2002 problem home...

[Denise]

We bought a 2002 Commodore manufactured home and after alot of electrical problems that stem from the electric furnace that dims the lights until the furnace goes off and even pulls the electric out of our microwave even with 200amp electric, which we were told that "all mobile homes do this", even though we had a 1977 Fleetwood with all electric that would blink the lights when the electric furnace went on didn't do what this one does. Commodore had a 1-stage furnace (Nordyne) that is a real piece of work, they told us that all mobile homes put these in now-a-days, they can stuff this furnace where they sit. We have all kinds of problems with the electric like things blowing up, catching fire (at 4 months old our fireplace fan shorted out), and just burning up the motors and such like a brand new vacuume cleaner made it a year.

We now found out that our roof, that looks like an accordian going up and down all the way across, leaks. We went up and investigated,
because we have streaks of brown going down our ceilings inside, we pulled up the roof vent (that is only 12 to 15 foot for a 64' roof) and found out that there is sawdust and newspaper for insulation. I have read that sawdust was used as insulation for barns and chicken coops but didn't know we had bought a coop or barn. The manufacture of the mobile home told us we had a R31 rating on the insulation in the ceiling. Is this possible? We kind of realize the whole ceiling is full of sawdust because when you get sawdust wet it leaves a brown color in the water and we have a brown streak on our ceiling, Commodore employee's have told us it is only dust but I've never seen dust just in streaks. This probably means we have mold now because of the humid summer we have had.

We have also had walls with condensation and ice on the inside of them, because of the electrical problems we have used a kerosene heater to heat our home with and Commodore has told us that this was the reason for the ice and condensation on the walls, well got news for them when we were taking pictures of the homes problems we found out that there is no insulation around the double-paned windows. There is their answer to why all the wet walls.

We have been aruging back and forth with Commodore and the retailer Mid-West Mobile home sales for the last 3 years. Every time I write them a list of what is wrong with this home they would write a letter back and tell us that ALL MANUFACTURED DEFECTS WILL BE REPAIRED (got at least 6 of those letters), until January 2005 they told us "that since we have lived in the home for more than 2 years they didn't have to fix anything". This made us find a lawyer and sue them both. They have offered us $10,000 in an arbritration that I had found out that we didn't have to go to because of the Magnson Moss Warranty Act that states:
If a manufacturer knows of problems and does nothing to replace or repair the problems, the arbritration agreement is voided. It is like a lemon-law for mobile homes.
The $10,000 won't even cover the estimates for the roof costing $18,800, not including the mold removal or electrical problems. Commodore has come up with alot of 'our fault' ideas that they say we did with the electric line we burried. We can only do what the electric company tells us to get 200amp underground cable, Commodore has told us that we spliced the line which we didn't we bought all new line long enough to get to the home. It is almost funny how they use the BLAME GAME when they already know its their fault on how they built the trailer. Can anyone help me!!!!!!

[rmurray]

Do not use kerosene heaters inside a manufactured home..you are lucky you and your family are not dead.....

The electrical problem seems like a grounding problem..or 220 wired to trh 110 circuit..both dangerous situations..File complainys with your states HUD enforcement agency...There is no time limit on HUD violations...

Celuose insulation..(newspaper that is treated with a fire retardent) can be up to R-33...

Good Luck getting things settled..

[Eugene]

The streaks sound like the joint between the two sections of the roof are not sealed. Typically, the inside warm moist air will escape into the roof cavity and condensate and leak back down into the house. check this joint out!, The gasket should be at the ceiling panel level, not at the ridge beam area.