Why DIY - Do It Yourself?

Mobile Home Repair

The most frustrating aspect of working in the mobile home repair industry is that it feels like the entire system is designed to guarantee poor workmanship. Every advice book ever written tells the consumer to get three bids before having any work done; but how many say not to always use the low bidder? How [...]

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Mobile Home Interiors

Mobile Home Repair

Mobile home interiors have been totally neglected by the authors of home improvement books. The common perception seems to be that no one who lives in a trailer would care about making it look nice. I know that isn’t true and have made plans a number of times to change that. However, this section is [...]

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Mobile Home Exterior Walls

Mobile Home Repair

I had good luck getting replacement metal siding from an aluminum fabrication place. It took me weeks to find them but when I did, I discovered they bought pre-painted rolls of flat aluminum and would bend them to match the pattern I needed. They can even bend the edges so the panels interlock. The color of the new panel will [...]

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Mobile Home Drain Line Venting

Mobile Home Repair

Venting is one of the areas where mobile homes differ from site built homes. In site built homes every drain has a vent pipe that eventually goes up through the roof. The purpose is to prevent the siphon effect of water going down the drain from pulling all the water out of the trap. In [...]

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PVC Water Pipes

Mobile Home Repair

This is the white plastic pipe sold in every home improvement center in the world and used by the mile for underground sprinkler systems,. water supply lines etc. The important fact to remember is that it can not be used for hot water lines. (Use PEX or CPVC.) The heat weakens PVC to the point it [...]

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Poly

Mobile Home Repair

This is the light gray pipe used for many years in older homes until its tendency to split (especially the fittings) reached such a level that a class action suit was filed and now money was sometimes available to fix the problems it caused. It was connected using a crimp system and no automotive hose clamp [...]

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Galvanized Iron Pipe

Mobile Home Repair

This was used in many older homes and can be recognized by its galvanized steel color. Over the years it fills with lime and corrosion and flow of water can be significantly reduced. If it must be worked on try to be as gentle as possible and do the minimum required. Pulling and twisting with [...]

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CPVC

Mobile Home Repair

CPVC is a cream or off white pipe that will be found near the PVC at the home improvement store. Unlike PVC it can be used for hot water lines. Since it is much less popular than PVC, the big home improvement stores tend to stock only a few fittings; probably not the ones you [...]

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PEX - Poly Expanded Styrene

Mobile Home Repair

This is the newest material to come on the market in response to the problems with Poly. It is expensive but good. Unlike PVC, it can be used for hot water lines. I see it in the home improvement places. I have used CPVC frequently in the past. PEX is especially valued in parts of the country where [...]

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Leaking Water Lines

Mobile Home Repair

The most important consideration with leaks is to constantly be alert for evidence of one. Sometimes you can smell wet floor or wall material, you may notice a soft spot developing, occasionally you can hear a drip inside a wall, etc. The next important thing is to determine as best you can exactly what is [...]

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