Why Do Mobile Homes Need a Special Furnace?

Buying a mobile home can be a great investment for some. The option of designing your own living space, having it built and shipped to you is a big attraction. It can also be more economical to heat and cool a mobile home, because newer ones are generally built well. It can, however, be frustrating when buying a new or replacement furnace for your mobile home, because they require a special furnace.

Significance

The duct work of a mobile home is too small to allow a regularly sized furnace to be installed or used. The airflow is the answer to why mobile homes need a specialized furnace. Without a fan that is properly designed, air cannot flow through a mobile home in a safe and efficient way. A furnace that does not fit or work well in your mobile home can lead to complications and even dangerous accidents.

Considerations

When buying a furnace for mobile homes, there are a few important things to consider. Always check to see if the type of furnace you are considering is appropriate for the year and model of your mobile home. Buying a specialized furnace because you have a mobile home will not help if the furnace and year of your home do not match. Another thing to consider is the size of the air ducts, furnace space and corners of your home. Mobile home furnaces have to be made especially to address these points.

Considerations

Because it is so important to buy and install the correct type of furnace for your mobile home, you should get a professional to help you choose and install it. An expert in the field of heating and cooling can help you wade through the above-mentioned considerations with ease so there is little chance of buying the wrong model furnace. Hiring an expert to install or repair your furnace is also a safe bet to get the maximum efficiency from it, as well as the reassurance that installation standards are met and that an accidental fire is prevented from improper installation by an amateur.

Features

Mobile home furnaces have specific features that make them suitable for such homes. A specialized fan for efficient airflow is one such feature. A furnace access door usually includes blow slots to supply the air to the blower. Filters can either be found in the access doors or on the front of the unit itself. There is also a control side where connecting wires run from the thermostat to the unit.

Time Frame

Most furnaces have a lifespan of 10 to 30 years, depending on the brand and upkeep of the unit. For furnaces that are worn, have repairs that haven't been fixed or aren't maintained well, a furnace may last even less than 10 years. It is important to change the filters on your unit. It is also very important to fix any repairs as the need arises in order to increase the lifespan of your furnace.