Friday, October 18, 2024

Is Your A/C Out? Here’s How to Beat the Heat in Your Summer Mobile Home

Just because it’s summertime doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods when it comes to harsh summer heat waves. And, there’s nothing worse than having your air conditioning go out on a 90 degree day. Not only is it inconvenient, it can be dangerous.

So, it’s worth going over some of the ways you can beat the heat if you find yourself without A/C.

A/C Repair Basics

Let’s say you’re sitting at home on a hot summer day, and suddenly your A/C cuts out. First, there are a few things you should do to determine what the issue might be.

Have other appliances, such as the fridge or your lights, gone out as well? If so, check your circuit breaker with professional assistance to see if you need to turn the affected circuit off and on. For some, this may fix the issue – perhaps you just overloaded a circuit!

If your other appliances are out, but the above trick doesn’t work, you may have a power outage in your area. Report the outage to your electrical utility provider and monitor for updates.

If the problem is isolated to your air conditioning unit, you may need to call a repairman. Very minor air conditioning problems, such as a filter that’s gotten dirty, can be fixed on your own in some cases.

Set Up Your Fans In This Specific Fashion

While you’re waiting for your mobile home repairman to come take a look at your A/C, you may want to set up some fans around your house to help cool down the air in your mobile home.

This can be a great idea, and is even more effective if you consider the following arrangement that can be done with just two box fans.

Place the first box fan in an open window (with a screen) to circulate fresh air from the outside into your home. Ideally, this should be placed opposite the doorway in the room this fan will live in. This is because you’ll want a second box fan near the doorway to blow the air into the next room over.

Another technique with fans is to place one box fan in an open window, blowing air OUT. Then, open the windows on the OPPOSITE side of the house where the cooler outside air will be drawn in by the negative air pressure the box fan creates by sucking the hot air out of the house.

This technique works best in the morning or evening when the air is cooler outside than it is inside. If you do this technique in the morning, then close all your doors, windows, and curtains during the day, you can keep the inside of your home cooler than the warm air outside during the heat of the day.

Look Into Portable A/C Units

If fans don’t cut it for you, then you can look into portable A/C units. These can vary greatly in price, range, and size, meaning there’s an option out there for any budget.

Some handheld units that sit on a desk or table can go for as little as $50 on Amazon. These can be handy in a pinch if you’re working out of your mobile home’s remote work office and need to cool down before your next video conference.

If you’re looking for a bigger device, various portable air conditioners can be moved around on wheels and sit in a corner of your living room, bedroom, or other room in your manufactured home for a few hundred dollars. These also come in various ranges of power and can cool off a good portion of your manufactured home. Some even come with dehumidifiers built in, making them an even more solid investment.

Beat the Heat in Your Community

If you live in a manufactured home community, go for a swim in your community’s pool if you have one!

A great benefit of community living are the amenities available to you. In some communities, you can take advantage of an on-site swimming pool or spa. During the hot summer months, you can go for a dip with your family to cool off!

Or, spend some time in your park’s air-conditioned clubhouse, if your park has one, while you wait for the A/C repairman to come to your home.

Try Window Air Conditioning

One tried and true method of air conditioning your home, particularly during the hot summer months, is a window air conditioning unit. These can especially be great if your central air conditioning goes out and you need a quick, yet effective way to cool down your mobile home.

These units also go for a few hundred dollars, but are mounted inside your window and sit partially outside. These days, some models that fit in your window can be controlled via a remote for ease of use.

You can also find models of window air conditioners that can cool down an entire floor of your home, if the BTU (or British Thermal Unit, the measure of how powerful your air conditioner is) is high enough. Generally speaking, the higher the BTU, the more area it can cover in your home. For example, a 6,000 BTU air conditioner can cover an average of 300 square feet in your home, whereas a 10,000 BTU unit may cover more space.

When to Call a Repairman

Like we mentioned earlier, you’ll want to call your local A/C contractor for your central air conditioning 9 times out of 10. Some of the solutions we’ve talked about in this article, while they are temporary, should not mean that you put off fixing your central air if you have it.

If you’re in the market for a central air replacement, however, we recommend checking out MHVillage’s Parts and Supplies page to shop for air conditioners and replacement parts.

These Manufactured Homes Went VIRAL on Social Media…

Have you ever seen one of your Facebook friends share a viral post about the benefits of manufactured home living? What about your favorite influencer on TikTok?

These days, it’s easy to come across viral social media content talking about manufactured homes for sale. In fact, this kind of content has gone viral with increasing frequency, from manufacturers to manufactured home influencers.

