling and heating bills by addressing the underneath of your home. Most mobile homes have a large opening between the undersides of the sub-floor and the bottom board insulation. Carrying out the proper insulation on the underneath will reduce air infiltration by closing it in addition to giving your home a true thermal boundary. Below are some of the common mobile home insulation options, their pros, and cons and how they are carried out.
Insulated skirting
It is among the best additions that you can install in your home especially if you have struggled with frozen pipes. There are different types of skirting but they behave the same with universal principles. These types are:
1) Ventilation: Your mobile home requires adequate ventilation especially during warmer months. Typically, you will require it when the temperature rises above 50 degrees Fahrenheit
2) Insulating strength: There are many materials that you can choose to use. It is advisable to go for materials that are weather resistant and meet a least value of eight. Pre-made insulated skirting products are usually the best since they are usually cost effective as compared to the individual products.
3) Thermal envelope: Make sure the material goes around your home when installing insulated products. In case you have a deck, porch or addition attached to the house, make sure you use adequate material to maintain a thermal envelope behind the structures. This will capture warmth from the ground which is 53 degrees throughout the year. Incomplete installation will not capture the warmth and it will escape to the outside. Proper installation will make sure your pipes don’t freeze thorughout the year.
4) Durability: Most installed systems are 2-inches thick and very strong. You will encounter wind blows which are very common when dealing with non-insulated systems. The durability and strength of the systems will keep critters away from the underneath of your mobile home which is very important.
Weatherization
Weatherizing a mobile home aims at addressing the underbelly and saving on heating and cooling bills. Filling the underbelly will give you the greatest reduction of air infiltration when carrying out air sealing measures. This will close the void and give your mobile home a true thermal boundary. It is advisable to go for fiberglass instead of cellulose since it naturally water repellant. You can weatherize your home as follows:
1) Patchwork: Address any holes in the bottom board before insulating because they are not fixed. You can accomplish this by using Typar house wrap as your closing material and staple it up to the existing material or use washers and screws at the bottom of the joints.
2) The center of your mobile home: The key here is knowing where to put the material. In most cases, the center is where plumbing lines have been blown with a low density. Don’t over-insulate it to ensure heat from the duct gets to the pipes.
3) The perimeter: Blowing insulation at the ends around the house is where you are likely to get most bangs for your buck. The perimeter includes all the outer sections and you should watch out whether some of the sections have plumbing. Make sure you fill the void completely, blow the insulation and pack the material fully.
4) Entrance point: You can have access to the cavities by drilling holes through the rim joint, siding or removing skirting on the exterior. You can use an aluminum pole attached to the hose to enter the cavity.
Materials
There are many materials which are used to insulate mobile homes and they include;
1) Fiberglass: It is the best material to use in mobile homes since it resists corrosion, moisture and it doesn’t burn or fall apart. It puts little pressure on the underbelly and the floor reducing the risk of damaging the structure of the home.
2) Plastic beads: They are moisture resistant and installed using a blowing machine. They put little pressure on the ceilings and floors. However, they have a lower measure of thermal resistance and R-value.
3) Rigid foam: It is appropriate for exterior insulation only. In case the home catches fire, the foam board produces poisonous smoke. It is not good for ceiling since it can soften due to heat.
4) Cellulose: It is easy to install using a blowing machine but it puts more pressure on the roofing and siding than beads or fiberglass. It is appropriate in dry climates only since it absorbs water easily.
