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Your faucet drips or leaks, so time to repair
or replace it. Yet the only water shut-off is located underneath the home.
"What a pain," you say to yourself. Next time avoid the hassles by
installing separate shut-offs to each plumbing fixture. Just remember that
you need a shut-off on both the hot and cold waterlines.
To replace a kitchen or vanity faucet and add a
shut-off valve, just follow these steps:
Shut off the water to the whole house than take the pressure off the
waterlines. Opening up the outside spigot is a great way to relieve the
pressure. That way when you cut into the waterline, you won't get a face
full of sprayed water. The main shut-off is usually located either by the
water heater, or underneath the home.
 Remove the old faucet by unscrewing the waterlines, then
unscrewing the mounting nuts. The picture shows a close-up of a mounting
nut. Often times you can just reach up and turn-off the plastic nuts by
hand. The metal nuts will require a wrench or slip-joint pliers.
 Cut off the ends to the old waterline about 12 inches back or
so. If you have white Pex or gray Poly waterlines, a plastic tubing cutter
works well.
Locate the materials needed (pictured from left to right for connecting
your faucet to existing gray poly waterlines) - 1/2" poly crimp ring, 1/2"
pex to poly transition fitting, piece of white pex waterline with two 1/2"
crimp rings, 1/2" pex to 3/8" male shutoff valve, 16" or 20" flexible
faucet connector. If you already have white PEX waterlines, then all you
need is the shut-off valve and the faucet connector. The existing PEX
waterline will crimp right to the shut-off valve.
Assemble the pieces. Using a 1/2" crimper, crimp the rings to the white
Pex. Screw the faucet connector to the shut-off valve. Don't overtighten.
Thread paste or tape is not needed. I have new 1/2" and 3/4" crimpers
available for $95 by emailing
me. $125 may sound expensive, but as
little as 3 months ago, the price was double. One call to a plumber would
pay for the cost of this easy to use tool.
 Mount the faucet to the sink as per
manufacturer instructions
 Then screw-on the hot and cold waterlines. Don't overtighten.
Thread dope or tape is not needed. The picture shows how the connectors
should be screwed on, although you'll do the fastening underneath the
sink. Fasten the sprayer too, if included.
 Crimp the new connectors/shut-off valves to
the existing waterlines.
 Turn on water and check for leaks.
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Mark Bower owns Aberdeen Mobile Home Repair and is
the author of "The Manual for Manufactured/Mobile Home Repair and
Upgrade" available on this website.
The Manual for
Manufactured Home Repair & Upgrade
“Every winter my roof leaked around the swamp cooler. We even had a couple mobile home
repairmen out to seal it. Nothing
worked and this went on for 5 years,” said Maureen of Elko, Nevada. “Then last summer I ordered The
Manual and it suggested I use neoprene to seal the leak. Since then I’ve had no leaks at
all!”
Maureen is referring to The Manual
for Manufactured/Mobile Home Repair and Upgrade by Mark Bower. Most just dub it The
Manual. Bower owns and
operates Aberdeen Mobile Home Repair in
Aberdeen, South
Dakota.
Maureen isn’t alone.
Hundreds of others have written to Bower sharing similar stories of how
The Manual has solved their problems. Esther of St. Louis, Missouri,
writes,
“We had squeaky floors in the living room and without The
Manual, I would have had my husband tear out the floors and put in new
ones. What a lifesaver!”
Bower enjoys the letters he receives regarding his manual. “I
wrote this manual from experience,” says Bower. “I’m not just some guy with his
feet up on the desk – I’m out in the field every day doing what I write.”
Tom of Lansing, Michigan, followed the simple instructions on
installing a shut-off valve and saved $75 on a service call. Mary of Churdan, Iowa, writes to say she uses the manual to keep the
repair guys she hires honest, “When I had my home releveled, I sent two different contractors packing because
I knew they weren’t doing the job right.
This manual has literally saved me hundreds of dollars!”
Bower has updated his manual for 2004. More information was added regarding
additions and porches. “We added
details on attaching porches so they don’t leak even if they shift with the
seasons.” says Bower. With high
energy prices now upon us, Bower says he’s also included a section on building a
solar heating panel. “Find an old
sliding glass door and you can build one for under $100,” says Bower who built
two panels for his own 1800 square foot manufactured home. “You’d be surprised at how much heat
they create when the sun is shining.”
David of Lake McConaughy, Nebraska,
says The
Manual should be called, The Mobile Home Bible. Dave writes, “I wish I
had your manual when we had our 1965 Star.
It would have saved me WEEKS of work!”
Vicki of Ocala, Florida, bought Bower’s manual because it had
instructions for installing a metal roofover. “My son and husband had the roof up in 2
days from start to finish,” says Vicki. “The 4 inch overhang is awesome – no
more water running down the siding. Great roof, great instructions, I love it!”
