Preparing your mobile home for winter generally involves a few simple steps when you have access to the right products
Roof Coating
Roof damage is common during the winter months in some areas of the country due to the heavy volume of ice accumulation, freezing rain and snowfall. The primary purpose of coating a roof is to extend the life of the roof system. If your mobile home has a metal roof, make sure to seal the seams and edges or expansion joints of the metal roof every year to properly winterize your mobile home. This step not only prevents damage from ice and snow, but it also lowers your energy bills. To minimize the frequency of coating a roof, it may be advantageous to purchase a more expensive roof coating than applying a cheaper one which will have to be reapplied more often.
To ensure the effectiveness of your roof coating application, find one that is suggested by an expert retailer and apply it to a properly prepped dry surface at the recommended thickness. Also, apply an adequate seal around the water heater, furnace roof caps and exhaust fans and any plumbing pipes that extend from the roof.
Sealing drafts
Drafts commonly occur due to poor insulation and from cracks and gaps found around windows and doors so sealing drafts is a crucial step in winterizing a mobile home. Drafts can easily be eliminated with a simple tube of silicone caulk. Polyurethane caulking is considered a universal sealant to address this issue.
Use water-resistant caulk to seal around flashing seams between roof and siding, gutter and downspout seams, along siding joints, the entrance of TV antenna wires, pipe feed-thrus and around the dryer vent. Also, fill spaces around the outside of the mobile home, including around the water pipe entrance. Loose wall panels inside of a mobile home can also allow cold air to rush in. High grade mobile home adhesives can easily repair loose panels and even perform well in colder temperatures. In addition, they offer ample working time to allow correct alignment of the panels.
Using mobile home caulks or sealants is the proactive way to protect your mobile home and several different products are readily available. Outdoor products are usually manufactured to resist issues related to constant exposure to environmental conditions. However, some indoor caulks are also manufactured to resist moisture and won’t shrink or crack with sudden drops in temperatures.
Ridge Vents
Ridge vents can be installed over a slot in the peak and is a great way to expel air from the roof while blocking out blowing sleet and snow from the attic.
Static Vents
Another consideration is installing static vents. They function under natural air flow and wind pressure and provide a good barrier against snow, sleet and rain.
Winterizing a mobile home is worth the expense to stay warm and avoid structural problems later on. Take action now to protect your mobile home from heat loss, drafts, ice and snow damage by contacting Basic Components.
