Leveling your mobile home is a comprehensive task. You may want to set aside extended hours for completing this job. This would give you the liberty of avoiding rushing off with the procedure. You should be able to accomplish it using few tools. Many issues may want you to level your home. There can be environmental factors like flood. It may also be caused by a failure to compact the ground properly before setting the home. Water getting under the home can be another reason. Others reasons can be hoses drip, drainage sloping the wrong way, leaking pipe under the mobile home, etc. If your mobile house has shifting issues and doors and windows have become difficult to close or lock, it may indicate a need to level it again. Usually, mobile homes settle to some degree over the time. The magnitude of level needed is largely determined by the condition and stability of the ground. Following guide will help you in accomplishing the task of leveling your mobile home.
Complexity Level: Basic
Time Required: 8-10 hours
Resources Required:
- Protective eye wear
- Gloves
- Hammer
- Jack
- Passive formaldehyde monitor
Instructions:
1. Prepare yourself and determine the present level: Before you begin with any of the tools, ascertain the current level of your mobile home. Be particular about the high and low spots. You can loosen all the tie-down straps to allow addition or removal of shims. In case of any skirting (optional), remove it to gain access to the piers on which the supports rest. You also need to prepare yourself. Equip yourself with protective eye wear and work gloves, especially when working in close quarters under the mobile home. Be sure there is help nearby in the event of an emergency situation.
2. Choose the center of the home: Begin with the center of your mobile home. Adjust the jack or shims to raise or lower the mobile home until the appropriate level is reached. Keep checking as you adjust the level. You may level one area while the other goes out of its level. Work carefully. Whatever direction you work from, begin from the center. You can put a long level at the nearest pier to the center and check the bubble in the center of the level. The area is leveled if it is centered.
3. Check the level: Examine each pier’s height. Mark on it how far above or below the line on the water level it stands. This method gives you the pier or group of piers which stands highest. You need to set the water level to this height. However, be careful if for some reason the height of this one pier goes exceptionally great in comparison to all others. If the level tool shows any part not sitting at right level, you can use the jack to raise that part to the necessary height. Get a piece of wood under the jack to support it. Raise the jack until the bubble rests in the middle. There will be a space between the support for the beam and the beam itself. Secure the shim into the space (use a hammer if need be). Lower the jack so that beam can rest on the shims. Go on with the process in any areas along the beam where the bubble in the level does not sit in the middle.
4. Work step-by-step and finish off gradually: You need to carefully work with one beam at a time. Do not rush. Examine any damaged blocks while you work with the beams. After having achieved the required level, level the base pads. If there are tie-down straps, secure them.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I test the formaldehyde level in mobile homes?
Formaldehyde is often used (as an adhesive) in furniture and fixtures. It releases a gas which is toxic, when inhaled in enough quantity. Residents may also complain of a strong odor in their new mobile home, itchy eyes, cold symptoms, and/or nosebleeds. It can be tested with a passive formaldehyde monitor. You need to open and leave the passive formaldehyde monitor in your mobile home for about five to seven days. Duration may vary for different makes. Refer manufacturer’s guidelines. If the level is lower than 0.10 ppm, it is considered safe. Formaldehyde gas level higher than 0.10 ppm is considered dangerous. You can send the sample to a listed testing laboratory for determining the result. With time, formaldehyde gas level reduces to acceptable levels. This usually takes about one year.
Quick Tips:
- Seal open spaces or holes under your house to keep them away from constant repairs.
- Check the level of your mobile home regularly to allow it to last long.
Things To Watch Out For:
- Do not use the ground directly. Instead, place the jacks and other elements that provide a platform to your home on a strong surface (like a wooden base).
- Avoid wet ground. Prefer to level your home when the underneath is dry and compact. You may slip causing serious injuries.