While we can’t talk about EVERY single time manufactured housing has gone viral in one blog post, we’ll highlight five notable standouts that have made waves across TikTok recently.

Home #1 – The Burlington

This four-bedroom luxury mobile home model, the Burlington from Hamilton Homebuilders, took TikTok by storm with over 243,000 likes and 2,700 comments.

The 2,100 square foot home model features hardwood flooring, a wide open concept right when you walk in, cabinet-to-ceiling tile backsplash in the kitchen, and a huge family room. And that’s just the start of the video!

The video’s narrator from TikTok account @regional_homes also notes the huge pantry as well as a sizable master bedroom large enough for a king bed.

For manufactured homebuyers looking for a large mobile home with more than enough living space, this viral TikTok is a must-watch. Just click below!

Home #2 – The Farmhouse

If you’re looking for something a bit more rustic, the Farmhouse, shared by @oakwoodhomesbville, is another TikTok viral sensation with 53,000 likes to its name.

A craftsman-style front door, a spacious living room, and barn-style doors throughout the interior are just a few of this home’s standout features. Though, personally, our favorite is the free-standing tub, perfect for a relaxing night in. The corner pantry in the kitchen is a nice touch, too.

Click the image below to check out everything the Farmhouse has to offer!

Home #3 – The Memphis

It’s no surprise that this massive five-bedroom mobile home from @titanfactorydirect was hugely popular on TikTok, with nearly 100,000 likes on the platform.

While this TikTok doesn’t have full narration like some of the others on the list, the visual beauty of the hardwood flooring, dark wood ceilings, elegant fireplace, and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, complete with an eat-in island, is something to behold.

The Memphis comes in at 2,281 square feet, meaning each and every bedroom in this manufactured home will have more than enough space for you and your loved ones.

Also, there are the immensely handy his-and-her sinks in the master bathroom. All of these features make for a mobile home that was destined to go viral, which you can watch by clicking below.

Home #4 – The Belmont

The Belmont from @claytonhomes is another viral manufactured home for a few reasons.

First, its 1,620 square footage makes it the perfect balance of space and functionality. The open concept kitchen and dining nook make for great cooking and entertaining space.

One of the most beneficial features of this model, and what makes it stand out enough to viral with over 15,000 likes, is its on-site garage. This means you have space for your car as well as large power equipment (such as your lawnmower) during any season.

This three-bedroom manufactured home is one that you have to see to believe, and watching this viral TikTok by clicking below is the perfect way to do it.

Home #5 – The Addison

We’ll wrap up with another megaviral TikTok from @regional_homes that got over half a MILLION likes on TikTok.

This large manufactured home is a 4-bedroom, 3-bath factory-built home with over 2,200 square feet of space. If the large, open living room doesn’t sell you on this home, then perhaps the large, colorful kitchen with stone backsplash will.

And, this home has a huge master bedroom, with his-and-her closets, a separate bathroom with a free-standing tub, and a tiled shower.

This manufactured home is one that’s so popular because of the high-end features, which you can see in full by checking out this TikTok by clicking the image below.

Where to Find Manufactured Homes of Your Own

If these viral manufactured homes have you convinced to look more into the manufactured home lifestyle, then it’s time to start with MHVillage.

On MHVillage, the nation’s leading platform for buying, selling, and renting manufactured homes, you can search for manufactured homes for sale in your area using our home search page. You can even filter your search to find homes that have been recently listed, listings in communities that allow pets, and many others.

So, what are you waiting for? Find a home that’s influencer-worthy on MHVillage today.

Is It Still Possible to Sell Your Mobile Home FSBO in 2022?

The manufactured home market continues to grow and bring in new mobile home buyers and sellers.

For the sellers, there’s a choice to be made as to how they will go about the selling process. But, this choice goes beyond whether they work with their community to sell the home, or a broker.

Rather, a seller may be wondering whether they can sell their mobile home on their own – also known as a For-Sale-by-Owner or FSBO sale.

For that question, the MHVillager has the answer.

What is FSBO Selling?

When you sell a mobile home the FSBO way, you are listing and selling your home without the assistance of a broker, dealer, or manufactured home community. Rather, you’re selling your home all on your own, from the listing to the title ownership.

Many home sellers prefer to sell their manufactured home FSBO. For some, they prefer the independence of managing the process themselves. Others prefer to do so for selling their home more cost-efficiently, which we’ll talk a bit more about below.

No matter your reason for selling your mobile home FSBO, however, you can sell your mobile home this way in 2022.

Can I Still Sell My Mobile Home FSBO in 2022?

