Mobile homes owners urged to take steps to improve energy efficiency.

By MSU News Service

Some 14 percent of the housing units in Montana are mobile homes, yet almost half are pre-1976 models, void of the energy-efficient options required by federal housing codes including, in some cases, plain old insulation.

The good news is that there are many ways to increase the energy efficiency of a mobile home, lower utility bills and make it more comfortable. Some are do-it-yourself projects; others require the skills of trained weatherization professionals.

In the late 1980s, the U.S. Department of Energy sponsored a two-year study to determine the most cost-effective energy conservation measures for mobile homes in cold climates. The study identified the following top five measures:

-- Sealing air leaks and furnace ducts;

-- Furnace tune-up;

-- Blowing insulation into the home's underside or “belly”;

-- Installing interior storm windows;

-- And blowing insulation into the roof.

You can easily seal noticeable leaks around your home's windows and doors and install plastic storm windows, available in kits from a hardware store. You should plug all holes around chimneys, vents, water pipes and heating ductwork. Find the hidden air passageways in closets and cabinets and plug them, too. And make sure the rodent barrier is intact and patch it if torn.

Once you have stopped all the big leaks you can find, turn your attention to the little ones--around windows, doors, electrical outlets and light switches.

Beyond that, because of the wide construction variations of mobile homes, these measures usually require professional help.

Before tightening your home, it is imperative to make sure the structure is properly “sited.” Once the home arrives at its destination, it is secured on a foundation and requires proper drainage. If the home is not level or the ground below is too moist, weatherization and repair steps will not be effective. Enlist the help of a qualified professional for help with siting.

The next thing to check is combustion appliances -- furnaces, stoves and water heaters -n to ensure they are in good working order and properly vented. If they aren’t, dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide can accumulate inside the home.

It’s also important to balance the fresh-air intake needed by natural gas, propane and wood-burning appliances with the air sent outward by exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom.

Professional weatherization crews will be able to detect leaks with a piece of equipment called a "blower door.”

If you are on a limited income, you may qualify for free weatherization assistance. Northwestern Energy offers free energy audits for customers, which can be scheduled by calling

(800) 823-5995. The Human Resources Development Council can also help, call (800) 332-2272.

Low-cost but effective steps to save energy in general include:

--Installing a water-heater insulation blanket and a low-flow showerhead

--Keeping your hot water temperature at 120 degrees Fahrenheit

--Keeping your furnace thermostat at a comfortable but conserving temperature, such as 68 degrees, but reducing it at night and when you are away during the day

--Keep forced air-furnace filters clean or replace them monthly

--Keep electric baseboard heat registers cleaned

--Keep furnishings from obstructing the flow of heat to the room

--Periodically have your furnace checked and serviced

--Wash clothes in cold water using cold water detergent

--Wash only full loads of laundry

SOURCE: MSU Extension Service

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