6 Steps to Winterizing Your Park Model Home: How to stay warm, prevent damage, and avoid expensive repairs
When the temperature drops, your park model home will need a little TLC. Whether you’re staying put for the season or locking up and heading south, winterizing is a non-negotiable if you want to protect your investment.
Frozen pipes. Drafty rooms. Roof damage from heavy snow. Pests are making themselves at home. These can be avoided with a bit of preparation.
At Lancaster Log Cabins, we want you to enjoy your park model home, whether you purchased it from us or not. With this blog on winterizing your park model home, you can protect your investment from the worst that Old Man Winter can throw at you.
This guide will walk you through the essentials—from plumbing protection to insulation upgrades—so your park model home stays cozy, dry, and safe.
Ready for some cool tips on keeping your park model home warm? Let’s get started!
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Winterizing your park model home is crucial to prevent costly damage from cold weather. Key steps include protecting plumbing from freezing, insulating to prevent drafts, and performing exterior maintenance such as securing gutters and sealing panels. Addressing pest control and improving energy efficiency further safeguards your home, ensuring it remains cozy and secure all winter.
Why Winterizing Your Park Model Home Is Essential
Park model homes aren’t like full-sized houses. They’re built for simplicity and mobility, not Arctic-level temperatures, and you’re not a 1790s pioneer either. When cold weather arrives, these small homes require extra attention.
Here’s what happens if you skip winterizing:
- Pipes freeze, crack, and burst, causing flooding and damage to the home.
- Drafts sneak in, and heating costs spike.
- Snow and ice damage roofs, gutters, and skirting, potentially threatening the structural integrity of the roof.
- Rodents or insects can sneak inside in search of warmth, causing damage to the interior and spreading disease.
- Moisture builds up, causing mold or rot in the interior and throughout the entire space.
Winterizing your home isn’t just about comfort. It’s about prevention. These steps will save you money, stress, and major repairs down the line on your investment.
Step 1: Protect Plumbing and Prevent Frozen Pipes
Let’s start with the #1 winter enemy of all homes: frozen pipes.
Even a minor freeze can lead to a massive mess. Burst pipes can cause significant damage to floors, walls, and cabinets. So here’s how to protect your plumbing:
If you’re living in your park model all winter:
- Wrap pipes with heat tape or foam insulation, especially those located underneath or near exterior walls.
- Keep your thermostat steady—no lower than 55°F, even if you're away for the day.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm air reach the plumbing.
- Let faucets drip slowly overnight during hard freezes to keep water moving.
If you’re closing it up for the season:
- Turn off the water supply to the home.
- Drain the system entirely, including faucets, toilets, showers, and the water heater.
- Blow out lines with compressed air if possible, or hire a professional with the right equipment.
- Add RV antifreeze to drains, toilets, and traps.
Don’t skip this step—it’s the most important one on the list.
Step 2: Insulate Windows, Doors, and Draft-Prone Areas
Next up: sealing in the heat.
Park model homes often lose heat through poorly insulated windows and doors. Drafts can make your heater work overtime and make the space uncomfortable.
Here’s what to do:
- Install weather stripping around all doors and windows to create a tighter seal. This will help significantly in retaining warmth within your park model home and noticeably reduce cold drafts.
- Add window insulation film—it’s inexpensive, easy to install, and effective. This boosts your window’s insulating power, leading to lower energy bills and a cozier interior.
- Use thermal curtains to block drafts at night. These will make a big difference in preventing heat loss through your windows.
- Seal floor vents or any other unused openings, particularly if you are not currently living in the home, to prevent unnecessary heat loss.
- Gaps around utility lines or vents can also allow heat to escape. Seal them with caulk or spray foam. These often overlooked areas can be significant points for heat to escape.
You don’t need to rip out walls to make a difference. Minor upgrades go a long way.
Step 3: Do Some Exterior Maintenance
Your park model’s shell protects everything inside. But if snow piles up or water leaks in, you’re in trouble.
Here’s how to prep the outside before winter hits:
- Inspect the roof for missing shingles, soft spots, or loose flashing. Catch these issues early to prevent leaks and damage from snow and ice accumulation.
- If your RV has gutters, inspect and clean them so water doesn’t back up and freeze. Clogged gutters form ice dams, which force melting snow under your roof, causing water damage. Install gutter guards to prevent leaves from clogging your gutters.