Yes! In 2022, you can absolutely still sell your mobile home by going the FSBO route. In fact, it’s a really good year to do so.

There are a few reasons for this. First, selling your manufactured home FSBO gives you the power to call the shots during the selling process. Additionally, you won’t have to pay any seller’s fees to a dealer, or pay another selling entity.

Additionally, throughout 2022, demand for manufactured homes has still been quite high. Because they’re so affordable compared to site-built homes and offer immensely high quality, many homebuyers are flocking to manufactured homes.

What this means for you, the seller, is that you can price your home aggressively and still have it sell relatively quickly, thanks to increased home values over the past several years.

How Can I Sell My Mobile Home FSBO?

If you’re interested in selling your mobile home the FSBO way, we recommend starting with MHVillage, the nation’s leading platform for buying, selling, and renting manufactured homes.

On MHVillage, you can get your mobile home listing in front of thousands of people that visit MHVillage every single day.

And, you can take advantage of multiple listing tiers that give you even more options for powering up your listing. So, if you want unlimited photos to add to your listing, or even boost your listing to the top of the search results in your market, there will be a listing for you.

The best part is that it couldn’t be easier to start your FSBO listing. On MHVillage, you can list your home on the nation’s most active website for buying, selling, and renting manufactured homes. With a low one-time or monthly fee depending on your selling package, NO hidden charges, and an instant activation for your listing,

You can learn more about selling your mobile home FSBO with MHVillage.

Is There Anything Else I Need to Know Beforehand?

Just because selling a mobile home in 2022 the FSBO way is different from going through an external selling party doesn’t mean every step is different.

You’ll still, of course, want to have your home inspected and appraised. This will help ensure two things: one, that your home is in proper condition and doesn’t require any unknown repairs, and two, that your home is properly valued. These two steps are crucial for ensuring that the mobile home selling process goes as smoothly as possible.

It goes without saying, too, that you’ll need to ensure you’re familiar with the level of paperwork involved on the financial and legal side of things when selling your mobile home. The last thing you want to have happen is have the selling process held up because you accidentally used the wrong form!

How Can I Start Listing My Mobile Home?

Are you ready to start selling your mobile home FSBO? If you are, then head to MHVillage to start your listing today!

Can You Buy Property Before You Buy a Mobile Home?

Small blue gray mobile home with a front and side porch with white railing — Far away view of small blue gray mobile home with a front and side porch, and white railing out in the country on land shared by a larger siding house.

You’re thinking about buying a mobile home, and you’re picturing your dream home in your mind. Large bedrooms, luxury countertops, the works.

But, wait a minute. Have you taken a minute to think about the land under your mobile home?

Homebuyers looking into mobile homes have to consider whether they’ll buy one on private land, or one in a land-lease community. However, for many homebuyers-to-be, that begs the question of whether they can buy the land before they buy a mobile home.

In this blog post, we’ll go over some of the basics of buying a mobile home on private property, the implications of buying land for a mobile home, and how that impacts when you should buy the land.

Basics of Mobile Homes on Private Property

Like we mentioned earlier, you’ll come across many mobile homes that sit on private property. This is compared to manufactured homes in communities, where you’ll have your own home in a community of other manufactured homes. You can read more about the benefits of mobile home communities in the MHVillager.

There are also benefits to owning a mobile home on your own private land. For one – privacy. You can have as much land as you want, and provided you meet local zoning ordinances you can install your own fence, deck, patio, or other outdoor extensions to your mobile home to your desired specifications.

Of course, this means you can take charge of your landscaping, too. Want to plant a row of bushes right outside your home? Most likely, if you own your mobile home on private property, there’s no one to ask but yourself…or maybe your significant other if you don’t want to end up in the doghouse.

Can You Buy Them Separately?

Yes. You do not have to buy a mobile home and land together, though many choose to go this route. You are also able to buy the mobile home and land in separate transactions.

MHVillage offers a couple of different ways to go about finding a mobile home on land. First, you can search for manufactured homes for sale on private property using our “location type” filter. For those homes, you’ll work with the seller to facilitate the transfer of ownership for both the land and the home.

Or, you can also look for homes on MHVillage that must be moved onto your own land, in case you have land that you already own, using that same “location type” filter.

If you currently own a mobile home that can be moved to a new site, you could also buy land that you can move your home to. While this isn’t as common these days, as many manufactured homes rest permanently on their home site, it’s still very possible to have a mobile home moved.

How Do You Buy Land and Home Separately?

