Mobile homes and ceiling fans HELP!

[Laurie Brown]

It is most likely a HUD code home.

The applicable Federal Standard requires a data plate "affixed in a permanent manner near the main electrical panel or other readily accessible and visible location. Each data plate shall be made of material what will receive typed information as well as preprinted information, and which can be cleaned of ordinary smudges or household dirt without removing information contained on the data plate; or the data plate shall be covered in a permanent manner with materials that will make it possible to clean the data plate of ordinary dirt and smudges without obscuring theinformation."

I'd look for the data plate near your breaker box or where the electrical utilities enter the home. That said, the company may not be around any longer. Since I've been in the industry there have been a number of closures, mergers, acquisitions, etc.. It's not the same industry it was 20 years ago.

I've been serving the manufactured housing industry since 1994. Chances are that the windows, doors, bath fans, range hood, water heater vent, attic vents, and select other parts were manufactured by companies I worked for. Your observations regarding the quality of construction are an unfortunate reality of certain classes of manufactured housing from that era. The mandate from HUD when the standards were developed was for "affordable housing". The lowest cost solutions to nearly every requirement were sought out and in fact encouraged. I'm pleased to say that every year I've been in the industry there have been improvements.

Yeah, my parents paid over $70,000 for this place in 2001. Wasn't worth the price in my opinion.

[Jim Koepke]

If you can't find the manufacturer, you may find the information in your county offices. The tax assessor or building permit department should have information on you home.

jtk

[Bruce Wrenn]

If you can't find the manufacturer, you may find the information in your county offices. The tax assessor or building permit department should have information on you home.

jtk

Also at the DMV if it was considered a "mobile home."

[John C Cox]

I've done a lot of repairs in mobile homes. It is common to find lights, switches, and electrical outlets mounted directly into the paneling with zero support on the studs.

Factory ceiling fans often mounted to a bracket inside the ceiling that spans between two of the rafters/joists, but I've seen several that just screw to a 2' long piece of wood laying up in the ceiling. I would recommend the bracket instead of just tossing a board up in there.

[Laurie Brown]

I've done a lot of repairs in mobile homes. It is common to find lights, switches, and electrical outlets mounted directly into the paneling with zero support on the studs.

Factory ceiling fans often mounted to a bracket inside the ceiling that spans between two of the rafters/joists, but I've seen several that just screw to a 2' long piece of wood laying up in the ceiling. I would recommend the bracket instead of just tossing a board up in there.

I would prefer a bracket, but at this point I don't see any way to get one in there. I'm going to do a bit more research, but I may have to give up on this one.

[John C Cox]

It's pretty common to see a decorative cover used to hide the big hole cut in the ceiling to mount the fan bracket to your rafters. 16" diameter is pretty common, though I've seen bigger.

[stephen thomas]

I realize that fans and balance have come a long way in 50 years.
But i will re-insert my concern that tying something to the roof rafters in a mobile home could end up creating leaks.
Depends, of course, on the actual roof/weatherseal system, & whether and how it has been re-roofed in the past.

[Laurie Brown]

I realize that fans and balance have come a long way in 50 years.
But i will re-insert my concern that tying something to the roof rafters in a mobile home could end up creating leaks.
Depends, of course, on the actual roof/weatherseal system, & whether and how it has been re-roofed in the past.

I wouldn't trust my roof enough to stand on it seeing what it's made of now. I'm not going to even attempt to get a bracket up in there without having access to the space above, and I don't relish the thought of making even bigger holes in the ceiling. I finally got the original fixture box back up in the hole with much wedging and swearing. I'm just going to reattach the original light and keep working on the outlets, they're much easier. I'm adding outlets at 40" up on the walls above the existing outlets, and wiring them into the outlets below them. This way when I put furniture, dressers, desks, shelving, etc in the room I can still get at the outlets without crawling under or behind anything or pulling things away from the wall.

IMG_20240905_225747.jpg

[Laurie Brown]

No idea why the forum posted my picture sideways, but the left is the top.

[stephen thomas]

and swearing.

Did you mean "situationally appropriate enhanced adaptive creative language"?

smt

[Laurie Brown]

Did you mean "situationally appropriate enhanced adaptive creative language"?

smt

[/COLOR]

Yeah, that. LOL!

[Thomas McCurnin]

I have two solutions which we used on a neighbor's cabin that had no ceiling joists.

First, surface mount a couple 2x4s into existing ceiling framing, no matter how far apart they are. Cover them with plywood and paint them. Then mount a ceiling fan to those sistered surface mounted studs. Be careful to pick a lightweight fan.

Second, a couple wall fans would substitute nicely for a ceiling fan, are lighter, and would be easier to attach to drywall.