HVAC 40 yr. old double wide manufactured home, exterior duct work?

[kenmac]

You have to be able to get to the duct work in several places to do a good cleaning .. Sounds like the duct work isn't very accessible ..Again, how much do you want to spend on this project ?? Sounds like everything is in very bad condition.. No filter means a very stopped up A/C EVAP. coil .. Window shakers will be the least expensive route..

If cost isn't a factor,, Possibly Mini split

 

[truckdiagnostics]

Fix what you have, it maybe just a matter of cleaning and a filter, especially if they are only looking for heat. They are using space heaters now. Mini splits sound good on paper, but heaven for bid if you have to fix them. Instead of coming up from the bottom could you cut access holes in the floor of closest? Under carpeting? Then clean current ducting. If they haven't run the one the have it should be repairable. Good luck. Steve

 

[EddieWalker]

The original electric central heating system hasn't been used in well over ten years and had been ran with no filters. The owners had been making do with space heaters. Now they're considering using the original system. Upon initial inspection the system is almost plugged dirty. No one know the state of the duct system because access in the crawl space is almost non existent home was installed very low to grade. They are talking about maybe a new furnace, but that doesn't help the duct work. My question is, could a new duct work system be installed outside the home along the perimeter(in some kind of insulated box frame work) and penetrated thru the exterior walls. Is this doable or not. I'm not a HVAC guy, just a neighbor. bjr

You said the system was run without filters and it's plugged up to the point of needing replacing. Are you sure it needs to be replaces and a pro isn't able to clean or fix it?

Back to the system. The cost of a new system is most of what you pay for a system and new duct work. Did the HVAC company say they could not run new ducts? I've seen them crawl through and install ducts in crawl spaces under houses that I'm too fat to even get into. Usually you just tell them that's what you want them to do, and they make it happen.

I would be more worried about the ducts leaking then being dirty. Even if there is some dirt in there, it will blow out fairly quickly. In my opinion, duct cleaning services are a huge waste of money.

I wouldn't spend any money on a 40 year old mobile home myself. Cost to heat it using an electric HVAC system is going to be more then using space heaters. At least that was my experience. Instead of heating my entire house with the HVAC system, I just heated the family room with a space heater and saw a significant difference in my bill. Now I have a wood stove to heat my house and I haven't turned on my heater in years.

Why didn't they use filters?

 

[bjr]

It's a standard electric heating only system. The owners don't have any money, so, they're pretty much stuck with space heaters. I'm just not going to get involved. They have chosen their path. The old home has been relined with drywall right over the original wood paneling and actually stays fairly warm. If someone were to try to get the old furnace functioning again there would be no place to stop on repairs. I appreciate all the advice but, I think I'll avoid contact with these folks. On to resolving some of MY OWN issues. bjr

 

[Zerk]

Why not just clean the ducts? We have places that advertise around here. I am guessing some of the service is a giant shop vac. Maybe disasemble when needed or critical points.


I wouldn't run the ducts outside. They ran the ducts in the crawls space the first time, so it is possible, it just sucks. I used to work in crawl spaces, you just got get past it. Pay someone or get some suits and throw some bug bombs under there. I'd do it in the cold weather if I could. Less bugs, and less sweating.

Though as said they make some big wall units too, like a motel. But I don't thin you have to write off ducts.


*****
Just read you are staying out of it, that can be good too.
Space heaters are not bad. You only hear the area you need. I ran one once in awhile just to warm up the livng room.