DIY Mobile Home Repair Questions and Answers

Outside Electrical Outlets Stopped Working

2013-11-01T10:59:00.003-04:00

Q. Hey Don I have a 1990 Southern Energy double wide 24x60 mobile home. The two outside electrical outlets quit working one day while I was using them....they don't seem to be tied in with the main breaker box is there a different box for these breakers somewhere? Thank you.

A. Check for a GFCI outlet that may have tripped. It could be in the kitchen, a bathroom or outside. Let me know what you find...Don

UPDATE: I found it in the master bathroom….Thank you very much Don.

Locating wiring for hardwired smoke detectors

2013-10-03T00:45:00.000-04:00

Q. We are trying to locate wiring for hardwired smoke detectors in a 1987 Bridgeport Manor manufactured home. We are renting and the owner capped wires off and drywalled over. Any suggestions ? My husband used an electrical tester , but no luck. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

A. They would be hard to locate with out the proper location equipment used by electricians, these are called circuit tracers. I would check near and over doorways in the bedrooms and near center of the hallway about 6 to 12 inches from the ceiling. They of course may have also been installed in the ceilings. You may also want to pay particular attention to areas above existing outlets and switches, where power may have been pulled from. If you can not locate the old locations you can use snap-in boxes and install new outlets easily by junctioning at existing outlets and switch locations and "fishing" the power up through the wall to install them.

Now with all that said I have always preferred the battery operated types over the hardwired. The hard wired types will not operate with the power off and in the case of a fire they usually start because of electrical problems. They may have battery backup but I don't trust them. The battery operated types are cheaper and easier to install.

The thing no one ever tells you is that smoke detectors wear out and should be replaced every 5 to 10 years., making the battery type more reasonable to own. I do highly suggest that you have smoke detectors in every room possible. Smoke detectors are rated for location such as bedroom or kitchen etc. So read the packaging. Remember to test them every month, set up a schedule, and replace the batteries every time the time changes.

Need Free Help With your Mobile Home DIY Repair Problem?

My mobile home is using a lot of electricity.

2013-08-04T16:04:00.002-04:00

Q. I'm trying to remodel a 1976 mobile home. recently got the power turned on and it is using over 90 KWH per day and nothing is being used or is plugged in. I read some of your articles and am planning on checking the outlets and the breaker box tomorrow, but didn't know if there is anything else that I should check or know?

A. Watch out for older inefficient appliances, heavier than average appliance usage due to weather such as hot or cold. Loose connections at outlets, branch feeder circuit breakers and especially the main (200 amp) disconnect breakers. Feel for hot wires, that is an indication of current consumption. The most overlooked energy eaters besides the "vampires" (transformers, chargers, plug in air fresheners etc.) is the water heater and the refrigerator. I have a timer on the water heater and have the settings adjusted for optimum performance with the use if a thermometer, that saves me a ton. Also be advised to check for air leaks around doors and windows. Stock windows in a mobile home are terrible and be sure to use the double pane (inner/outer). Do things like placing those safety plugs in outlets can help with air leakage over time. Use shade to your advantage, blinds in the windows during the summer. Go around the home during the hottest part of the day and feel the walls and ceilings, if you can, for hot spots. Don't forget to use CFL light bulbs and I highly recommend using the newer LED bulbs where you can, especially in places where the lights tend to remain on for long amounts of time.This might help to find inadequate or slipped out of place insulation. Let me know what you find. Thanks for the email...Don

Radiant Barrier White Ceramic Paint-DIY Mobile Home Repair - Google+

2013-02-23T22:12:00.001-05:00

Homeowners do their own test of radiant barrier white ceramic paint vs standard white paint on their mobile home to test the insulation value.

This is something worth checking out. The insulation and long lasting properties make this an amazing product. I have also been told that people have painted there duct work and under coated their homes with dramatic results.

