Although mobile homes have been around for decades, their popularity has skyrocketed in the past few years as people opt for a minimalist lifestyle. They are affordable and do not require a large tract of land. Better yet, they make traveling easier. However, they are not all smooth sailing; like in a typical house, mobile homes experience electrical problems.
Power Surges
Unless you live in an energy-efficient mobile home, most people opt to combine solar panels and electricity to supply power in their mobile homes. As such, it’s not a wonder to experience power surges when the weather is bad, especially during heavy rains and lightning.
You are also bound to experience power surges if you connect faulty appliances to the socket. It can be bad for your main panel if you experience multiple surges, as they can blow out your fuse and cause damage to other non-faulty appliances.
Solution
Always invest in quality appliances and rid your house of cheap devices. And if your area is prone to heavy rains and lightning, you’d better install power surge protectors. You can also protect your machines by using power surge protectors in the sockets.
If you notice a power surge is about to occur, which sometimes starts as flickering lights or a buzzing sound from the socket. You’d better unplug your electronics and kitchen appliances to protect them from damage.
Powerless Sockets
If you’ve just moved into a mobile home, you may find a socket with no power. You’ll need it to charge your phone if they are at a location that is used a lot besides your bed. Therefore fixing the socket is paramount. Don’t fret, as it’s pretty easy to solve the issue, and you don’t even need an expert.
Solution
You just need to reset the breakers in the breaker box. You need to push the handle in the off direction and switch it back on, and voila..! your socket is working.
Loose Sockets
Loose sockets pose a severe electrical problem as they make it challenging to plug and unplug devices in the sockets. They can also lead to a short circuit, thus faulting your electronics and appliances as the socket keeps shaking, which can cause the wires to disconnect. This is a problem that is prevalent even in permanent homes.
The best part is that it’s very easy to fix loose sockets, and you don’t even need an expert. First, switch off the electricity from the main switch. Take a screwdriver, unscrew the loose outlet cover, and replace it with a new cover, which you can buy at any hardware store near you (such as Agora Marketplace).
Flickering Lights
This is a widespread occurrence in mobile homes. If you are experiencing lights flickering in house, it may be due to faulty wiring, high or low bulb wattage, circuit overload, or faulty bulb.
Solution
The issue could be the bulb. Try tightening the bulb in the socket, as it may have come loose. If the flickering continues, consider replacing the bulb with a new one. If this doesn’t solve the issue, it could be a fluctuating power voltage, which the power company can only solve.
Incorrect Bulb Wattage
This is common even in mobile homes, especially when there is a low or high power wattage supply. High wattage bulb causes the fixtures to produce too much heat, which can melt the bulb’s socket, causing it to blow. It can also cause the insulation on the electrical wires to melt, increasing the risk of electrical fires.
You are also warned against using a high bulb wattage in enclosed light fixtures, such as wall sconces, as it increases the chances of electrical fire breakout since the heat doesn’t have an escape route in the enclosed area.
Solution
If you notice that your bulb starts flickering or the light becomes extra bright, it’s a sign that there is a power imbalance. To prevent causing irreversible damage to your house, switch the electricity from the main switch. The most important is to check the wattage when buying bulbs and ensure they don’t require high wattage.
Few Sockets
Unlike a site-built house with numerous sockets, you will only find countable electrical sockets in a mobile home, which means they will be overloaded.
Solution
Prevent short-circuiting your electrical wiring by plugging a few devices simultaneously. And it’s best not to use heavy-duty appliances simultaneously as they cause an overload.
Alternatively, you can use a heavy-duty extension cord. Or have an expert place more extensions in your mobile home.
Loose and Exposed Wires
Finding loose and exposed wires in a mobile home is not a wonder. These can be trip hazards. Exposed wires can be dangerous for your kids and pets, as the pets may gnaw on them, and when the inner wire is exposed, it may lead to electrocution.
Solution
Inspect the mobile home for loose and exposed wires, use electrical tape to bind them, and then hide them within the trailer home using plastic raceways.
Circuit Overload
You’ll find that your circuit breaker keeps tripping because of being overloaded. This is because compared to a site-built home, a mobile home has few sockets, and due to the increased demand, by switching on electronics and kitchen appliances at once, your circuit breaker becomes overloaded.
Solution
Although it’s tough to prevent circuit overload in a mobile home, you can avoid it by unplugging devices when they are not in use. This helps preserve the power.
Related: 63 DIY Lighting Projects
Final Thoughts
Living in a mobile home is considered better as it forces you only to buy what you need, thus helping you prevent splurging money on unnecessary items, increasing your savings. Mobile homes are also considered better as it’s easier to adhere to building codes than conventional homes.
However, living in a mobile home does not exempt you from experiencing electrical problems. If you are considering switching to a mobile home, you must know the common electrical issues in trailer homes and their solutions.
