For many people, single and double-wide dwellings, also known as mobile homes or manufactured homes, offer housing that is convenient and less expensive than a traditional house on a solid foundation.
They are indeed more vulnerable to flooding and wind events but for seniors on a fixed budget or a person trying to recover from a life-changing event, they are a safe haven.
They come in a variety of sizes and floor plans and they can be quite luxurious with plush furniture and the latest electronics. One issue with manufactured homes is the comfort of the people living in them. Older units were quite inefficient and in a hot or cold climate, the cost to heat and cool them could be steep. Modern technology has improved their energy efficiency, but they will still be less efficient than a traditional home with its thick layers of insulation. “Snowbirds”, or people who spend the winter months in places like Florida and Arizona to escape the snow and ice of their home states will likely need no more than a window unit for their AC needs. Many manufactured homes have cabinet spaces specifically designed for an indoor AC unit. They also are likely to have a ductwork system that connects to a central HVAC system akin to a traditional house. One relatively new development in the HVAC industry is the emergence of packaged gas and electric-powered furnaces, AC units, and heat pumps. They have a smaller design to take up less space that is always at a premium for manufactured homes. If the home has the proper ductwork, a “gas pack” may be the perfect solution as the gas-powered mini-HVAC system sits outside the house connected to the ductwork.