Visit this link for the story:
DIY Mobile Home Repair - Google+

Should a white wire ever be connected in with with the black wires? (ceiling light)

2013-02-18T19:36:00.001-05:00

Generally no, but there are circumstances where this does occur. When it does the white wire will have a piece of black tape on it to let the electrician know that this wire is now a "hot" conductor in both the ceiling box and the switch box. This will occur when the power source comes in at the light fixture box and not at the switch box. This now requires that the hot be transferred to the light switch box via the white wire from the light fixture box and then returned back to the light fixture from the switch on the black wire, to give the switch control of the light fixture. Get other answers to mobile home electrical repair problems by visiting the website http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/mobile-home-electrical-repair.html l.

Do you have enough insulation in your mobile home?

2012-11-07T16:41:00.000-05:00

My web page for mobile home insulation has a lot of very useful information to determine if you have enough insulation and what to check. I have also included an insulation calculator. The page gives insulation values for different geographical locations.

Mobile Home Furnace-Testing-Troubleshooting-Parts Finder

2012-10-28T15:19:00.002-04:00

The best thing you can do is to check out and test your mobile home furnace heating system before you actually need to use it. With winter now approaching it is time to make sure that everything will work properly when the time comes to turn it on and not at the last minute.

Doing the proper maintenance to the system which involves things such as changing the filter and other recommendations I point out on my website page about electric furnace preparation, testing and how to trouble shoot problems. I even have some excellent resources for any needed parts or filters.

I do recommend that you seek professional service if you don't have some background or technical understanding of heating and cooling systems.

While you are at it test and or install smoke detectors at this time for safety's sake.

Staying warm cheaper can be done by following a few simple guidelines.

Change 240 volt to 120 volt Wiring Circuit Breaker

2012-07-29T13:20:00.000-04:00

Change 240 volt to 120 volt Wiring Circuit Breaker
A double pole circuit breaker means that it was a 240 volt electrical circuit delivering whatever amount of amps shown on the circuit breaker handle, 20, 30 etc. The breaker must be matched to the electrical wire size. For example a 20 amp circuit breaker protects a #12 wire and a 30 amp circuit breaker protects a #10 wire. To change it to a 120 volt circuit simply take the white electrical wire that is attached to the circuit breaker and move it to the neutral bus bar leaving the black electrical wire where it is, you will see in the box where all the white wires are attached. I suggest that you replace the circuit breaker with a single pole type. Black electrical wire to circuit breaker, white wire and bare ground to the bus bars on the sides. Be sure to get the type of circuit breaker that matches your circuit breaker box, GE, Murray, Square D, etc.
Amazon.Com is a great place to get those hard to find circuit breakers

Tub and Shower Crack Repair

2012-06-11T18:26:00.000-04:00

I often get asked about crack repair in plastic, fiberglass and PVC tubs and showers. There are kits available to repair this problem that is a whole lot less expensive than replacing the bathtub or shower. Fiberglass kits work very well when you follow the directions on the packaging. You can get repair kits here for about $15.00 that will solve your problem.

Mobile Home Repair Manufactured Home Repair DIY Help

2012-05-13T13:35:00.000-04:00

My new website for FREE Mobile Home Repair Manufactured Home Repair DIY Help is now online to help you with repairs on electrical, plumbing, roof. ceiling. walls and all aspects of your DIY repair question. Visit http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/.

Mobile Home Heater not Working

2011-12-06T21:06:00.002-05:00

Q. I have lived in this trailer for 2 years now and before this, there were no problems with the heating, in fact, it was too good at times. This year is a different story. There is no heat. The mobile home ductwork is just blowing cold air. We have replaced the air filters, had the furnace professionally checked, replaced the thermostat, and tried to repair the duct work under the trailer. I am not sure how well the duct work was checked and repaired. Now that it is getting colder, in the lower 20's, and it's just the start, I would like to know about how much should it cost to have someone to look at the ducts and to fix them or replace them? All your sources are for South Carolina and I live in Michigan. This is an older trailer, made in the 60's. If you need more information, just email me. I really just need a fair estimate. It's a single wide, too. I also know that the duct work is not original. Would it be better or cheaper to change to the smaller flex ducts? I really just need the most cost-effective fix to this issue. This place does not get any warmer than 62, during a sunny day, and much colder during the nights. Any information you could give would be helpful, even things that we haven't looked at yet. Thank you for your time.