For some, it may be preferable to buy the mobile home separately from the land if they don’t buy them together. Here are a few possible scenarios:

A homebuyer already owns private land, and wants to move a new or pre-owned manufactured home onto it
A homebuyer already owns the manufactured home, and is looking for a plot of land to move the home to
From a dealer, a homebuyer may purchase a mobile home to move to land that will be bought in a separate transaction
Or, a buyer may find the home and land together on MHVillage to purchase from the existing owner

Now, it’s time to answer the question we titled this blog after: can you buy your own private land before you buy the mobile home?

The answer is yes. You could easily buy the land in a separate transaction if you wanted. This also means you’d give yourself additional time to prep the land for siting a mobile home.

Land preparation involves a few things. First, you’d need to ensure that it’s properly graded according to federal, state, and local regulations.

This involves making sure it can properly move drainage away from the home site, as well as verifying you have access to well and septic or city water and sewer, electricity, and internet access and phone service. If your land doesn’t already have a driveway, you’ll need to have one built or installed as well.

You may need to undergo some excavation work to get all of your utilities in place, and the land must also have a foundation installed.

So, it may actually be beneficial to have your own private land before you buy a manufactured home.

Can You Buy Them Together?

Yep! As mentioned above, it’s completely possible to buy both a mobile home and private land as a package. When you’re looking for mobile homes on MHVillage, you can filter your search for homes on private land.

Your Summer Mobile Home Remodeling Guide

When it comes to remodeling your mobile home, it can be hard to find the right time to complete certain projects. For example, you wouldn’t want to install a new mobile home porch in the dead of winter, particularly if you live in Michigan.

But, that means that the summertime is a great opportunity to knock out some remodeling projects you’ve been waiting on. Whether you’re working indoors or outdoors, there are some remodeling projects that will benefit greatly from being completed in July, August, September, or even October if you’re in a warmer area.

Here are just a few ideas for remodeling your mobile home during the summer months:

Revamp Your Windows

Your windows play a very important role in your mobile home. They not only help provide natural light throughout your home, but they are important for insulating your home, too. That is, they keep the hot summer air out during the summertime, while keeping your cold air inside.

If you notice this summer that your windows aren’t fully sealed, or aren’t doing a good job of temperature control, it might be time to repair or replace them. Summer is a great time to undergo a mobile home window replacement because the weather is often nicer than it would be in the winter or spring.

We’ve talked before about mobile home windows on the MHVillager. But, it’s worth repeating that this is one of the best ways to remodel your home while giving it some extra value. In fact, it’s a great project to keep in mind if you’re looking to sell your mobile home anytime soon.

Try Some New Landscaping

Summer is also a great time to take care of your manufactured home’s landscaping. Whether you’re just laying down some new sod or planting some new bushes or even a tree, the summer is the perfect time to get your outdoor work done before the colder months set in.

Now, just because we’re midway through the summer doesn’t mean you can’t still get some landscaping work done.

Here’s a great idea you may not have considered: what is the landscaping like around your mobile home’s shed, if you have one? Is there overgrowth you’ve been meaning to get to, or have you been meaning to start a mini garden out there but haven’t had the time? Now’s the time to start clearing that land and getting it in good shape.

If you’re taking on a larger project such as planting bushes and you live in a manufactured home community, make sure you have clearance from your community before you do so.

Paint Your Mobile Home’s Siding

Here’s a fun project that you can do this summer: paint the siding of your mobile home!

How you’ll go about this project depends on what kind of siding you have. Vinyl siding, the most common type of siding for mobile homes, can be rather easily painted. Stone siding, which isn’t as common, can be more difficult to paint.

If you do decide to paint your mobile home siding, make sure you power-wash the surface first, as well as have the right equipment to do so. In some cases, you may need an aerosol paint gun, rollers, and other safety equipment to do the job right.

For those living in communities, again, check your community’s guidelines to ensure that you can paint your home before you begin any kind of paint work.

Renovate Your Mobile Home Porch

Do your family members or guests complain about the steps to up to your mobile home being cracked? Is your handrail loose or in need of repair?

Summertime is the perfect time to make repairs and remodel your porch. For example, you could consider placing new steps in front of your porch, or replacing your handrail. Some homeowners even choose to paint their porch to match their mobile home.

Like with your siding, check your community’s guidelines before undergoing any mobile home porch repairs if you live in a community. It’s especially important since some cities and states have safety guidelines that impact porches.

For example, there may be rules on how many steps your porch can have, or rules dictating whether or not you must have a handrail for safety purposes.

Start Remodeling Your Kitchen

A kitchen remodel can be one of the most extensive projects you might undergo throughout your mobile home’s life. But, it can also be one of the most worthwhile. That, and you don’t have to do it all in one piece.

