The Best Heating and Cooling Systems for Mobile Homes

Once cold weather sets in, heaters come on — and vice versa, when the weather gets hot, the cooling systems start working. For mobile homeowners, this shift in temperatures can drastically increase energy bills if your home doesn’t have the right system or isn’t adequately prepared for cold weather. That’s why finding the best heating and cooling system for mobile homes is essential, regardless of your mobile home’s size. Here are some of the best systems for mobile homes and some ways to help maximize their efficiency. 

Heating and Cooling Systems for Mobile Homes

Despite their small size, mobile homeowners still have a few options for heating and cooling their space. Here are some of the best heaters for mobile homes to consider.

Furnace Heating Systems

Furnaces come in two varieties: gas and electric.

Gas Furnaces

Gas furnaces are expensive to install due to the piping they require. They also have a more complex installation process compared to electric furnaces. Despite that initial cost, gas can be more cost-effective in the long term since gas is a more efficient option. These systems will also heat up quickly.

The downside to gas furnaces is that gas creates carbon monoxide, which can pose a serious risk if not monitored with a carbon monoxide detector. On average, you can expect a gas furnace to last up to 20 years with proper maintenance.   

Electric Furnaces

Electric furnace systems are cheaper to purchase and install but have higher long-term costs, though maintenance is minimal. These systems are quieter and have a longer life span, lasting up to 30 years with the proper care.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps can be the best way to heat and cool a mobile home with a single unit using one ducting system. During colder weather, the pump will draw heat from the outside air, send it through a system of coils, and transfer it into the unit, where a blower will distribute it through the ductwork. In summer, the system does the opposite; it pulls hot air from inside their home into the coils in the outside unit, where a fan will transfer that heat into the atmosphere.

Cooling and Heating Wall Units

Another one of the best heating and cooling system for mobile homes is wall units or ductless systems. These are essentially little heat pumps designed to heat or cool single rooms. Unlike window units, these wall units can be mounted on any exterior wall and only require a small opening for the piping to pass through to the outdoors. Wall units are considered to be more efficient than ductwork heat pumps since there is minimal to no heat loss during air transfer.

Downsides to Consider with Wall Units

In extremely cold environments, you must have a fuel-based backup heat source. 

They cost significantly more than window units when heating or cooling small areas.

If you replace a whole-house system with these wall units, you can pay up to three times more than you would by replacing your main system.

Considerations When Choosing Heaters for Mobile Homes

When choosing a heating system for your mobile home, you don’t want to choose something just because it is cheap or what everyone recommends. You need to take the time to consider various factors beyond “everyone has it.” Things to consider when choosing the best heating and cooling system for mobile homes include:

Space

In mobile homes, space comes at a premium. While most modern mobile homes now have ductwork, older ones do not. You’ll have to account for that and equipment like a furnace or boiler, which take away from usable space. 

Climate

The colder your location is, the harder a system would have to work to warm up your home, regardless of size. This can result in higher energy bills.

Insulation

How well-insulated your mobile home is can also affect the effectiveness of a heating or cooling system. The better the insulation, the better the system will work.

Zoning Capabilities

If you want to save money, it is vital to consider systems that offer zoning capabilities. This will allow you to control the temperature in different spaces, focusing the heat on the rooms you use more or are currently in. Zoning can minimize the amount of wasted heat and help you save on your energy bills.

Budget

Budget is crucial in choosing the best way to heat a mobile home. While you want to choose the best possible system for your home, you don’t want to forget your budget. It is essential to consider each system carefully before making a final decision, taking the time to talk to experts to ensure the best choice possible.

How to Increase the Efficiency of a Mobile Home Heating System 

There are a few different ways to help increase the efficiency of your mobile home system. Some of these include:

Adding Wall and Ceiling Insulation

As previously stated, insulation ensures efficient heating and cooling in your mobile home. Older mobile homes often have little to no insulation unless you add it yourself, which, while not easy, is possible and one of the best things you can do.

You have a few options for insulation, but fiberglass is one of the most affordable and can be installed between joists to help isolate the cold wind under your home. Blown-in insulation can be used in the attic if you can reach it. Adding insulation to these two areas can make a significant difference by itself. Combined with mobile home heaters, you’ll have the perfect setup. 

Skirting 

Skirting, or underpinning, is manufactured to enclose the crawlspace below a mobile home. Skirting can be brick, vinyl, or cinder blocks and helps prevent cold air from getting underneath your home. 

Plug-In Cable Kits for Freeze Protection

Warmup, a radiant heat flooring manufacturer, also makes plug-in cable kits that provide freeze protection for pipes and cables. While not necessary, it can be an advantage for mobile homes as they are more susceptible to outside temperatures. 

Use a Radiant System for Supplemental Heating

Radiant floor heating is one of the most unique, and possibly best, mobile home heating systems options. It is typically used as a supplemental rather than a main system, making it worth using in conjunction with your existing system.

Radiant floor heating is a form of heating that uses a series of cables or pipes installed underneath flooring to heat a space through electromagnetic waves. There are two types of radiant heating systems: hydronic and electric.

Hydronic Radiant Heating

Hydronic radiant heating systems rely on water to create the heat. This water is heated in a boiler system before being pushed through small pipes under the floor. That heat travels upwards, heating the floor first before continuing up to heat the space. 

While hydronic systems are extremely effective, they are expensive to install, require a lot of maintenance, and need space for the boiler. They are also best suited for new construction.

Electric Radiant Heating

The basic concept of electric radiant heating systems is the same, but electrical cables are used instead of pipes to produce heat. It doesn’t require any bulky components and is easily controlled by a smart thermostat. 

Electric radiant heat is easy to install and can work for any home, including mobile homes. It is maintenance-free, and while it is affordable to install, you will need to budget for an electrician to do all the wiring.