A. It would be hard for me to give you an estimate without looking at the situation first hand. Let me ask you this, if the ductwork was replaced what was used to replace it and how was it done? Did they use flex duct or metal duct? Is it insulated? Is it electric or gas heat? Take one of the floor registers loose and stick your hand in the duct to feel for air flow, if you feel a lot of air movement then the duct my have come loose somewhere. If you don't feel a lot of air flow then I would suspect the heater. About the only suggestion I can give you is to call some local mobile home parks and dealerships to see who they use for maintenance/repairs and is their anyone honest and reliable they could recommend. Sometimes they have people who work for them that do jobs on the side. If you get any estimates get a few if you can to compare diagnosis and price. You can also go to http://localdouble.com and search for mobile home heat-A/C repair companies. Don't tell them what you suspect let them tell you. Sometimes when you say it might be the duct work they pick that up as a clue to tell you that you need everything replaced, same with the heater. Please let me know what happens because I don't want you to freeze. I know it gets cold up there...Don

Reply: Thank you for your response. This will help a lot. I wasn't even sure where to begin. I will let you know what happens. I am not sure what will happen when, because this week is crazy, but this will give me a place to start. Thank you very much.

Update: A spider had built a web in the pilot light orifice which interfered with the pilot flame.

Switch Receptacle Combo Wiring

2011-07-09T23:04:00.000-04:00

Q. I want to replace my original equip. light switch with a pass & seymour light switch and receptacle plug. Inside I don't have red white and black. I have 3 black and my ground. is the power line the one coming in from the top?
My reply to question...
I'm surprised that there is not a white wire in there. Power usually comes in from the bottom and the "switch leg" to the light goes up inside the wall. Check to make sure that there is no white "neutral" wire. It is possible that there is not a white wire if the power is first brought in through the ceiling junction box where the light fixture is. In that case you will need a volt meter to find the hot leg and the neutral leg to make the outlet work. Do you have a volt meter?

Reply back...
I do have a bunch of white wires that are bundled together with a wire nut. None of them were attached to the light switch. I will check on the volt meter and get back. Thanks for the quick reply.

A. You need to "pigtail" (see website for how to make a pigtail) a white wire to the silver screw on the outlet portion of the outlet. Take whichever black wire is the hot from the breaker box and connect it to the brass or black screw on the outlet switch combo device and then attach the black wire that went to the light fixture on the remaining brass or black screw on the switch part of the combo device and you are done. Take a look at my website for complete instructions on combo switches and pigtail wiring. http://mobile-home-repair.blogspot.com/2015/04/how-to-wire-combination-receptacle.html

Reply back...
Did the job! Thanks

Elastomeric Roof Coating- An Alternative To Full Roof Replacement | Option BG

2011-05-25T10:09:00.000-04:00

When you need a material to re-roof an existing roof system, you can use products such as Maximum-Stretch and Super Elasto Barrier, these products can eliminate the need to do a tear-off. There is no adhesive needed; elastomeric roof coating can be swabbed on or applied with rollers. It is as simple as painting it on the the roof, but it forms a solid and impenetrable barrier when dry. It is also resistant to mold, mildew, and high temperatures.

Elastomeric Roof Coating- An Alternative To Full Roof Replacement | Option BG

What Insurance Alternatives Do Manufactured Home Buyers Presently Have?

2011-05-15T21:17:00.000-04:00

Personal property, loved ones liability, medical costs for any guests who may possibly endure injury whilst they are on your property, and further living costs for you and your household if you need to have to have temporary housing whilst your house is undergoing repair or reconstruction.

What Insurance Alternatives Do Manufactured Home Buyers Presently Have?

Water Heater Repair Instructions - How to Repair an Electric Home Depot-GE Brand Water Heater-Manufactured by Rheem

2011-05-03T09:43:00.000-04:00

There are videos on The Home Depot website and YouTube that can assist in guiding you through your water heater repair. Preparation is key, have all the tools and parts you may need at hand before you start repairing your mobile home electric water heater. If your GE water heater is still under warranty, call the 1-800 numbers on the tank to receive repair parts free. If your Rheem water heater is within the first year of warranty, Rheem will even assist in the repair of your GE electric water heater.