For example, one year you could replace your mobile home’s flooring, and the next you could paint the room. Or, maybe this is the season to upgrade some of your appliances.

The reason summertime is a good time to do a kitchen remodel is because, if you’re without a stove or microwave for a period of time, it’s a good time of year to grill outdoors. Why not time your remodel project with an evening of BBQ?

Where Can I Find Remodel Parts and Supplies?

If you’re in need of supplies for your mobile home remodel project, we recommend checking out MHVillage’s Mobile Home Parts and Supplies page.

No matter what your summer remodel may look like, this page can take care of your remodeling needs. Why stop at four different hardware stores near you just to get everything you need when you can go to the one-stop shop for mobile home remodels?

Here’s How Renting a Manufactured Home is the Best Alternative Against Sky-High Apartment Rents

You may have seen posts on social media from your friends, or from your favorite news outlet, about how apartment rents have skyrocketed in 2022. And, understandably, you might be concerned about how that might impact your cost of living in the future.

But, among all of the chatter involving sky-high apartment rents, it’s important to remember that there’s an alternative that’s much more cost-friendly and can even be of much higher quality: manufactured homes.

Renting a manufactured home in 2022 can be a much more desirable alternative for a number of reasons. In this post, we’ll go over the benefits of renting a manufactured home over an apartment. They might be more notable than you think…

Digging Into Apartment Rents

First, we should talk a little bit about just how high apartment rents have gotten over the past year.

Because of a multitude of factors – including the huge demand for apartments in 2022, inflation, and limited supply – apartment rents have seen a sizable increase.

In fact, according to Redfin, the median rent for apartments increased by 15% from last year. For the first time in recorded history, the average apartment rent is over $2,000 per month.

The Benefits of Renting a Manufactured Home

Fortunately, there are a ton of benefits that come with renting manufactured homes instead of apartments.

You Get To Live In Your Own Home

We could go on and on about the negatives of renting an apartment. Your neighbors are noisy and surround you on all sides, you have less space, you have less security, and you may have to live far above the ground if you’re in a downtown area.

However, by renting a manufactured home, you can rent a home that has more space and is more secure. And, you won’t have to hear your neighbors stomping above you at all hours of the day and night.

Your Rent May Be Cheaper

This is a big one to call out here. In some cases, you may be able to rent a manufactured home for much cheaper than you could rent an apartment.

According to 2021 Datacomp sales data, the average monthly rent for a manufactured home was $1,124 per month. When you compare that to the average of over $2,000 per month for an apartment that we referenced earlier, the cost savings are evident.

You May Have More Utilities Included

If you rent a mobile home in a community (which we’ll get into below), you may be able to save money on some of your utilities.

These days, many communities bundle in utilities such as water, trash pickup, and even high-speed internet. This is a great way to save on your monthly payments while renting your mobile home.

If you’re interested in living in a community and aren’t sure whether specific utilities are included, we recommend contacting the community directly for more information.

Renting in a Manufactured Home Community

Of course, we have to talk about the benefits of renting a mobile home in a community.

Most mobile homes that you’ll find for rent will be in a community. This is a popular way of living in a manufactured home for many residents. It’s especially huge with retired folks who live in 55+ communities.

One of the biggest benefits to renting a manufactured home in a community are the amenities. In a community, you may have access to a number of amenities as a park resident.

For example, you can take a dip in the community’s pool or sauna if they have one, or go for a stroll along their walking trail.

Many communities also have clubhouses or lounges that you can spend time in with your neighbors. And, of course, you can find homes for rent in pet-friendly communities, too!

Find Mobile Homes For Rent

If you’re convinced that renting a manufactured home is the right next step for you, then let MHVillage help you along the way.

MHVillage is the leading platform for buying, selling, and renting manufactured homes. If you’re looking for a manufactured home to rent near you, MHVillage is the place to be.

Simply head to our mobile home search page and filter your search based on mobile homes for rent. You can do this by simply clicking on the “Homes for Rent” option under the Listing Type menu.

Live The Mobile Home Park Lifestyle in These Year-Round Warm States

The summer months mean there’s plenty of time outdoors to be had. Whether you’re going out for a daily walk or spending time at the park with your family, there hasn’t been a better time to get some fresh air.

For many folks, there’s a question on their mind: how can I enjoy this warm weather year-round?

For others, there’s also the search for high-quality homes that don’t carry a high price tag.

Well, what if we told you that you could find the home of your dreams in a state with year-round warm weather, all at a great price?

Look no further: here is the MHVillager’s guide to living the mobile home park lifestyle in the most popular states with year-round warm weather.

