The standard ventilation requirement is based on the total area of the vents instead of the number of them. One square inch of ventilation opening for every square foot of floor space of the home is standard. More is even better. Skirting with built-in ventilation holes (shown above) is available or you can install solid decorative skirting, such as simulated brick or rock, and cut-in the required vents at regular intervals. 

    Ventilation openings should be evenly distributed on all four sides of the home to get the necessary cross-ventilation air flow. Be sure to place a vent within 3-feet of each corner to prevent any “dead air” pockets in the corners, and don’t block the vents with stored items in front of them later. 

    It’s also important to promptly repair any damage to the vents or skirting, because any openings will let squirrels, rats, and stray cats—or raccoons, possums, or skunks in rural areas—under the home and possibly cause damage to the belly board. Keeping it buttoned-up also means you are less likely to have a confrontation with a frightened, cornered animal when you enter the crawl space to check it.

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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?

• What's the differences between a trailer, a mobile home, a manufactured home, and a modular home? 

• What is a D-sticker mobile home? 

• What are the tie-down requirements for a mobile home?

• How fireproof is a mobile home?  

• Can I install a mobile home myself?

• What is a Park Model 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 page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.