How to Insulate Windows in Mobile Homes

Many mobile homes have inefficient windows that let in drafts.

One in every 16 Americans lives in a mobile home, according to research by Ohio University. Mobile homes are affordable to low-income and middle-income families, thus giving them the pride of home ownership. The mobile homes available today are built with luxury bathrooms, fireplaces and walk-in closets. But many of the mobile homes are older and not well insulated. Some have crank-out windows that are bent or warped, making it almost impossible to close them airtight. The drafts from poorly insulated window frames and the cold seeping in from single-pane glass are responsible for higher utility bills in mobile homes.

1. Fix any windows that are bent or warped; this is especially important for the crank-out windows in mobile homes. Gently bend a warped frame back into place, allowing you to shut the window more tightly against the cold.

2. Replace the storm windows that are broken. Most mobile home windows have interior storm windows that need to be put up every winter. If the storm windows are broken, then take the frame to a glass shop to have a new one put in.

3. Insert foam weather stripping in the holes where the window cranks are. Remove the cranks by unscrewing them from the crank case. You can store the crank in the windowsill to avoid losing it.

4. Caulk around the inside of the window frame; caulking the inside where the frame of the window meets the wall will hide the caulking and seal the frame.

5. Install heavy-duty plastic, energy film or bubble paper directly on the window panes. Place the film or plastic in between the outside window and the storm window to create air pockets that trap cold air. Spray a film of water on the window and place the plastic directly on the window, smoothing down to get rid of wrinkles.

6. Hang thermal window dressings such as blackout drapes, cellular blinds or heavy curtains. The drapes will help cut heating loss by trapping cold air between the curtains and the window.