MH dealers are quick to say "there is no difference between a MH and a site built home, except one is built outside and one is built inside." But I am buying a new Commodore and I am finding some disturbing differences. For example, I want a basement for the furnace and hot water tank ( like a site built house). The dealer said HUD will not allow the furnace to be placed in the basement because the furnace that comes with the house is downdraft and a basement furnace requires an updraft. I asked if Nordyne makes an updraft furnace and the dealer said yes, once the house is in place I can buy another furnace and have it installed in the basement. I do not want to buy two new furnaces for this house. Is an updraft furnace an option the dealer is not telling me about?
Also, I want the interior doors to reach the floor. One dealer said the furnace would blow up without under door air exchange. Another said I would die of some kind of asphyxiation. Are these concerns valid? I am thinking ordering my house with no interior doors and having doors installed that reach the floor. Please advise.
Many thanks to this forum for educating me about so many MH issues!
MH differences
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Dan O
Re: MH differences
Some manufacturers will allow for hot water baseboard they installing the registers and you on site installing the boiler. That is very rare. The fact is that there are some differences between a site built and manufactured home. One of the big ones is about $50.00 a square foot in price. Keep that in mind...
The doors do not go to the floor because that is the cold air return for the furnace that is on the first floor. You will notice some doors, like utility rooms and bedrooms have vents in the bottom also.
Many folks will install the home on a basement and put a different heat source in the basement for that area.
Most salespeople are not happy to say it but, manufactured homes are manufactured and with that, there is a certain amount of "one size fits all" involved.
The doors do not go to the floor because that is the cold air return for the furnace that is on the first floor. You will notice some doors, like utility rooms and bedrooms have vents in the bottom also.
Many folks will install the home on a basement and put a different heat source in the basement for that area.
Most salespeople are not happy to say it but, manufactured homes are manufactured and with that, there is a certain amount of "one size fits all" involved.
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JohnnyJ
Re: MH differences
Don't know about $50 a square for a home in Alabama. That's kind of steep.
$42 - 45 a square is more like it here.
As for the doors being eleveated above the floor.... some MH's do have to have
them that way for the air return. I have looked at models, such as Pinnacle,
which have the air returns built into the ceiling, and doors that go to the floor.
The air has to have return one way or the other. When we put central heat and
air in our 1920's farm house, I had to cut off about an inch and a half under each
door just for that reason. You would burn up your motor real quick if not.
good luck
$42 - 45 a square is more like it here.
As for the doors being eleveated above the floor.... some MH's do have to have
them that way for the air return. I have looked at models, such as Pinnacle,
which have the air returns built into the ceiling, and doors that go to the floor.
The air has to have return one way or the other. When we put central heat and
air in our 1920's farm house, I had to cut off about an inch and a half under each
door just for that reason. You would burn up your motor real quick if not.
good luck
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rmurray
Re: MH differences
First..you can buy the Commodore with no furnace and add your own...
Second...your furnace will NOT "blow up" if there is not enough vents between the rooms....but there heat and cooling will be less efficient and less even...HUD pays a lot of attention to energy conservation and local stick building codes do not...There are many manufacturers that put the vents in the wall above the doors and run the doors to the floor...
By the way...the sales person who told you the furnace would blow up.....leave him soon..he does not know what he is talking about and probalby gave you other dumb..made up BS..
Second...your furnace will NOT "blow up" if there is not enough vents between the rooms....but there heat and cooling will be less efficient and less even...HUD pays a lot of attention to energy conservation and local stick building codes do not...There are many manufacturers that put the vents in the wall above the doors and run the doors to the floor...
By the way...the sales person who told you the furnace would blow up.....leave him soon..he does not know what he is talking about and probalby gave you other dumb..made up BS..
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Mrs X
Re Air Returns
I don't get it - this stick built house I live in has regular doors, yet I don't see any vents above the doors or anywhere else. On the other hand, the bedrooms on one side of the house are cold as Antarctica in wintertime. Is there a connection there?.
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Carol
Re: Re Air Returns
Thank you, Mr. Murray. You gave me the perfect solution to my furnace question. I am planning to have the furnace, fuel oil tanks, and hot water heater in the basement.
Regarding opting out of short doors - it would seem that the problem could be overcome by simply leaving the normal sized doors open. Am I correct?
BTW has anyone seen the Commodore Brookwood, model 527-A? It is gorgeous! I have not seen any other manufactured home come close to this model in terms of quality and design.
Carol
Regarding opting out of short doors - it would seem that the problem could be overcome by simply leaving the normal sized doors open. Am I correct?
BTW has anyone seen the Commodore Brookwood, model 527-A? It is gorgeous! I have not seen any other manufactured home come close to this model in terms of quality and design.
Carol
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rmurray
Re: Re Air Returns
Yes...there is no air flow between the rooms...if the doors are left open they will be better..
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