The
Manual also helped Pam from Duluth,
Minnesota, replace her skirting and repair
her underbelly. “It gave me the courage to tackle these projects,” writes Pam.
“ I saved a lot of money by being able to do it
myself.”
Bower says many manufactured home owners are
do-it-yourselfers, and he’s glad to be able to provide them a tool, The
Manual, to help them do more.
Mark Bower can be reached at info@mobilehomerepair.com
Manufactured Housing Repair
On-Line
The MH
Parts Store On-Line MH Parts may not be very pretty... but when
you need them you just can't do with out them. Don't run all over town to
assemble the things you need for that home renovation or repair. Order from our on-line parts store. Everything you need is
here from doors, windows, screens, plumbing and electric parts, bath and kitchen
fixtures, roof and ceiling components, and more.... even set-up materials, The
Part Store's Owner/Managers, keep it simple, they just provide you with the best
possible products available.
The Manual for Manufactured Home Repair & Upgrade
If your looking for a book that covers all
facets of manufactured home repair, you've found it! This is the only book of
its type, available to the public, that we have been able to find. As you would
expect from the title, The repair and upgrade
techniques described in this manual are specific to manufactured homes. This
book will answer almost every question on manufactured home repair that we have
ever heard. Not only does this book show you how to repair and maintain your
home, but also great methods for upgrading it.
The
Manufactured Home Repair & Renovation Forum An open
discussion group where all are welcome to participate. No registration
necessary! Discussion threads covering a wide range of questions, answers, and
relating of personal experiences involving MH Repairs. Moderated by Tracy L.
Mason of MB-Quality Contractors, from Greeley, CO. Ask our experienced
manufactured home repair and renovation contractor about your home repair needs!
Basic home fix-it techniques to trade secrets.
Advanced Foundation
Systems Designed and engineered for manufactued homes, These foundation
systems add a high level of strutural stability and
have proven most cost-effective for the manufactured home, buyer. Advanced
Foundation Systems meet or exceed industry standards, and have been proven safer
under adverse conditions. Advanced Foundation Systems offer you the best
foundation technology available for your manufactured home...plus added safety
and stability...at a lower cost.
Finance Your MH Renovation/Repair There are many
loan programs available to MH Owners. Secure the money you need to renovate,
upgrade, or even expand your MH. One stop shopping.
select your loan preferences and we will forward your
request for loan information to as many as a dozen participating manufactured
housing finance offices.
Skirting For The 21 Century
Manufactured Home System-1 is what skirting should be- 100% solid
concrete. System-1 is not an imitation or a look alike – it is the original
concrete skirting system that resists the elements from the summer heat of
Texas to the harsh winters of
Minnesota. System-1 is built to last and is
designed to stay put for years of dependable service. Stop chasing your skirting down the street and look at just some of the
benefits System-1 concrete skirting provides you.
5 Part Site Preparation & Home Installation Video
Series We are proud to offer the most effective way ever to learn
about the step by step process involved in properly installing a manufactured
home; A new five-part video series with George Porter, the industry's most
respected installation specialist. After viewing all five videos you will have
what it takes to tackle your site preparation with confidence and peace of mind.
Even if you're not planning on doing the work yourself, this information will
help you understand the entire process. This will give you an edge when choosing
sub-contractors and help you make sure the site preparation is done properly.
Manufactured Housing Yellow Pages / SERVICE COMPANIES
The Yellow Pages is an ever expanding data base that is growing into one
of the richest resources in the world for locating and contacting companies that
participate in, or offer services to, the manufactured housing industry.
The Mobile Home Expert
The business of installing and servicing manufactured homes is
rapidly moving away from the world of the one pick-up, one jack, local set up
and repair guys and into the world of certified tradesmen, and licensed
contractors. The modern manufactured home is greeted with stiff compliance codes
regulating construction, warranty and installation. As more and more local
agencies get involved in the inspection of installations it gets more and more
difficult to know what the rules of the game are, especially if your operating in more than one jurisdiction. Consult with R.T. Bonney, who has participated in all phases of the
industry over the past 30 Years He can provide solutions for the modern problems
of operating most types of manufactured housing business.
Floor Repair Info Kit includes a 25 minute VHS
video about repairing the floor underneath your toilet, and a booklet on floor
repair. Price:$25.95 - Shipping & Handling:$3.90
Painting and Texturing Paneled Walls By
following the steps in this 20 minute video, your paneled walls will look darn
near like textured sheetrock. Works on both wood paneling and
vinyl-covered paneling or sheetrock. Price:$19.95 Shipping &
Handling:$3.90
