Limited to Mobile Home equipment ONLY, or upgrade duct work?
Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2011 10:02 am
Hello,
We're buying a 2128SF double-wide and the whole heating/cooling system may need to be replaced. It is missing an evap coil and the outside compressor has had the coolant lines and electrical wiring severed by vandals perhaps up to a year ago. At this point, I do not know if the outside unit even works. My father-in-law says the outside compressor may be locked up due to moisture infiltration from the lines being cut. Can't tell if the outside unit is AC or Heat Pump and haven't checked the furnace/heat strip yet. I do know the inside AH blower works, but the air output doesn't feel uniform at the vents, especially at the far ends of the house away from the air handler.
At this point, it would take at least a new evap coil, coolant line set, and rewire to even test the other components and system operation. I haven't had an opportunity to inspect the duct work under the house closely for obvious defects, but will do so soon. The thermostat appears to function, but can't really test it fully without the complete system functional. I'm guessing maybe about $500 just to diagnose the remaining equipment with new evap coil, lines, and wiring. If outside compressor is also bad, then I'd have to replace that as well and I'd almost have a new system.
I'm considering just getting all new system components and start fresh. However, in learning about these systems, I am finding that mobile home equipment (mainly the air handler and evap coil) is different than standard home equipment. The info I am getting is that mobile home duct work is smaller and produces higher static pressures, requiring a high-static AH.
However, is it possible to upgrade the MH standard duct work and go with a "standard" system? I've seen some really good prices on complete Goodman systems and not-so-good prices on MH rated equipment. Yet, even if I can find competitively priced MH equipment, I just have the gut feeling that anything made for a MH is somehow going to be not as good quality. Maybe I'm wrong, but I would like to know for sure one way or another.
My final concern in switching over to "standard" equipment is with possibly violating some MH codes that might affect my ability to get home owner's insurance. I saw one comment on another forum that indicated my insurance company may not like it if equipment not rated specifically for use in mobile homes was installed. But if the duct work, air handler, wiring, and all equipment was compatible according to manufacturer specs and properly installed...why should my insurance care?? Not something I want to find out after the fact when filing a claim for loss with my insurance carrier.
Any ideas on how to move ahead here would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank you!
P.S. I'm looking at a heat pump installation instead of straight AC.
We're buying a 2128SF double-wide and the whole heating/cooling system may need to be replaced. It is missing an evap coil and the outside compressor has had the coolant lines and electrical wiring severed by vandals perhaps up to a year ago. At this point, I do not know if the outside unit even works. My father-in-law says the outside compressor may be locked up due to moisture infiltration from the lines being cut. Can't tell if the outside unit is AC or Heat Pump and haven't checked the furnace/heat strip yet. I do know the inside AH blower works, but the air output doesn't feel uniform at the vents, especially at the far ends of the house away from the air handler.
At this point, it would take at least a new evap coil, coolant line set, and rewire to even test the other components and system operation. I haven't had an opportunity to inspect the duct work under the house closely for obvious defects, but will do so soon. The thermostat appears to function, but can't really test it fully without the complete system functional. I'm guessing maybe about $500 just to diagnose the remaining equipment with new evap coil, lines, and wiring. If outside compressor is also bad, then I'd have to replace that as well and I'd almost have a new system.
I'm considering just getting all new system components and start fresh. However, in learning about these systems, I am finding that mobile home equipment (mainly the air handler and evap coil) is different than standard home equipment. The info I am getting is that mobile home duct work is smaller and produces higher static pressures, requiring a high-static AH.
However, is it possible to upgrade the MH standard duct work and go with a "standard" system? I've seen some really good prices on complete Goodman systems and not-so-good prices on MH rated equipment. Yet, even if I can find competitively priced MH equipment, I just have the gut feeling that anything made for a MH is somehow going to be not as good quality. Maybe I'm wrong, but I would like to know for sure one way or another.
My final concern in switching over to "standard" equipment is with possibly violating some MH codes that might affect my ability to get home owner's insurance. I saw one comment on another forum that indicated my insurance company may not like it if equipment not rated specifically for use in mobile homes was installed. But if the duct work, air handler, wiring, and all equipment was compatible according to manufacturer specs and properly installed...why should my insurance care?? Not something I want to find out after the fact when filing a claim for loss with my insurance carrier.
Any ideas on how to move ahead here would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank you!
P.S. I'm looking at a heat pump installation instead of straight AC.