When you live in a mobile home, there are definitely going to be things that happen underneath you. The worst part about that is you can hear just about everything going on below your feet, and every sound will make you worry about what could be down there.
In some cases, you might be dealing with an animal living underneath your house. In other cases, noises can mean that you have issues needing to be addressed. No matter what the noise is, you will be able to fix it and get rid of the noises that are bothersome to you.
What Could Be Causing Noises Under Your Mobile Home?
Noises coming from under your mobile home are always concerning, but it could mean something different than an animal making its home under yours. The noise could mean that you have a deeper issue that needs to be addressed. These issues could be plumbing, heat-related, even floor-related. When you determine what the issue is, it can be fixed.
Water
Water can be a huge issue if your mobile home sits on clay or if your yard has not been graded very well. If this is the case, any water that finds its way under your home might not be able to drain how it should. If there has recently been a ton of rain, this would be a cause of water to sit underneath your home.
Another source of water that you should be aware of is plumbing issues. If your plumbing is leaking, you will also experience some water buildup. These noises will typically sound like thumping when the water is draining from the pipes. When there is too much water underneath your mobile home, you can run into issues with mold or experience a musty smell.
Air Ducts
If your air ducts are causing noise beneath your home, it will usually be pretty easy to tell because your heating bill will go up even though your house is not using any heat. The noises are typically loud, popping, banging, or tapping when the problem is coming from your air ducts.
Air duct issues occur when the pipes are contracting and expanding with the changes of temperature outside. Sometimes, you might hear noises only when your heat is turning on or off, or you might hear the noises consistently. You might even hear the air duct rattle as you walk across the floor.
Flooring Problems
If you hear noises coming from under your mobile home when you are walking around, there might be problems with your flooring. In some cases, the floorboards might be rotting underneath. You might need to have your subfloor replaced if this is the issue, and that would take care of the noises you are hearing.
What Animals Could Be Causing Noises Under Your Mobile Home?
One of the first things you think of when you hear noises under your home is there is an animal living underneath you. This can be concerning, but the sooner you figure out what type of animal you are dealing with, the sooner you can have the animal removed. You can then prepare your home for the prevention of another animal making a home.
Squirrels
Squirrels will dig underneath the skirting of your mobile home and will build a nest there. They will take up residence and can cause noise problems for you. If there are babies, the mother might be extra protective of the space she is living in. Luckily, squirrels have not been shown to carry or transmit rabies to humans.
Mice
Mice can make their way under your home through a small crack in the skirting underneath your mobile home. They will be drawn to your home if you have lots of leaves and twigs around your yard. Mice will likely chew on things beneath your mobile home, which can cause more problems for you and even let more critters in.
Rats
Rats, much like mice, will be able to make their way under your home through small cracks in the skirting of your home. They will make their nest and breed if they are not taken care of in a timely manner. This rodent will also chew on things underneath the home and can cause damage.
Skunks
If there is a skunk underneath your mobile home, you will want to be very careful with how you handle the situation. If the skunk gets spooked or feels threatened, it will spray. If it sprays while under your home, the scent will rise up straight into your house and will smell all throughout.
Raccoons
Raccoons will also dig under the skirting of your mobile home to get in. If you notice that there are any holes around the perimeter of your home, raccoons might be the cause. Much like squirrels, raccoons will also build a nest under your home and can bring issues such as the smell of urine.
Snakes
Snakes like to build their dens in any area they deem safe, and it might just be that they found the space under your mobile home safe. They are typically harmless, but they can be a nuisance, especially if they are large or poisonous. That means they can be hazardous to your family and your pets if they get too close.
Insects
While it may not be exactly possible to get rid of every single bug that lives under your house, there are some that you should be on the lookout for due to the damage that they can cause. The first insect that you want to keep an eye out for is ants. Ants can easily infest your home, and you should take care of them as soon as possible.
Cockroaches are another insect that you want to take care of as soon as possible. Once they have made their home, cockroaches can be extremely difficult to get rid of. There are things you can do on your own to take care of cockroaches, but you might want to enlist a pest control specialist.