Water Heater Repair Instructions - How to Repair an Electric Home Depot-GE Brand Water Heater-Manufactured by Rheem

Mobile Home Electrical Outlet and Switch Repair Replacement

2011-04-25T14:23:00.004-04:00

Q. I own a older mobile home that I am replacing the electrical outlets , the outlets you plug into have 2 sets of wires in some of them , I want to use regular outlets , the on and off switches either have 2 sets of wires or there is 2 that have 3 sets of wires going to it , would you know how to wire the regular outlets in to these , thanks

Q.#2 You helped me figure some electrical outlets on a mobile home , the question I have is , replacing a on and off switch in a mobile home the one I got is junk the wires push between two pieces of metal and half do not work , the switch in the mobile home has two sets of wires going to it, 2 white 2 black and 2 ground , and some have 3 sets of wires . Would you know what type of on and off switch , I know the single pole switch only has 4 screws .

A. The outlets that have two cables going to them should have two black wires, two white wires and two ground wires total. If that is correct in what I just said, connect the two black wires to the brass screws on the outlet. The white wires go to the silver screws and the ground wires go to the green screw. The outlets that have three cables in them you need to make a "pig tail". Strip about one inch of insulation from each of the black and white wires. You will need a piece of black and a piece of white wire about six inches long. Now twist together all four of the black wires and cap those off and do the same with the white wires , same with the ground wires. You should now have the fourth black and white wire you added sticking out. Attach these wires to the outlet black to brass screws and white to silver screws and do the same with the ground wires to the green screw.
Where you have two cables, twist the white wires together, then twist the grounds together and cap those off. You should now only have two black wires left that will go to the screws on the switch. A single pole switch has three screws two for the power/switch leg and one for the ground. Where you have three cables, that means that power is being carried on to another location unless it is feeding another fixture or fan in the same room like in the case of a bathroom. We need to figure out which one is power from the breaker box, which one goes to light fixture and which one goes to a downstream location. Generally there is one that goes up and maybe the switch leg to the light fixture. Do you have a volt meter, if so you can find the hot leg from the breaker box by testing across the white and black in each cable. In any event you can twist all the whites together and all the grounds together and cap them off with a wire nut. You should now have three blacks leftover. the power black and the black going downstream will twist together and using a third pigtail wire connect to one screw on the switch the switch leg black will go to the other screw of that switch. Look at this page on how to make a electrical pigtail wiring connection.

Water Heater Repair Instructions - Whirlpool 40-Gallon Mobile Home Electric Water Heater 149789 Model Mhe2f40rs035v

2011-04-25T09:49:00.002-04:00

Water Heater Repair Instructions
GE, Rheem, Rudd, Kenmore, A.O. Smith, State, Rinni, American
www.waterheaterrepairinstructions.com

You can also get water heater element and thermostat wiring diagrams and instructions at water heater repair.

Water Heater Repair Instructions - Whirlpool 40-Gallon Mobile Home Electric Water Heater 149789 Model Mhe2f40rs035v

Mobile Home Ductwork blowing air from under home

2011-04-18T20:28:00.006-04:00

Q. I believe my heating ducts have come apart in a couple areas of my
manufactured home. I have two separate units. The furnace is inside, the ac is outside. The house is cold, and I thought I felt some warm air
blowing out from underneath. It is possible some of the neighborhood
creatures may have caused them to come apart. This has been a minor issue
since I moved here, but this winter became major. What would be the
estimate for this type of repair by some of your people? I'm on a very
fixed income and one estimate I heard was over $5,000. Help.

A. $5000 What! By what you told me there should be only one piece of duct under the home, this will be the crossover duct. Over time they will break down and get loose from the "boots", invading critters don't help the problem either by tearing holes in it. This probably needs to be looked at and/or replaced. Call some a/c companies and some mobile home sales and some moving/ setup businesses to see who you can get to repair or replace the crossover duct. I would only do this at first to see if it helps your problem, don't get talked into anything else at this point. Is there a handy type person around you that you could consider and trust to do this? The flex duct can be purchased at places like Lowes you will need 12", 14"(usually) or maybe even 16" diameter duct, this will have to be determined when the old duct is looked at and don't forget to get some "quality" duct tape and tie straps.