Florida

Florida is the largest market in the United States for manufactured housing. It’s an incredibly large piece of the pie due to the amount of homes on the market, as well as the number of homes sold there each year.

For retirees especially, Florida is seen as a go-to destination for mobile home living in year-round warm weather. With so many parks to choose from as well as a lively tourist scene in Florida, it’s easy to see why the state is in such high demand.

If you’re looking for mobile homes in Florida to enjoy the warm weather all throughout the year, then you can’t go wrong no matter where you go.

Texas

We’ve written before about buying mobile homes in Texas, but it’s worth repeating that Texas is one of the most popular states for mobile home living in warm year-round weather.

Maybe you want to live near the downtown hustle and bustle of Houston. Or, perhaps something out in the country is more your style. Or perhaps even something on the Gulf so you can catch a swim every now and then.

No matter your style, Texas has something for you if you’re looking for warm weather year-round. You can start taking a look at Texas mobile homes today to find one for sale in your market of choice.

Arizona

Of course, Florida isn’t the only state that’s popular for retirement communities. Arizona is another state out further west that proves incredibly popular for those looking for warm weather no matter the time of year.

Besides being a stone’s throw from the Grand Canyon, there are a number of metropolitan centers in Arizona from Phoenix to Mesa. So, if you’re looking to move there for work, you have plenty of options to choose from.

And, there are a number of communities across the entire state for both all-ages and 55+ residents. Arizona mobile homes are in some of the best communities in the entire country, so take some time today to look at what’s out there to

California

If you’ve ever been California dreaming about a beautiful mobile home in the Golden State, now’s the time to turn that dream into a reality.

Manufactured homes in California get to do a lot more than soak up the warm weather. Of the thousands of manufactured homes for sale in this market, many are in highly-sought-after communities with top-tier amenities.

So, if you want to live in a California mobile home while playing shuffleboard or walking along the Pacific Ocean, you can do just that.

Outside of your community, you can find a number of things to do downtown or even upstate. Visiting Los Angeles, driving along the Golden Gate bridge, or visiting the mountain trails in Northern California can appeal to just about anyone.

How Can I Find Mobile Homes in These Markets?

If you’re looking to buy mobile homes in any of these states, let MHVillage help you out.

MHVillage is the nation’s leading platform for buying, selling, and renting manufactured homes. You can’t go wrong with looking for a mobile home to enjoy the year-round warm weather.

Simply head to MHVillage to start looking for homes in your market of choice. If there’s a state you want to search for homes in that isn’t in this article, no problem! MHVillage lets you search for mobile homes in any state across the mainland U.S.

Understanding Your Mobile Home’s Central Air

Summer is in full swing! That means days lounging by your community’s pool, enjoying an ice cream, and soaking up the sun during the longer days and shorter nights.

For some, it also means enjoying the cool air inside your home when you can’t quite beat the heat. If you’ve ever wondered how your mobile home’s central air conditioning system works, then you’ve come to the right place.

Grab a seat by the pool and settle in for some summertime reading with this handy guide to mobile home central air.

How Does My Mobile Home’s Central Air Work?

If your mobile home has central air installed, then you’ll have air ducts flowing throughout your mobile home that deliver cool air. These are most likely the same ducts that also deliver heat to your mobile home during the winter, if you live in a colder environment.

Most likely, you’ll have a unit that sits outside the home, usually on the side or rear. Most central air units require an indoor unit as well. This unit can usually be found in a closet, or utility room if your mobile home has one.

The indoor and outdoor units work together to cool the air in your mobile home. They do this by circulating coolant between the two units which are connected by closed-loop tubing. When the coolant is in the indoor unit, it absorbs the heat from your home and transfers it to the outdoor unit. Once there, the outdoor unit uses a fan to dissipate the heat from the coolant, and the result is the cooled air you feel coming from your home’s HVAC ducts.

Does It Work the Same As a Site-Built Home?

These central air units for mobile homes function very similarly to those in site-built homes. There, an outdoor unit and an indoor unit work in tandem to deliver cool air throughout the entire home during warm weather.

If you’ve ever been in a site-built home and felt the blast of cool air hit you as soon as you walk in, you can rest assured knowing that the same sensation is possible in a mobile home.

However, there is one key difference that we want to talk about here.

In a site-built home, the indoor HVAC unit – sometimes known as a condenser – may be in a basement. However, you wouldn’t usually find an indoor HVAC in a mobile home basement.

Why?

Because mobile home basements usually don’t exist except for in rare circumstances where a basement has been custom built. This is more common in mobile homes on private land, but much more rare in communities.

