Alberta winters are not gentle on any home, and mobile homes can lose heat faster than site built houses if they are not properly sealed and insulated. The good news is that a handful of targeted upgrades can make a real difference to your comfort and your utility bills.
Start With Skirting and Underbelly Insulation
Heat loss from underneath is one of the biggest issues in older mobile homes. Proper skirting combined with insulated underbelly material helps keep cold air from creeping up through the floor, which is often the coldest part of the home in winter.
Seal Windows and Doors
Older windows and door frames are a common source of drafts. Weatherstripping and caulking are inexpensive fixes, while replacing older single pane windows with modern double pane units offers a bigger long term payoff in both comfort and cost.
Upgrade Attic and Wall Insulation Where Possible
Many older mobile homes were built with less insulation than current standards call for. Adding insulation in the attic space and, where accessible, within exterior walls can noticeably reduce how hard your furnace has to work.
Think About the Impact of Alberta’s Climate Specifically
Extreme cold snaps and rapid temperature swings put more strain on a mobile home’s structure and systems than a mild climate would. Our post on Alberta weather and its impact on mobile homes explains why these swings matter so much and what they mean for maintenance throughout the year.
Pair Efficiency Upgrades With Other Modernization Plans
If you are already planning updates to your home, energy efficiency improvements are worth bundling in at the same time rather than treating as a separate project. Our post on modernizing your mobile home covers other upgrades worth considering alongside efficiency improvements so you can plan a renovation that tackles comfort and appearance together.