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Paul Nelson Fargo, ND 701-277-0042 605-221-6034 866-461-9111
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This is a page that is meant for accessories for mobile or manufactured homes. This is information that you may find helpful once you actually own a home. It is set up in a "frequently asked Question" format. If you have any questions specific to you- call. I would love to talk to you. Entryways, storage sheds, and other miscellaneous for sale. There are currently none for sale that I know about.
Parts for Homes Where do I find parts for mobile or manufactured homes? I recommend West River Industries or Modern Housing (they are the same place). They are located in West Fargo and Bismarck in North Dakota. They have South Dakota and Montana locations also. You can call them and get their contact information if you need parts in those 2 states. Their phone numbers are: West Fargo 701-282-7361 Bismarck 800-359-7222
They carry generic things that you see in mobile and manufactured homes. They sell doors, windows, water heaters, furnaces, skirting, heat tapes and many other things that are too numerous to detail here.
General questions about maintaining a home (This is a work in progress. It is something that I have always wanted to do but it is a big task. This is a huge undertaking and I am going to have to write it over a period of time. I am going to put down in question form, the topics that I will be discussing in the future)
What is the difference between a mobile and manufactured home?
This is my opinion and my opinion only. I view a mobile home as one that was manufactured before 1990. The 50's and 60's were Trailer houses. (Boy, I hate that term). The 70's and 80's are mobile homes. There were significant structure designs from the 60's homes. and the 90's and 2000's are manufactured homes. Again, there were significant structure differences in the 90's that makes the need for a distinction. Again, this is my definition and not anybody else's. Modular homes have more differences. It is beyond my scope to discuss those differences. I would suggest that you contact a new manufactured home dealer to discover the differences.
Where do I get my furnace serviced or a gas water heater installed?
In Fargo, I strongly recommend Dave at Valley Services 701-293-5701. In another town, I would recommend calling the closest manufactured home dealer for a suggestion. They will know the best person in your area for service. Some of the largest heating and air conditioning companies know the least about our product.
Why are gas water heaters more expensive to replace? Should i replace it with an electric water heater? Where should I buy a electric water heater?
Gas water heaters are very expensive. Why they are is beyond the scope of this discussion. You must put a water heater in a manufactured home that is marked for a manufactured home. Some have tried to put in one that is not and have had their gas shut off until the right one is put in. Manufactured home water heaters are probably double what another gas water heater is. You may want to consider putting in an electric water heater and having an electrician run the wire from the box. I recommend West River for gas water heaters and Lowes, Menards, etc for electric water heaters. Lowes, etc have gas water heaters for also. I just don't know the quality of them. You must have a licensed gas person (Valley Service) install a gas water heater. Any Yahoo can install an electric water heater.
My electric water heater does not put out as much hot water as it used to. Why?
Electric water heaters have 2 elements. One upper and one lower. If the water is turned off, you can drain the water below those 2 elements. This can cause them to burn out and have to be replaced. They are not very expensive but you have to drain the water heater to change them. Be sure that you do not use the hot water if the water is shut off.
Safety question about entryways.
The chief cause of a fire in a mobile or manufactured home is the wiring of the entryway. Few if any have been professionally wired by an electrician. Many have been wired by Uncle Hugo or someone else who knows enough about electricity to be dangerous. Many just rig up an extension cord to an outlet and call it good enough. A professional electrician will hook it up to a breaker and put the wiring in conduit. Over the years the extension cord gets brittle and frayed, etc. This can cause a fire. I recommend that you have an electrician inspect your entryway wiring to see if it meets standard (many were wired into the outside light of the home). If it does not, I would decide if I would have him hook it up properly or disconnect it. I would not leave it as it is unless he says that it is ok. Many people put freezers and other such electrical draws in the entryway that the wiring was not designed for.
Some of the electrical outlets are not what I can find at Lowes, Menards, etc. Even West River does not have them. Where can I find them?
I would go to a RV dealership that has parts They will have electrical outlets that are unique to your home. You can also buy a new outlet from Lowes, etc and install it. It is a little more work. The RV dealership will also have covers.
I am giving my opinion. Nobody has christened me as Mr. know it all. If you disagree, that is ok. I only am giving my propective on the items. Feel free to challenge me. If you have something that you would like to share, please let me know. I will put it on the website if it is factual. Again, I ONLY WANT THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF SATISFACTION IN OWNING A MOBILE OR MANUFACTURED HOME.
Below are topics for future discussions. If I have not written about any of these yet and you are interested in them-call me. I would be happy to discuss them with you. I will answer all these questions in the coming months. I am going to try to answer a few of them each week. They will never be completed. I will constantly be seeing new things that you should know about mobile or manufactured homes.
How often do I have to change my heat tape?
How and how often do I need to repair a metal Roof?
How often do I need to repair a shingled roof?
How do I repair bad wood siding?
Why should I buy doors at West River instead of a lumber yard?
How do I repair a soft spot in a floor?
Cold or hot water line to a sink is freezing when it gets real cold. How do I fix it? (by the way, There is a very easy and inexpensive (costs nothing) fix to the problem.)
If I make a bunch of improvements to my home, will I get it back at re-sale?
How do I re-level a home?
Why drippy faucets and runny toilets can make my life miserable? How and why to keep away from them.
How do I fix screens for windows? How should I do it or where should I go?
Should I put a shingled roof in place of a metal roof? (one word-don't)
Why are the doors on homes cut so far off the floor? Do homes have cold air returns?
Should I take out or move walls of homes? What are bearing walls, etc.?
Should I insulate the skirting?
What kind of skirting should I use?
Should I anchor a home?
Minnesota moving requirements? (boy is that a big discussion) (ND and SD have very few)
I want to move my home into a park but I don't have money for the move? Any suggestions on how I can get it done.
The importance of picking the right home for a lot or the right lot for a home? (Depends on whether you are buying a home to be moved onto your lot of if you own a home and are moving it to a lot in a park.)
Should I tape and texture the walls of a home that is paneled?
My ceiling leaks in the spring in my mobile home (usually a 70's model). Is it a leak or condensation (usually condensation)? How can I fix it? (90's model have technologically fixed that problem).
Can I put up a ceiling fan in place of a existing ceiling light?
Can I paint paneling or wall boards?
How can I fix a hole in a panel or wallboard?
Who has interior doors? How can I fix a hole in one?
Where do I get faucets, fittings, etc for a mobile or manufactured home?
Should I remove part of an exterior wall to make a walkway to a room addition?
Should I duct over heat to a room addition to heat an entryway or room addition? What is the best way to heat an entryway and room addition?
Should I add on a room addition for an additional bedroom?
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