7 Manufactured Home Problems
Perhaps the most attractive thing about manufactured homes is their affordability. Sure, those who love the idea of living for less have experienced some nice upgrades or a bigger home. But, these cost-savings comes with a catch- manufactured homes are not exceptions to certain issues and repairs. In fact, there are several manufactured home problems that you should know about.
Below are the seven problems that you should keep in mind when trying to make a smart purchasing decision.
MOLD. Manufactured homes are at increased risks of mold problems. Leaks in the roof, water sitting in the ceiling, and flood-waters reaching the bottom of your home can all cause mold. Mold spores produce allergens and airborne toxins, which can be life-threatening for people with breathing problems and allergies. Symptoms of mold exposure include sneezing, itchy nose, watery eyes, shortness of breath, and post-nasal drip. So, if an asthmatic family member and a baby are to live in the home, it is just safe to pick a mold-free manufactured home.
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. Electrical problems usually occur in older manufactured homes. Outdated switches, outdated light fixtures, short circuit issues, and loose wiring are commonly not attended to in time by the former homeowners. It is also possible that the former homeowners have made DIY troubleshooting to the electric wiring. Safety around the home is paramount, so an older manufactured home should have already been re-wired, and a new breaker box put in place.
FOUNDATION PROBLEMS. Manufactured homes that are placed right on the ground can cause significant problems in the long run. The quality and stability of the soil beneath a home can be affected by environmental factors. As a result, the manufactured home becomes susceptible to cracking, mold, moisture issues, pests, and other signs of deterioration. In some cases, animals may tend to live underneath the manufactured home and cause wiring or plumbing damages. If you live in certain climates, pick a manufactured home with an insulated foundation. You can also opt for a manufactured home with a permanent concrete foundation.
OLD FURNACE. The furnace in your mobile home burns gas or oil fuel to heat the air. It then blows the heated air through ducts. These ducts carry the air to registers located throughout your manufactured home. If the manufactured home has an old furnace, the home heating system will fail to function properly. Repairing the older furnace can be quite expensive, as well as replacing it. With these things in mind, it may save you more time and money to negotiate a written understanding with your mobile home seller to have the old furnace replaced before purchase.
PRE-EXISTING WATER DAMAGE. The kiss of death in a manufactured home is water. Water damage can deteriorate construction products and cause holes in floors, ceilings, and walls. You can usually tell if the home’s water sources have been cared for and maintained by appearance alone. Before making any purchase, listen and look visually for damages in water lines, pipes, sink connections, faucets, etc. Because most of the flooring is constructed with particleboard, you can walk around the moisture-prone spots, to see if the subfloor is weak or has holes.
WINDOWS. As mentioned above, water becomes the biggest enemy when it finds its way inside a manufactured home. If you are planning to purchase a manufactured home, you might want to choose the one with sealed water passages, including exterior windows. Aside from leakage, you also need to be a super sleuth when it comes to cracks. Even when windows of manufactured homes are made of glass, plexiglass, or plastic, window cracks are still a possibility.
One of the challenges with manufactured home windows is parts availability. Most major hardware stores do not carry manufactured home windows. For a wide variety of manufactured home windows, we recommend visiting the mobile home parts store. Click this link to receive 10% off your next purchase by using our coupon code: AFFD110.
OLD PLUMBING. Plumbing problems are common in a manufactured home because the pipes are smaller and not as securely placed as pipes in conventional homes. Thumping when water is running, slow drainage, backflow into the bathtub when the toilet is flushed, foul odors, low pressure, and leaks are results of the faulty and old plumbing. While you can perform some plumbing repairs yourself, there is still no guarantee for a quality of service that can withstand time. Buying a manufactured home with a reliable and updated plumbing system is always better.
As a manufactured home buyer, it is only reasonable to make sure that you get a safe and livable place for your family. Luckily, there is an inspection contingency period after the mobile home seller accepts your offer. If an existing problem isn’t enough reason to pass on the manufactured home, consider that your bargaining chip. You can discuss with the seller to either fix the problem or reduce the asking price. Either way, you can make sure that you get the best value for your investment.
