I could use some pointers on a mobile home wood burner

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nekom

New Member
Oct 11, 2010
6
Fayette county, Pennsylvania
Hi folks. I'm considering purchasing a mobile home that already has a wood burner. The owner is out of state but his aunt showed me around the place. It's in VERY good condition, especially considering how little they want for it (will cost just as much to move it), it's clearly been well taken care of. She told me that they had it installed and `mobile home approved'. Does anybody know what exactly that means? Is that approval via HUD code (which I understand regulates mobile home specs) or is it a county zoning board type of affair? I didn't catch the make/model of the stove but it looked to be relatively new.

Also, if anyone can give me some pointers on what to look for I would appreciate it. My last house had a hundred year old brick and mortar fireplace that I used, but I've never used a wood burner before. Anything to watch out for? I'm thinking safety here above all else, I have a 4 year old daughter. Of course I'll have a couple smoke and CO alarms, and I may have to fence it off to keep her from accidentally touching it. Is there anything else I should know?

Finally in the process of clearing the land where this thing would go, I've got several cords of wood already cut, split and stacked. It's about 50% cherry, 40% maple and 10% locust. I've heard locust is among the best and cherry is also excellent, is this true? What about maple? There's no pine on the property, that's pretty much the only kinds of trees there other than a few sycamore and maybe a few oddballs. LOTS of cherry, does that mean I'm golden there?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
 
It usually means that it can be bolted down and has an outside air kit option. Close clearance specs are helpful in a mobile too. Check for proper hearth protection and flue installation. If all checks out, you should be good to go.
 
Mobile Home Approved means that it must be bolted to the floor and have a "Ground" strap going from stove, to a part of the frame. At least that's the description it gives in the manuals I have. Oops. Also just read that the "Structural Integrity" must be kept the floor. So they may have had to add joists or bracing. Or maybe not....
 
BeGreen said:
It usually means that it can be bolted down and has an outside air kit option. Close clearance specs are helpful in a mobile too.
Click to expand...

BeGreen had it covered. And an Outside Air Kit (OAK).. I forgot that one, and had the manual in my face...LOL
 
I didn't really see whether or not it was bolted down, but there was fireproof material (some kind of concrete/fabric type of stuff) both under it and behind it and the chimney goes through the wall then up with a hood, not through the roof. It has an oil furnace for a back-up but I'd be pretty foolish not to take advantage of acres of trees, at least that's my thinking. At the house I used to live in, I had a $450 gas bill last February. This seems like a no brainer to me, especially since I have a lot of trees that need to come down anyway, might as well make use of them right?
 
Pictures would help here. Often a through-the-wall installation in a mobile can lead to a poor performing flue and stove due to the 2 90 turns in the smoke path and the short flue pipe. We'd have to see what you are seeing to know whether this is a kosher installation or not.

Does the seller have good documentation on the stove installation? That would help. If provided, I'd contact the installer. Also, if you can post the make and model we may be able to provide more information to you.
 
I'm kicking myself for not bringing the camera when I went to check it out, but I do have one pic of the stove from the original ad, let me see if I can figure out how to post it here:



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Worked in the preview anyway, hope that works. I don't know who installed it, I only talked to the owner's aunt and she didn't have any information on anything like that.
 
pic of the chimney would be helpful... the pipe looks singlewall to me = no for mobile home... also don't see any evidence of an OAK, but the one angle doesn't give me a good view to say so for certain. before they move that thing, make sure it's bolted to the floor. Nothing will ruin the moving of the structure more than a woodstove crashing thru it at a sudden stop on the road...
 
On the bolting down of the stove, that is in case the mobile home is moved. Once it is placed, you can do what you want. You just want to be sure you have good clearances, good fireproofing and an outdoor air kit although you might get by without the OAK. It all depends upon the home but you might need the OAK to pass code....if there is a township code. Some do and some don't. Around these parts it is just left to the homeowner. You also have to check with your insurance company in case they require anything else.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.
 
Get a look at the info plate on the back of stove, find out exactly what it is, then do an internet search to get yourself a copy of the owner's manual. Rick
 
Definitely get the manual online, check the clearances, and the OAK depends on code (of course) but also on the size of the place, how well insulated, etc. I had an Englander 30 in a 12x60 singlewide, the trailer leaked air so bad the last thing I wanted was another hole in it for the OAK; but it only took like 5 mins so I did it. Mostly it's about having a good chimney, clearances met, and using good wood; the rest is stuff that's up to you (or your inspector if you have one). I've never worried too much about the "mobile home approved" deal, but I know enough that I hope I can see if weight support, air supply, draft, etc. will be a problem. But you're the one that has to feel safe with it, so do whatever necessary to be assured all is good. Good luck and enjoy it!
 
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