Update:  Thank you for your input. You were right.

The crossover was damaged. 
Total repair to include service on the ac unit was $219.

Thank you again for your information.

Visit http://mobilehomemanufacturedhomes.com for more information.

6 wires in an outlet box

2011-01-04T21:33:00.000-05:00

Q. Our home is a 1990 double wide mobile. I have one electrical space that the old "v" type went into. This "v" box has been removed and all the wires have been taped and caped off (3 black together, 3 white together and three ground together I have never seen a receptacle with 6 wires. All the down-line wiring is working fine. How to I wire a new receptacle with all these wires?????
A. Make sure you cut off the power to this circuit before you work on it. You need to do what is called a pigtail. You will add one more wire to each of the ones that are there now. The (click on this to see how) pigtail wires need to be about 6 inches long. One white, one black and a ground. Just attach them to the wires that are there now, twist them together and cap them. Then take the wires you added and run them to the outlet. White on silver, black on brass and ground on green. You should now have only the pigtailed wires going to the outlet.

Update: Hi Don - Your solution worked absolutely perfectly.

Frozen Pipes on a Mobile Home

2010-12-22T18:50:00.000-05:00

Q. My daughter lives 100 miles away in a mobile home she recently bought. She went away for a few days and turned off her water. She had also been working on the valves that supply her washing machine a couple of weeks before she left. She ended up replacing them because they were corroded and to rule that out as a reason her washer wasn't working... Today she called and said during her shower, the water started ok, but soon slowed to just a trickle.
Here are some of the things I told her to try
I told her to make sure she turned the supply valve completely on, she said she did.
I asked her if both hot and cold water don't work, neither works.
I asked her to check to see that the light on the heat tape is still on, it is.
She also said that under her trailer is warm, so she believes that the mobile home plumbing pipes have not frozen. (I was thinking it might be that, because we've had some below zero temps in the past week or so.)
What else could it be?
Thank you!
The mobile home was built in 1973 and had been empty for several months before she bought it. She moved in just before Halloween.

A. (My reply question)Is she on a well or public water system?(Reply answer) Utility.

If you believe that the pipes are not froze then the first thing you need to do is to make sure that the supply from the utility is OK. I had my water freeze on the city side of my meter last year. You may need to have the water company to check that water is actually flowing through the meter. Then we can go from there.

Update: You were right! The main water pipe was frozen before it got to her meter. Thank you so much for your help.

Need more mobile home plumbing repair help, please visit the main website. http://www.mobilehomemanufacturedhomes.com/MobileHomePlumbingRepair.html

Critters in the Duct Work

2010-12-15T16:53:00.001-05:00

Q. Hello, I have a 1995 singlewide mobile home, and a critter got into the ductwork, is it possible? I would like to know what the ductwork is made of and how a critter could get into it.

A. Yes, anything is possible. If it is the original duct it will more than likely be made of aluminum. Now with that being said I will tell you this. Lots of different critters can chew through aluminum, squirrels for one can do it. On some homes the end runs sometimes are flex duct that will continue on to the last duct at the end of the home. You can take off the register cover and see if it is flex. This flex duct is usually plastic and looks like dryer vent duct. I had a mouse chew through one of the plastic ducts and get in. I replaced it with metal duct. If you have a critter living in the duct work you need to get it out if for nothing else sanitary reasons. After the critter extraction be sure to repair any damaged duct work. I suggest you call your local animal control people to see if they can help. If not you may have to call a critter removal service. Some pest control companies do this type of service.

Point of Use Water Heater for Instant Hot Water

2010-11-28T23:34:00.000-05:00

Q. Our mobile home water heater is at one end of the house far from the furthest bathroom. Hot water takes forever to travel that distance. We would like to install a small point-of-use water heater to speed up that process. The question is, can we install it under the kitchen sink to have quick hot water there and faster to the furthest bathroom or are we better off to install right in the bathroom...
The next question is, is there a way to install it so it will provide quick hot water to both the bathroom sink and tub???
A. I would place it near the bathroom since that is where you want the water the fastest. Be sure to get a size that will accommodate your usage and remember that you also have to run electrical wiring for the unit. Do a lot of comparison shopping before you buy.