One of the most damaging insects you will need to keep an eye out for under your home is termites. They can get into your floorboards and create problems by chewing through. If they are not caught, they can lead to damage around the rest of your home.
How to Deal With Animals Under Your Mobile Home
If you have determined that animals are your problem underneath your mobile home, there are ways that you can deal with them properly. In most cases, it would be beneficial for you to hire a professional to help you deal with your problem. That way, you know the issue is handled properly. However, there are things you can do yourself.
Take a Look
The first thing you will need to do is look around the skirting of your mobile home for any holes. Mice, rats, insects, and snakes would all be able to get in through even the tiniest crack. You will also need to check around for holes because this is how a raccoon or a squirrel would get underneath. Keep track of every possible entry spot you find.
Call Animal Control
If you do happen to find any animals under your home, whether they are living or dead, you do not want to try to remove them yourself. There is a huge possibility that you could get injured or infected by the animal. It would be best to call a trained professional to remove the critter for you. Your home insurance policy might even cover the removal of a dead animal.
Replace Any Damaged Skirting
If you found holes or cracks in the skirting during your inspection, you would not want to waste time repairing it. The best thing to do is completely replace any parts that have been damaged. If you don’t feel comfortable replacing it yourself, ask a friend or hire a professional.
Deterring Pests
If you are having problems with skunks, raccoons, and squirrels, there are ways that you can discourage them from digging under your home. You can sprinkle around some habanero flakes or chili flakes in the dirt. They will not like the smell or taste, and they will stay away.
If you are dealing with insects like roaches or ants, you can sprinkle out some boric acid under the skirting or just around the perimeter. However, you will want to be careful to keep any children and pets away from this area. You could also call a pest control company to provide deterrence for you.
Minimize Animal Activity
To keep animals away after you have gotten them out from underneath your home, there are a few precautions you can take. For example, make sure your garbage can is closed tightly to prevent any smell from attracting animals. It might also be beneficial to keep your garbage can away from the side of your home.
Smaller animals like squirrels and mice might be attracted to your home by bird feeders. You will want to keep any bird feeders as far away from your home as you can. This will take these critters further away from your home, deterring them from digging under your home.
FAQ
Can I Put Mothballs Under My Mobile Home?
Mothballs are an effective way to repel any mice or rats that might find their way under your mobile home. They are not very expensive, making it easy and sensible to scatter some underneath your mobile home. It is important to remember that mothballs are toxic but should not cause you any problems.
Can You Use A Fogger Under Your Mobile Home?
It is not recommended to use a fogger underneath your mobile home. Due to the fact that the skirting is usually vented, the fumes from the fogger would not stay underneath the mobile home to do its job. The fumes could also seep into your home if there are any minuscule holes in the floor of your home.
Recap
When you are living in a mobile home, any noise you hear underneath can cause some panic. There are a few things that can be causing the noises ranging from plumbing to small animals. If you think your issue might be an animal, the first thing you should do is inspect the perimeter of your home’s skirting.
If you do find that there are holes or tears in the skirting, you might be dealing with animals. You should also be on the lookout for holes that go underneath the skirting, as this could be a sign of raccoons or squirrels. In any case, if you are dealing with an animal, you should consider calling animal control.
Your mobile home might also have other problems that are creating noises under your home. The first is water from heavy rain. When the rainwater sits below your home, any little sound might be amplified and seem louder. The water might also leave you with a moldy smell.
Plumbing can also cause noise under your home. If there is an issue with your plumbing, you might hear some creaking or leaking coming from below your mobile home. A plumber could help you determine if this might be the problem and what the best way to fix the problem is.
If you only hear the noise when you are walking, the issue might be your flooring. It is possible that your subflooring needs replaced, and it can cause your floor to make noise when you step. If this is the case, the noise should go away when you repair the flooring.
The last thing that might be causing you noise issues underneath your home is your air ducts. If you think you are having problems with your air duct, you might also notice a change in your heating bill in addition to the noises you are hearing. These sounds will be a creaking and might be constant or only when the heat turns on and off.
