What goes wrong under a pier-set manufactured home?
A manufactured home sits above the ground on piers or blocks. Supply lines and drains run in the space beneath the floor, usually above a layer of belly board and insulation, and skirting is the only thing between that space and the weather. This is a general pattern for pier-set homes, but it is the one that defines Mobile City.
In a hard freeze, a line that is exposed on one side freezes first. When it thaws, the burst line sprays water into the belly insulation, which holds it against the floor like a sponge. The floor above can feel only slightly soft while the insulation underneath stays wet for a long time. The guide to burst lines in manufactured homes explains how the freeze happens and what to look for.
A crew checks from below as well as from the rooms, using moisture meters on the subfloor and, where needed, opening the belly board to reach wet insulation. The manufactured home water damage page covers the steps, including tracked drying until readings reach goal.
What should I do in a freeze or after a pipe breaks?
Shut off the water at the main or at the shutoff by the home if you can reach it safely. Keep out of standing water near outlets. If the water heater closet is wet, do not touch the electrical parts. Take photos before anything is moved, since the crew can provide moisture readings and photos for your claim.
Do not try to thaw a frozen line with an open flame; heat gently and only if you can do so safely, or wait for a plumber. A plumber repairs the line. The frozen pipe water damage page and the burst pipe water damage page explain how the crew handles the water after the repair.
North Texas freezes are usually a few hard nights rather than a long winter, so a home that is fine in January can still lose a line on one cold night. The February 2021 storm, which burst pipes across the region, is the reference event.
Who handles what if I rent a lot or a home in a park?
Ownership in a park can be split, with one party owning the home and another owning the lot or the lines to it. Ask the park manager or landlord who is responsible for the supply line before work begins, and tell them about the leak as soon as you find it. The crew handles the wet floors, walls and insulation, and a plumber handles the pipe.
Insurance for a manufactured home can differ from a site-built house, so ask your agent how water damage and flood are treated. Standard policies typically exclude flood and sewer backup unless an endorsement was added.
After heavy rain on a flat lot, water can pool under the skirting and soak the insulation from below, even when nothing inside is leaking. The flood damage cleanup page describes what a crew does when surface water gets under or into a home.
What should I know about water and electricity in a manufactured home?
In a manufactured home, wiring and plumbing often share the under-floor space, and the water heater may sit in a small closet with the electrical connection nearby. Do not step into a wet closet or reach for a breaker in standing water. If you cannot get to the panel safely, leave the power alone and call.
Wet belly insulation can also carry water to places you do not expect, such as the cabinet base or the edge of a bathroom floor. A soft spot, a musty smell or a stain on the baseboard are all signs to have the home measured.
Keep heat on and open cabinet doors on a freezing night to let warm air reach the lines. Skirting that is missing or torn is worth fixing before winter, since it is the only barrier between the exposed lines and the cold.
