Welcome and thanks for reading our Fall 2004 newsletter. In this issue you will find:
CONVERTING A PROPANE GRILL TO NATURAL GAS.
by Mark Bower
How many times have you needed to use your BBQ grill only to find out that you propane tank is empty? We use our grill year-a-round so it seemed like we were always chasing down another full tank of propane. Finally I said enough is enough. I said it's time to connect our grill directly into our home's natural gas line.
Here's how... |
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FURNACE TROUBLESHOOTING BASICS
by Mark Bower
If your furnace isn't behaving properly, perhaps one of these troubleshooting tips will save you a service call. But please, if you do not feel comfortable performing any of these tips or the tips do not solve the problem, call a competent service technician.
Click here to understand how your furnace works.
Coleman Recall or Inspections: If you own a Coleman/Evcon 70,000 and 75,000 BTU furnace made between 1995-1999 and have not received a recall notice by mail, you should read this information regarding a possible recall. Have your model number ready when you call or write.
Model numbers affected by the recall/inspection are:
- DGAM075BDD
- DGAM075BDE
- DGAM075BDF
- DGAT070BDD
- DGAT070BDE
- DGAT070BDF
- DGAT075BDD
- DGAT075BDE
- DGAT075BDF
- DLAS075BDD
- DLAS075BDE
- DLAS075BDF
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TOM'S TIPS -- THE TIME IS NOW FOR WINTER PREPARATION
By Tom Poore
Those of you who are new to Mobile Home living may soon be going through your first winter. If you live in a colder climate, mobile homes are not very forgiving if you have not made the necessary checks to be sure your home is in shape to make it through the winter without causing you expenses and headaches. Not to mention, a real scare when you get your first heating bill.
Weather stripping: Make sure all your weather stripping around your outside windows is in good shape. Re-caulk if necessary. Same for doors. If your stripping is cracked or dried out, replace it. These little things can add up in savings, so do not overlook them. There are also kits you can purchase at your hardware store to put plastic over your windows. Older metal windows are notorious for leaks, particularly the style that cranks in and out. The windows sometimes do not close all the way, so these kits can help a lot to keep wind out. Check under sinks for hold where pipes enters, that is a major source of cold air leaks. Also even outlet plugs sometimes allow air in. They make insulation kits to solve the problem, available at any hardware store.
Waterline: Make sure the waterline connection coming out of the ground and going into the home are properly insulated so the cold doesn't freeze the ends of the pipe which may not be heat taped. For instance, if your waterline come up form the ground through a tube or culvert, be sure the top of that culvert is sealed off with a piece of fiberglass insulation.
Heat Tape: Make sure your heat tape is functioning properly. This little item more than anything else causes the biggest headaches during the first shot of below zero weather. Check it now, not when it's 20 degrees below. In the articles section on this website is a good tutorial on heat tapes and what you should know.
Click here to check it out.
Furnace: If you have not had your furnace inspected in a few years by a professional, now it is the time to do that. Please do not neglect your furnace. Safety is an issue here, so don't skimp on this inspection. Not to mention a furnace failure is not something you want to go through in the winter. One item that often gets overlooked is your furnace vent cap. The stack that goes through your roof should have a cap to deflect the wind. If it's missing, go to your local mobile home parts store to find the correct one to replace. Only use the correct one for your model furnace. If this item is missing, a strong wind will blow out your pilot light.
Roof Rake: If you live in an area that gets heavy snow, you should consider getting a roof rake. Allowing heavy snow to accumulate on your roof is not a good thing. For myself my home suffers from ice dams at the edge of the roof. Ice dams back up underneath my shingles causing potential leaks and damage to the shingles. So keeping the heavy snow off the roof helps eliminate damn. Roof rakes can be purchased at most major home stores.
Skirting: Skirting gaps are a no no, fill in any gaps to keep cold air from entering your underbelly.
Condensation: Some of you will have condensation suddenly appearing this winter. Condensation is caused by cold air meeting warm moist air. Leaks in windows and doors are the culprits. Stop the leaks and use the vents while cooking or showering will help. It may come down to using a de-humidifier if necessary.
Emergency Number: Lastly, if you do not have the name of a mobile home repairman pasted on your fridge for emergency purposes, do it now. Please do not wait until your pipes are froze to start looking.
WATERLINE FREEZE ALARMS ARE BACK!
Be warned when your waterline is about to freeze. Indicator inside your home beeps if your waterline is in danger of freezing.
Click here for more info.
A STORY FROM "THE LIFE OF A MOBILE HOME REPAIR MAN"
by Mark Bower
A couple weeks ago a new doublewide moved into our park. After the home was set-up they complained of low water pressure. The new owners called the dealer. The dealer couldn't find the problem so they blamed it on the water pressure in the park. So the owner called the park manager who said that the pressure in the park was fine.
So the new owners started calling plumbers and got the usual response, "Sorry, we don't work on trailer houses." Frustration was setting in.
The following week they had hired a contractor (friend of mine) to build them a garage. The contractor said to call me -- and it just so happened that I lived at the other end of the street. So the owner called asking about my water pressure. I said my pressure was fine, why do you ask? So he told me the story and I stopped on up.
We toured his house and he showed me how low the pressure was at his faucets. I noticed that it was only the sink faucets that had low water pressure. Somehow that fact had eluded everyone else. So I simply unscrewed the mixer on the end of each faucet and cleaned out the debris. I then screwed the mixers back in and wahlah -- good water pressure. He asked if the debris would return. I said probably not as most likely the debris was from installing the waterlines and it should be flushed out by now.
The owner of the house was so impressed that he hired me on the spot to install his water softener and reverse osmosis system.
Holiday Gift Idea!
THE MANUAL FOR MANUFACTURED / MOBILE HOME REPAIR AND UPGRADE
Holiday Special - $29.95 (regular $34.95)
The perfect Holiday gift for do-it-yourselfers working on their mobile home! This 125 page book is written by us at mobilehomerepair.com, the professionals who are out in the field every day repairing manufactured homes. The book shows actual pictures from projects we were hired to do.
Designed for homeowners as well as contractors, "The manual for manufactured/mobile home repair and upgrade" is packed full of useful repair techniques. But it's more than just doing repairs, it's also about upgrading and improving a manufactured home. For instance, not only will you learn how to stop a metal roof from leaking, you'll also discover an inexpensive way to replace it. Want to re-level your own home? This manual gives you step by step instructions. Need to replace your waterlines? Then you can't miss the information found here.
Even if you don't do your own repairs, this manual will give you invaluable knowledge of how a repair should be performed so when you do seek a contractor, you know the right questions to ask. Written by us, this manual should be required reading for every owner of a manufactured home.
Table of Contents
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TIP OF THE MONTH
Unplug a Drain
I have yet to see a liquid drain opener that will unplug a drain clogged with hair. Most drains are plugged within a few inches of the opening. Next time you get a plugged drain, try cleaning it out with a product called Zip-It. At a cost of $2-$3 each, trying Zip-It is cheaper than buying a bottle of liquid drain cleaner and most likely you'll get better results.
Using Zip-It is easy. Simply wiggle down inside the drain. Then slowly pull out. The very sharp teeth will grab hold of that hair clog and pull it right out. For some small drain openings it may be necessary to trim-off the teeth on one side -- but do it oh so carefully.
If you have a picture or repair tip to share, please e-mail it to us. |
FEATURE YOUR HOME
Are you proud of your home? New or old, your home could be featured at the top of our seasonal newsletter. Simply
submit via e-mail a clear picture with good lighting and you could see your home at the top of our next newsletter!
