Problems Installing a Heat Pump in a Manufactured Home

Open Loop System

• An open loop heat pump system relies on a ground water source, such as a water table or well, for its constant temperature coolant. For a modular home installed in a mobile home community, a ground water source may not be available. For modular homes installed on private property, if a ground water source is available, this type of heat pump is an option as a replacement for the traditional gas/wood/oil furnace and central AC unit.

Closed Loop System

• A closed loop system is designed with a series of pipes installed into the ground. The pipes are filled with antifreeze, and the heat pump uses the antifreeze, rather than water from a well, to redistribute heat energy. These pipes must be installed more than 6 feet underground, and they will cover an area close to the size of a school's soccer field. For modular homes in a leased community, the homeowners' yard size can preclude the use of a heat pump. If the yard isn't large enough for the underground piping, or if the homeowner doesn't have permission to install the underground piping, a heat pump is not an option.

Heat Pump's Physical Size

• The physical size of a heat pump is another obstacle that the modular home owner must overcome. The heat pump is significantly larger than a traditional modular home furnace. Many modular homes have forced-air furnaces, which are installed in the home itself, rather than in a crawlspace under the home. In this case, the HVAC unit is the size of a small closet, and much smaller than a heat pump. Due to size constraints, a heat pump cannot be substituted for a forced-air furnace.

Heat Pump Costs

• A heat pump is significantly more expensive than a small modular home HVAC system. While the unit will likely pay for itself with heating and cooling savings over the life of the system, the initial investment can be more than twice the cost of a modular home HVAC system. Modular homes are designed for homeowner looking for an economical alternative to traditional housing. For this reason, the customer who purchase housing in the modular home market may not have the financial resources to invest in a geothermal heat pump.