When people think of mobile homes, many picture a small furnace in a closet as the heating unit. Although some mobile homes still use this type of furnace, there are other heating and cooling options available – both indoor and outdoor units that use oil, gas, propane, or electricity as energy sources.
If you are looking to install a new heating and/or cooling system in your mobile home, knowing how the different systems work and are set up can help you make a practical choice.
Furnace and Duct System
The duct systems in mobile homes differ from those in stick built homes. The furnace is usually placed right above the supply duct, which is connected to the furnace outlet through a duct connector. Duct work generally runs the length of the mobile home and is made from a light gauge material – usually steel or aluminum. Heated air enters each room in the home by way of registers.
Since the duct system in many mobile homes doesn't include a return air duct system, slots in the furnace access doors – where the filters are located – supply air to the blower. As the air circulates through the furnace, the blower continues to run, blowing heated air into the ducts until the furnace temperature falls below the temperature set on the thermostat.
Package System
Mobile homes often are heated and cooled by a package HVAC system. All the components of a package system are contained in a single unit installed outside the home. The unit comes put together and ready to run. This type of unit typically is placed next to the skirting of the home with the duct work running underneath the mobile home.
Package systems work by blowing hot or cold air through vents in the floor. To determine what size unit you need, check your home's data plate for the number of BTUs that are required to cool your home.
Split Central Air System
Ducts that run above the ceiling or under the floor supply forced cold air from a split central air unit. This type of unit has a condenser/compressor that is placed outside. An air handler, or evaporator coil, is located inside the home – usually inside the bottom of the furnace. These systems use the same duct work as the furnace to push cooled air into the home.
Mini Split System
A mini split system works in much the same way as large a split unit, but the indoor component of the unit doesn't have to be located in the furnace. An HVAC contractor (such as one from Shakley Mechanical Inc) can mount the inside coil on a wall and run the lines to the outside portion of the unit. An advantage of a mini split system is that the system is less expensive than a full split system and can be used to cool a small mobile home.
Heat Pump
Some mobile homeowners use heat pumps for their heating and cooling needs. These units exchange warm air for cool air in the summer. During the winter months, a heat pump does the reverse, exchanging cold air for warm air. But if you choose to install a heat pump and live in a region where temperatures regularly fall below freezing during the colder months, you may need a supplemental heating source to help heat your home during times of extreme cold.
Share2 June 2016
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