To determine the exact level of insulation in the floor, walls, and ceiling of your home, check the manufacturer’s data plate. It is usually located on the wall of the master bedroom closet or inside of cabinet door at the kitchen. Halfway down the right side column you will find the type of data shown below, which is from a 2002 home. The insulation rating is in “U” values, and the lower the U-value the higher the insulation level.

    But most people are used to describing insulation based on the R-value, which happens to be the mathematical inverse of the U-value. So, for example, the R-value of the insulation of the walls of this home is 1 divided by .048, which is approximately R-20. The ceilings would be 1/.058 = approximately R-17, and the floors are 1/.034 = approximately R-30.

    Air leakage around the doors and windows, along with any other seams and small openings in the exterior surfaces of the home, which is often referred to as the home’s “envelope,” will lower the energy efficiency no matter what the R-values. So keeping up with the the caulking around the exterior and making sure the belly board is intact will help to bring down your energy bills.

    Manufactured/mobile homes tend to have a lower level of insulation than site-built homes built in the same era. But HUD has upped the insulation requirements over the years.

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manufactured/mobile homes? 
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Here’s links to a collection of our blog posts about MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOMES:

• Where can I file a complaint if I have problems with my new or used manufactured/mobile home in Florida?

• What are the most common defects in mobile/manufactured home foundation piers?

• How do I determine the age of a very old mobile home?

• What is a "HUD label verification letter" for a mobile/manufactured home?  

• When did a ground cover vapor barrier (plastic sheet) become required under a mobile/manufactured home? 

• Is it safe to go under a mobile home? 

• Are older mobile homes unsafe? 

• What do I need to know about buying a foreclosed mobile home? 

• Does it make sense to buy an older mobile home and remodel it? 

• Where do I find the vehicle identification number (VIN) on a mobile home? 

• How do I find out how old a mobile home is and who manufactured it?

• What is the right price for a used mobile home?

• How energy efficient is a mobile home?

• When were the first double-wide mobile homes manufactured?

• How do I upgrade my old (pre-1976) mobile home to meet HUD standards?

• What size air conditioner is right for my mobile home? 

• Can you move an older mobile home in Florida? 

• What does the HUD tag look like and where do I find it on a mobile home? 

• Can you put a zone 1 mobile home in Florida?

• How can I remove water under my mobile home?

• Does an addition to a mobile home have to comply with the HUD Code? 

• What walls can I remove in a mobile home?

• What can I do to prevent dampness and mold in my mobile home? 

• How can I tell if a mobile home is well constructed?

• How can I tell the difference between a manufactured home and a modular home?

       Visit our MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOMES and INSULATION pages for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.