In a mobile home, you’re much more likely to find an indoor HVAC unit inside a utility closet or room.

What if My Mobile Home Doesn’t Have Central Air?

Occasionally, you’ll find a mobile home that doesn’t have central air. But, that doesn’t mean you have to settle for sweltering in the summer heat.

There are a few ways you can go about cooling down your manufactured home during the summer time. And, all of these methods have varying levels of cost affordability, too.

Firstly, you could invest in some high-powered fans to place around your home. This is a great cost-effective way to cool down rooms that you spend a lot of time in.

Another option is to invest in a window air conditioning unit. These function similar to a central air unit, but primarily for one or two rooms in your mobile home. You simply mount the unit inside your window and plug it into an electrical outlet.

Various window units are available, each with different levels of power. You could buy a unit for one bedroom, or one that can cool down much of your ground level. For your basic window air conditioning unit, you’ll want to spend at least $200 to find a well-built unit.

Or, you can consider installing central air conditioning in your mobile home. Not every home may be able to accommodate central air after it has been built. But, if your home already has ductwork for a furnace, you may be able install central air as well.

This can run a few thousand dollars, depending on the size of your home, the cost of labor in your area, and the kind of air conditioning unit that you purchase.

One other option to think about is a “mini split unit.” These are ductless air conditioning units that, similar to a central air conditioning unit, have an indoor and outdoor component. They perform the same function as a central air unit with ducts, but are sleek and usually mounted on your wall inside your home.

How Can I Repair My Central Air?

In some instances, you may find that your central air conditioning unit in your mobile home is in need of repairs. These can be minor, such as if your unit isn’t working as powerfully as it used to. Or, you may find that you’re without air conditioning completely before a heat wave.

Generally, we recommend hiring a professional to handle major heating and cooling repairs. They will most often be able to diagnose the issue and quickly get it fixed so that you’re as comfortable in your home as possible.

For minor repairs, such as replacing a filter or floor register, those can very easily be done on your own. In fact, if you’re in need of parts and supplies for your air conditioner, MHVillage can help you out.

MHVillage’s Mobile Home Parts & Supplies page has everything you need to start your remodel or repair project. This even includes heating and cooling items in case you’re in need of some relief from the hot weather this year!

What Are The Biggest Mobile Homes Out There?

Manufactured homes on the market today offer the same size benefits as site-built homes at a fraction of the cost. Contrary to popular belief, they come with all of the same features you’d find in a site-built home such as kitchens with the latest appliances, multiple bedrooms, and ample storage space.

In fact, some mobile homes are so large that they almost have to be seen to be believed. But, you might be wondering – what are the BIGGEST mobile homes you can find? Do five-bedroom mobile homes exist?

The answer might just surprise you – but first, there are some basics to go over about how mobile homes work before we get into sizing.

Mobile Home Sizing Basics

Generally, you’ll still find that mobile homes are sized the same way as a site-built home, using square footage. However, there’s another consideration to keep in mind when it comes to manufactured homes.

Most often, you’ll hear a manufactured home referred to by the number of sections that it has. For example, a mobile home that’s just one section is called a single-section mobile home. You may also see it referred to as a single-wide mobile home.

Manufactured homes with more than one section are often called multi-section homes.

If a mobile home has two sections, it becomes a double-wide mobile home. A home with three sections, a triple-wide. And so on.

You’ll also see mobile homes referred to by their dimensions. For example, you’ll sometimes see a mobile home online described as a 16’x70’.

Here’s something that’s really important to keep in mind: not every home that has the same number of sections will be the same size. In fact, it’s common to find homes that vary quite a bit in their square footage, but have the same number of sections.

A single-wide mobile home is most commonly between 900 and 1,440 square feet, but can be bigger or smaller. Meanwhile, a triple-section mobile home can be as large as 3,600 square feet.

So, this begs the question…

How Big Can A Mobile Home Get?

Typically, you’d be hard pressed to find a mobile home with more than four sections. Those are called quadruple-wide manufactured homes, or quadruple-sections.

New manufactured home with red vinyl siding and windows with white lineals

However, mobile homes at that stage are quite massive. Like we mentioned earlier, a triple-wide mobile home can measure as large as 3,600 square feet. If a mobile home has four sections, chances are it can be much bigger than that.

Here’s another key thing to remember when it comes to manufactured homes: the number of sections will not equal the number of bedrooms in that home in most cases.

Do Mobile Homes With Five Bedrooms Exist?

Yes, it’s possible to find a mobile home with five bedrooms.

While they’re not as common, some multi-section manufactured homes can have as many as five bedrooms or more.