- Check the skirting for cracks or loose panels—these block cold air from getting underneath and freezing your pipes.
- Trim tree limbs that hang over the home to avoid damage from falling branches or accumulated snow from dropping on your roof.
- Seal up the underside of the home if it’s open—use foam board or vinyl skirting to stop drafts. This step insulates the floor, which again helps prevent pipes from freezing.
- Add a moisture barrier or ground cover under the home if it's on a dirt or gravel pad. It helps control humidity and reduces frost build-up.
For a more detailed look at park model home maintenance, check out our comprehensive guide.
Step 4: Seasonal Residents—Don’t Just Lock the Door and Leave
Leaving for the winter? You’ve got one chance to shut things down right.
Here’s a basic close-up checklist:
- Turn off and drain all plumbing
- Unplug all appliances and electronics
- Empty the fridge and leave the door cracked
- Close curtains to protect from sun damage
- Lock all doors and windows tight
- Leave a note with emergency contact info (in case park staff need it)
Pro tip: Ask a neighbor or park manager to check in monthly. Even a quick walk-through can catch a water leak or break-in early.
Consider installing a smart thermostat or a remote monitoring device to enhance your home's energy efficiency. That way, you can track temperature and humidity levels from your phone—even from 1,000 miles away.
Step 5: Keep Pests Out While You’re Away
As Donald Duck demonstrated, having rodents and other such tiny guests in your home is not a good thing. Cold weather sends mice, insects, and even snakes looking for warm places to nest—and an unoccupied park model is an open invitation.
Here’s how to keep critters outside:
- Seal all gaps under doors, around vents, and anywhere utilities enter the building. Even tiny openings can provide an entry point for pests seeking shelter from the cold, so use caulk, steel wool, or mesh to seal them.
- Install screens on attic or underfloor vents. These physical barriers prevent rodents, birds, and larger insects from entering while still allowing for proper ventilation.
- Set out rodent deterrents, such as peppermint oil or ultrasonic devices, to deter rodents. While not foolproof, these can discourage pests from taking up residence by creating an unappealing environment. And the peppermint oil will make your home smell nice! However, preparation is the best prevention, and the most effective way to keep rodents out is to seal them out completely.
- Remove all food from pantries, fridges, and trash bins. Pests are drawn to homes by food sources, so eliminating them removes a significant incentive for them to get in.
- Place traps if you’ve had problems in past winters. If you've previously experienced pest issues, setting preventative traps can catch intruders before they establish a larger presence.
- Cover drains and vents with mesh to keep bugs out. Small openings like these are often overlooked but can be easy access points for insects and even small rodents.
No one wants to come back in spring and find nests in the walls or droppings in the kitchen. A little prevention now saves a big headache later.
Step 6: Improve Energy Efficiency (and Save on Bills)
Even if your park model is built with solid wood, like ours, winter heating can still add up. The more efficient your setup, the more money you keep in your pocket.
Here’s how to stay warm without wasting energy:
- Use a programmable thermostat to maintain stable temps and lower settings overnight.
- Add area rugs—they help insulate cold floors and add some decor to your floor.
- Switch to LED bulbs—they generate less heat and use less power.
- Use a space heater wisely—they’re designed primarily as a stopgap, so use only where needed and with a thermostat setting.
- Upgrade insulation in the floor, ceiling, or skirting if your unit allows it.
Small changes add up fast. If you’re heating your park model all winter, these adjustments can reduce energy use and make the space more comfortable.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Keep It Safe
Winterizing your park model home doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about protecting what matters—your home, your comfort, and your peace of mind.
So whether you're staying through the snow or heading somewhere warmer, take a weekend to do it right. By taking these simple steps, one at a time, you can provide your cabin with an extra layer of protection it needs to withstand the frigid winter cold.
Because every frozen pipe, roof leak, rodent nest, and drafty night is 100% preventable.If your park model is from Lancaster Log Cabins, you’re already a step ahead. Solid wood walls help retain heat, resist moisture, and withstand the elements better than conventional park models. Amish craftsmanship doesn’t hurt either.
However, even the toughest builds require a little seasonal preparation.
Still have questions about winter prep or cabin ownership? We’re happy to help.
Contact us or check out our other resources for more tips!
