For many people, there is the misconception that modern manufactured homes are property options that will require excessive maintenance and large heating bills to ensure that you and your family are comfortable. However, this is definitely not true. In fact, each manufactured home is site-built in one piece; hence there are less gaps and flaws for heat to seep out. Furthermore, manufactured homes are regulated by strict insulation, energy efficiency and safety standards by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development. One of the standards that we would like to highlight is the thermal zone standards which are established in order to prevent heat loss in the properties within this country, helping the structure better trap heat.
That being said, just like any other homeowner, it is time to consider useful practices to stay warm during the colder season ahead. Here’re some tips to keep your manufactured home energy efficient in winter.
Use Your Curtains
Natural sunlight not only boosts your vitality during winter, they are also a free source of heat! Open your curtains and allow sunlight to penetrate your home during the day to enjoy the free heat. Once the sun sets, draw your curtains to transform it into a layer of insulation and keep the warmth in the rooms. To amplify its performance, switch out thin cotton curtains for heavyweight and tightly woven fabrics such as velvet, suede or tweed that offer a dense barrier against wintry air.
Move Your Sofa
It might feel good to cozy up in your favorite seat just beside your heating duct or baseboard heaters. However, your sofa might be absorbing the warmth and preventing proper heat circulation in your home. Likewise, keep clothes drying racks and other furniture away from the heat source.
Block the Draughts
A simple and cost-effective gesture, draught-proofing is often an oversight in the effort to keep your home comfortable during cold weather. There are many draught excluders in the market or DIY solutions to block cold air from sweeping through your doors and windows. However, it is important to note that draught-proofing is not advisable in some rooms such as kitchen and bathroom where good ventilation is crucial to keep it dry and mold-free.
Wrap Your Tank
If there is a hot water tank in your home, ensure that it is properly insulated. This will help to keep the water warmer for a longer time. If the protective cover is starting to show signs of wear and tear, investing in a new hot water tank insulating jacket can help to reduce re-heating costs.
Program Your Central Heating
Most HVAC systems come with a programmer that you can regulate and program according to your lifestyle. By programming your heating system to warm up your home 30 minutes before you wake up in the morning, it actually helps to save energy costs. Instead of boosting the temperature to reach your desired comfort level, it’s more cost-effective to allow the gradual heat to set in.
What Should You Look Out For When Choosing A Manufactured Home?
To be fair, not all manufactured homes are built equally. Depending on the time that they are built and the company that built or refurbished them, there can be a range in terms of the quality of the energy efficiency measures that are put in place. One key consideration that can help you choose an excellent manufactured home is to make sure that they are Energy Star certified. This is the same certification that comes on appliances. What this label means is that they have met the highest possible standards that an appliance or manufactured home can have. In order to establish this, multiple inspections are conducted to ensure that the building and installation process adhere to the regulations.
If you are still concerned, the heating measures that you can put into your manufactured home are pretty much the same as on-site properties. Many manufactured homes will also feature convenient fireplaces and other alternative heating options to ensure that you and your loved ones will be able to remain toasty warm even during the cold winter months.
Get Your Perfect Home with MCM Communities
At our MCM communities across the country, you can be sure that every manufactured home will meet the strictest and highest of standards. This is not just because it’s part of the legal production of property, but also because our team in production, design and management truly care and believe in creating the best housing options for everyone that finds their perfect home with us.