This is perfect for those with large families, or those who need a spare room that can be used for different purposes. Or, you can even mix and match if you wanna use four bedrooms for your family, and one as a flex room.

There are loads of other uses you can come up with for your spare bedrooms in a five-bedroom mobile home. These include:

Home office
Home gym
Children’s playroom
Remote schooling/Zoom studio
Craft room
Dressing room
Reading room
Home theaters or entertainment room

What About Mobile Homes With Five Sections?

Unlike a mobile home with five or bedrooms, it’s going to be much more difficult, if not impossible, to find a mobile home with five sections.

There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, a mobile home that has five sections would be too cost-prohibitive for many to reasonably purchase. This leads into the fact that most manufacturers don’t make homes with more than three or four sections at most.

Also, there’s the issue of size. For many plots of land, and definitely for nearly every community, it’s a challenge to find a plot of land large enough to hold a manufactured home that has five or more sections. However, this may be possible in rural areas where land is more abundant.

How Can I Find Mobile Homes Near Me?

No matter the size of home you’re looking for, you can look to MHVillage for your mobile home shopping experience.

MHVillage is the nation’s leading platform for buying, selling, and renting mobile and manufactured homes, with over 25 million annual unique visitors.

The MHVillage mobile home search tool can fine-tune your home search based on a number of criteria. This includes your search radius, location type, and even the number of bedrooms. And, yes, you can look for mobile homes with five bedrooms near you.

Three 55+ Manufactured Home Community Hidden Gems Across America

When talking about mobile homes, one popular option that always comes up is living in a 55+ manufactured home community.

The benefits of living in these communities are vast. They’re an affordable, yet high-quality way to live out the golden years in a secure, yet engaging environment. And, the amenities that many retirement communities offer are tough to beat.

What makes a 55+ community different from an all-ages community is, of course, the age restriction. That’s why these communities are so ideal for those who are retired or those who want a quiet reprieve as they get ready for retirement.

In this post, we’ll go over just three of the amazing retirement communities that you can find across the country. All of these communities are 55+, and offer various amenities. Oh, and they’re pet-friendly, too!

Dolce Vita – Apache Junction, AZ

Arizona is one of the most highly sought-after states for senior retirement living, and Dolce Vita is a great example of that.

Located in scenic Apache Junction, AZ, Dolce Vita offers the latest manufactured home models and top-of-the-line amenities. If you’ve ever wanted to live in a retirement community where you can take a dip in the heated swimming pool and enjoy social activities in the clubhouse, then look no further.

If you’re the athletic type, you can take advantage of the park’s workout facility, pickleball and bocce ball courts, and putting green! Then, you can take some time to relax in the on-site movie theater or card room.

Not only that, but Dolce Vita is pet-friendly, too! In many cases, you can bring your furry loved one with you to live out the best days of your life.

If you’re eyeing an Arizona move and are looking for the perfect retirement community, then check out Dolce Vita today.

Pine Ridge at Crestwood – Manchester Township, NJ

For those who want to live close to the riverside in an active retirement community, Pine Ridge at Crestwood might be for you.

You can spend time in their two active clubhouses featuring weekly social activities, along with their game room and shuffleboard courts. And, you can take a stroll along the tranquil natural scenery.

This community is also located right by the shore, perfect for a morning stroll. If the grandkids come to visit, you can even take them to Six Flags, located conveniently nearby!

Also, you don’t have to worry about driving for your errands at Pine Ridge at Crestwood. A private daily shuttle service is available to take you to local stores, fitness centers, and more.

Pine Ridge at Crestwood is all about convenience and peace of mind – so why not find out for yourself? Visit Pine Ridge at Crestwood for more information.

Golf Vista Estates – Monee, IL

For those looking for a prime mobile home retirement community in the Midwest, Golf Vista Estates just outside of Chicago is a strong choice.

Want to go golfing on the 9-hole golf course? You can do that at Golf Vista while checking out the on-site pro shop. Want to socialize with your neighbors at the on-site clubhouse? You can do that here too.

Golf Vista Estates is the perfect friendly, yet quiet atmosphere outside of Chicago’s hustle and bustle. Did we mention it’s pet-friendly, too?

Don’t miss out on this amazing Midwestern retirement community. To view available homes at Golf Vista Estates, including their recent 89-home expansion, act today.

The perfect retirement park for you should have the right amenities for you, and provide you with the right sense of security and peace of mind. These three retirement communities across the country are a great example that you should absolutely look at today.

If you’re interested in browsing available homes at any of these parks, simply click on the links above and get started.

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