Home and Mobile Home Repair and Common Sense Tips:

 Heating and A/C Mini Split Units:

• One really smart idea that I have seen is in heating and a/c. There are units called "mini splits". If you get a chance check it out. It could solve a lot of problems since it requires no duct work and heats and cools with great energy savings. The system installs easily in most cases.

  Common Sense Heating and Cooling Tips:

• I see many places that do not use common sense when it comes to heating and cooling. Use blinds and curtains to block sun light in the summer and use the sun light in the winter to help heat. This little common sense tip could help energy costs. Works at my home.

  Insulation and Drafts:

• Insulation is a great idea to help make your home energy effecient. One thing that seems to get over-looked is the air flow through electrical outlets. Try this some time when it is cold out side and windy. Put your hand in front of different outlets around your home and see if you can feel air blowing in. You can get outlet and switch insulators at most hardware stores to help stop this problem. Ever felt a draft while sitting down and reading your favorite book or watching TV and could not figure out why? HMMM.

  Under Home Moisture:

• One problem I see around here is moisture under houses. When I look around I find that there is inadequate ventilation and no moisture barrier under the house.This also is a great attractor for damp wood termites and other critters.

  Clothes Dryer Duct:

• How is your clothes dryer duct work doing? Most people don't check. If yours is the plastic type upgrade it to the newer metal flex or even "hard" pipe.The plastic type not only cracks and splits over time most of the ones I see are drooping and causing lint to build up inside. This not only reduces the efficiency of the dryer it can be a potential fire hazard.

  Duct Tape and Adhesives (Glue):

• No duct tape does not fix everything! Even though my father-in-law comes close. Use the proper adhesives or tape for the job. There are many out there, so read the label or ask someone with knowledge on the subject. If something is repaired wrong the first time it may stop you from fixing it right the second time. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

I found this on a "under the kitchen sink leak" call. Surprisingly it was not the source of the leak. The cold water supply line was the culprit. This wins my DUCT TAPE ENGINEERING AWARD! (Yes, it was replaced anyway.)

 Screws or Nails: 

• Consider using screws instead of nails on your projects. They hold better and can make for easy disassembly and repair if needed. Be sure to use the proper type of screw for the job. Muti-purpose or sheetrock screws are great for a variety of repair jobs. They are available in an "indoor" and "outdoor" types.

 Refrigerator Coils:

• Often something that is overlooked is the cleaning of the coils on the refrigerator. Cleaning these out with a vacuum or blowing them out will help to keep the unit working better and using less power. Try using a cardboard paper towel tube on the end of the vacuum hose to squeeze between the coils.

 Roof Vents:

• Venting out the hot attic air is important in a home. Generally one square foot of vent for every 300 square feet of ceiling is adequate. 1800 square foot home would require 6 square foot of vent. If you have any less you could have heat and possibly moisture buildup. If you already have vents make sure you have enough and that they are not obstructed. Vents can be purchased at any D.I.Y. store.

•  Most repairs to that I encounter are usually in the bathroom or kitchen. If at all possible only a spot repair is needed. Simply cut out the bad area then frame it in, so that you have something to attach the new section to on all edges. I like to use screws instead of nails. You then use the subfloor of your choice. If your are going to carpet you just need to make sure that you have matched the surrounding floor height and then install the carpet. If you are going to use sheet vinyl or tiles then I recommend placing luan over the subfloor for a better surface to adhere the vinyl. If you need to remove and replace a toilet, there are flange extenders available so that the toilet can be remounted properly. Always replace the wax seal and flange bolts. 

 Mobile Home or Manufactured Home ?

Definition according to HUD