Types of Air Conditioning for Mobile Homes

Heat Pumps

• A heat pump exchanges heat for cold in the summer and cold for heat in the winter. These units work well in warm to hot climates, but when temperatures dip below 40 degrees F, the heat pumps do not work as efficiently. Two types of heat pumps exist. The air source heat pump exchanges temperatures through the air. A geothermal heat pump uses the ground instead of the air to capture heat or cold. Installers bury coils underground where the temperatures are stable year-round. Both types of heat pumps deliver the cooled air through ducts, usually placed below the flooring in mobile homes, since these homes seldom have attics or crawl spaces above the ceiling.

Central Air Conditioning

• A central air conditioner for a mobile home differs from a heat pump because it relies completely on coolant to cool homes. Central air conditioners tie into the air handler for the furnace. The furnace and air conditioner are independent from each other, even using different energy sources, unlike with heat pumps that use electricity to both heat and cool. The line that runs from the compressor, located outdoors, runs under the mobile home and connects with the air handler, where air blows over cooled coils.

Portable Air Conditioners

• People who choose not to install or repair a broken air conditioner or heat pump can use portable or window air conditioning units to cool their homes, especially if the mobile home is small and air conditioning demands are light. Individually, these units do not use as much electricity as a central air conditioner, but if the home is large, collectively they may cost more to run than an efficient air conditioner or heat pump.

Evaporative Coolers

• An evaporative cooler is effective only in hot, dry climates. The coolers can sit on roofs or rest in windows or walls. They use absorbent pads, water and fans to evaporate water. Under ideal conditions, these coolers can chill the ambient outdoor air by as much as 30 degrees. Unlike standard air conditioners, windows need to be cracked open slightly for air to blow through the home. When people mount evaporative coolers on the roof of mobile homes, they often have just one central place where the air blows through the home, since the ductwork in most mobile homes is beneath the floor.