How Much Does It Cost To Winterize a Mobile Home? [2024 Data]

Winterizing a Mobile Home Cost Factors

Photo: Liudmila Chernetska / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Whether you plan to live in your mobile home all winter or leave it vacant, you’ll need to winterize it so the house remains in good working condition. Several factors influence your overall costs, including type, location, home size, and the age of the mobile home.

Cost by Type of Project

Here’s a look at the average cost of some common mobile home winterization projects.

• Change Furnace Filters: $5–$100

• Furnace Inspection: $80–$100

• Add Skirting Around the Base: $300–$3,000

• Insulate Windows and Doors: $3–$20 per sq. ft. 

• Insulate Pipes: $1.10–$11 per linear ft.

• Exterior Caulking: $25–$50

• Install Storm Windows: $55 per sq. ft.

• Roof Inspection: $125–$343

• Roof Insulation: $0.50–$3.50 per sq. ft.

• Clean Gutters: $119–$228

• Repair Water Leaks Under the Home: $500

• Empty Garden Hoses: $56–$131

Change Furnace Filters

You can expect to pay between $5 and $100 to replace your furnace filters. Your overall cost will depend on how often you need to change the filter and the type, with HEPA filters costing much more than standard flat filters. 

Furnace Inspection

You’ll pay between $80 and $100 to have an HVAC company near you inspect your furnace. Having your furnace inspected is critical. A pro will replace the exhaust vents, replace worn lines, and ensure the roof vent isn’t clogged. 

Add Skirting Around the Base

You’ll pay between $300 and $3,000 to add skirting around the base of your mobile home. Skirting covers the space underneath a mobile home, protecting the underbelly from snow, cold, animals, and water. Skirting also helps to keep pipes from freezing under the home. Additionally, you can add insulation to the skirting for extra protection during the winter. 

Insulate Windows and Doors

You can expect to pay between $3 and $20 per square foot to insulate your windows and doors. Insulating includes caulking and installing insulation or weatherstripping around doors and windows. These measures prevent heat from escaping and cold air from coming in.

Insulate Pipes

Professional pipe insulation costs between $1.10 and $11 per linear foot. Because mobile home pipes are underneath the house, you’ll want to use sturdy foam insulation or wrap heat tape around the pipes to prevent them from freezing.

Exterior Caulking

You’ll pay between $25 and $50 to caulk the exterior siding of your mobile home. Look for cracks, gaps, and holes in the siding and apply caulk. Exterior caulking will keep cold air out and warm air in.  

Install Storm Windows

You’ll pay around $55 per square foot to install storm windows on your mobile home. Storm windows are essential if you live in an area with high winds, heavy snowfall, or hurricanes. Storm windows protect the windows underneath and keep out cold, harsh air. 

Roof Inspection

You can expect to pay between $125 and $343 for a roof inspection. A roof inspection is crucial to keep a mobile home in good condition. A roof inspection will determine whether you need to replace shingles, tar the stacks and vents, repair edges and seams, or coat the entire roof with a metal roof coating. 

Roof Insulation

Insulating your roof will cost between $0.50 and $3.50 per square foot. Insulating the roof of your mobile home entails pumping insulation into the roof’s interior, sealing off any seams in the roof, and caulking around any gutters and plumbing. 

Clean Gutters

You can expect to pay between $119 and $228 for a gutter cleaning. Cleaning the gutters is crucial to help keep water flowing and prevent ice dams. Ice dams can cause damage to your roof and interior ceiling. 

Repair Water Leaks Under the Home

You’ll pay an average of $500 to have a plumber repair water leaks underneath your mobile home. Because water lines are exposed underneath the house, they are more likely to leak and burst. So, before winter sets in, make sure to repair leaks and fully insulate pipes underneath your mobile home. 

Empty Garden Hoses

You’ll pay between $56 and $131 for a pro winterize your garden and sprinkler system. Winterizing garden components include:

• Removing garden hoses from exterior spigots

• Fully draining them

• Ensuring faucets face a downward slope

Location

The location of your mobile home will play a role in how much you’ll pay to winterize it. For example, if you live in an area with a lot of snow and high winds, you’ll likely pay more to winterize your mobile home. 

Additionally, those living in snowy areas may need to consider additional expenses, such as an annual snow removal contract for $200 to $600 per season or investing in a cover for your AC unit, which costs between $40 and $150. 

Mobile Home Size

Depending on the size of your mobile home, you could pay more for winterization. A larger mobile home typically has more windows, doors, roofing, and pipes to insulate. Mobile homes usually come in three sizes:

• Single-Wide: 500–1,200 sq. ft.

• Double-Wide: 1,000–2,200 sq. ft.

• Triple-Wide or Multi-Wide: 2,000+ sq. ft.

Age

Finally, the age of your mobile home will also determine how much you spend on winterization. Older homes have less insulation and protection from the elements, so you may end up needing total replacements of specific components. Here’s a look at the average cost to replace common appliances and other components:

• Pipe Replacement: $363–$2,011

• Furnace Replacement: $2,114–$7,706

• Roof Replacement: $4.35–$11 per sq. ft.

• Hot Water Heater Replacement: $874–$1,755

DIY Winterizing a Mobile Home vs. Hiring a Pro

If you’re handy and have the time, you can tackle many mobile home winterization projects yourself. You’ll only need to pay for the cost of materials, and you’ll save on labor costs.

Otherwise, you can hire a handyperson near you to do most of the tasks on your winterization list. This will cost between $50 and $100 per hour. For furnace service, we always recommend hiring an HVAC specialist. And for winterizing your pipes, you should hire a plumber near you—and you can expect to pay between $45 and $150 per hour.

Cost of Common Mobile Home Winterization Add-Ons

While winterizing your mobile home, you may also want to add on a few extras that will help keep your mobile home running smoothly during the winter. 

• Install leaf guards: $616–$2,346

• Install downspout extensions: $50–$200

• Install new windows: $180–$411

• Install new thermostat: $113–$264

• Install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors: $10–$75

Tips to Reduce Costs While Winterizing a Mobile Home

Winterizing a mobile home is necessary to ensure that the home functions properly during the winter. Yet, some ways to reduce costs while winterizing a mobile home include:

• Let faucets drip continually during freezing temperatures

• Never let the thermostat drop below 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit

• Keep closets and cabinets open to help circulate heat

• Reverse the ceiling fans

• Get at least 3 quotes from professional winterization companies