Heat tape and insulation

2010-10-26T16:10:00.000-04:00

Q. Who typically installs heat tape and insulation? The folks who did the well work just strung the lines along the ground and they need to be winterized.

A. It would be better if the pipes were buried at least below the frost line, but check local recommendations for depth. I did my own heat tape. It is not hard to do. Just measure how long the exposed pipes are then get the length of heat tape to match and install per the instructions they usually recommend wrapping in aluminum foil before installing the tape. I then covered that with foam pipe wrap. You will need to call some insulation companies to see about getting the insulation installed if you don't want to DIY. I did my own, of course. That is also not difficult to do. Whether it is a single or double wide it goes in the same way, follow the instructions on the insulaton. R-19 or above would be good to use.

Heating and A/C

2010-10-04T18:04:00.000-04:00

Q. My husband and I are purchasing a 14 year old single wide mobile home. When we purchased it we had to pull up all the carpets, but the floor under them was ok , so we put down laminate flooring. We are sealing the roof this fall and replacing a few walls that have gotten soft. MY question is this, are heating and air unit does not cool properly at all. When we inspected the ducts, there are several that have eroded and leaking air under the trailer. My husband called a heating and air company for prices on a new unit and duct work. They told him that the way trailers are built they can not put new duct work in. Is this correct? Because if it is there is no reason to get a new unit if the air is going to leak under the house. We need help, we do not know what to do.

A. Yes, it can be done. I did my double wide mobile home. Same as a single except it has two troughs. It requires removing the existing trough (the long metal duct that runs the length of the home) or simply cutting it out where the boot goes through the floor at the existng registers and installing new boots, flex duct and a return vent. You could also consider a mini-split unit that requires no duct work. I turned the cubby hole where the inside unit was to a linen closet. Look here for mini split info http://ac-world.com/multizones.php , http://www.air-n-water.com/splitac.htm , http://www.mini-split.com/ and they heat and cool. The compressor sits outside and freon lines are run to the individual units inside. No duct work required and no air leaks. Some units look like a painting hanging on the wall if you like to camouflage it, pretty cool idea. The mini split is very efficient and I think the prices will just about balance out. With multiple units if one was to go out you still have heat or a/c with the other one, something to think about. Prices you will have to get locally. Get several estimates, an informed shopper is a happy customer.

Outlets have no power, Breaker trips

2010-09-30T17:49:00.003-04:00

Q. I am very paranoid about electricity.
but alias I have a problem. I think I have a bad circuit breaker. 3 outlets have no power.
the breaker threw about 5 times last week. now, all the receptacles are dead.
the breaker is not physically hot to the touch.
So I plan on killing the power but I've heard of stuff like a live neutral ?
What does this mean ? How would I test for it ?
I have a CAT III 6-600v ac/dc tester. it can also check continuity.
it also has a polarity function.
My plan is to kill the power and box(I have an outside pole/box) and inside panel,
then double check it that i have no power.
My question is detecting a "hot" neutral ? How can I be sure ?

A. Check for voltage between the ground wire( green or bare conductor) and the neutral or white wire. Usually if there is a load down line i.e. some device that is connected to the circuit that is in the on mode power will still be passing through the circuit. I also suggest checking the affected outlets for any bad connection, corrosion or damage and replace as necessary. You may also want to make sure that there are not any devices plugged in that is tripping the breaker. Breakers do go bad. After you kill the power go into the breaker box and swap wires from the suspected breaker and one of the same current rating that is known to be good and see if the problem reoccurs with the different breaker. If it does reoccur check the outlets. If it does not reoccur suspect the breaker.Look at my website for complete answers to your open circuit question. http://www.mobilehomemanufacturedhomes.com/How-To-Find-Open-Circuit.html

Update... It was both an open circuit at an outlet connection and intermittent circuit breaker. Double whammy, frustrating to troubleshoot.