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DIY Projects

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Summer is here, and DIY projects are heating up! (literally) If you’re an Indiana mobile homeowner looking to upgrade your space this summer, then keep reading to see our 3 tips you need to know before starting on your DIY project. 

Customize Your Mobile Home

Your mobile home is your sanctuary, which means it should be designed how you like! At General Supply Inc, we have a wide range of materials, finishes, and fixtures that are designed specifically for manufactured homes. Whether you want new skirting, sturdier doors, custom trim, or a large interior remodel, we have the expertise and resources to guide you through the DIY customization process!

At General Supply Inc., we know that your mobile home deserves to run efficiently and look good while doing it. That’s why we are always happy to provide you with guidance on the best path to installation, maintenance, and making upgrades when it suits you. Contact our team to learn more about DIY projects for your mobile home!

Plan Your DIY Budget

The first step of any DIY project? Figure out your budget! The experienced team at General Supply INC can help manufactured homeowners like you estimate the time, value, and cost of your DIY project. 

We want the DIY process to be enjoyable and financially manageable for you. Meeting with one of our team members to talk about your next project can help you avoid unexpected costs and unnecessary challenges! Do DIY right and contact us first.

Know Your Limits 

Let’s get one thing straight… we LOVE DIY projects.

DIY projects are exciting, rewarding, and often turn out exactly as intended… if you know what you’re doing. 

When planning a DIY project for your mobile home, it’s important to know the limits of your skills and capabilities. The last thing we want is for you to get in over your head, and abandon the project altogether!

General Supply Inc can help you set realistic expectations about which tasks are perfect for DIY work, and which ones are more suitable for the pros. Our team wants you to stay safe, and eliminate any costly mistakes.

Set yourself up for DIY success by talking with the pros at General Supply Inc first!

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Indianapolis’s Choice for HVAC Service

Manufactured and mobile home owners deserve reliable heating and cooling. At General Supply Inc, we are passionate about your family feeling comfortable at home. Our goal at GSI is to make comfort as simple as pushing a button on your thermostat.

If your current HVAC system can’t keep up, it may be time for a new system or just a simple repair. To find out what your heating and cooling system needs to keep you comfortable, keep reading! If you’re in need of an AC repair, call the Central Indiana experts in manufactured home HVAC.

Indiana HVAC Unit Installation

The Indiana summer months are sweltering, and if your AC unit is in need of repair, your mobile home can get miserable, and fast! We understand the urgency of staying cool during the scorching Indiana summers, which is why our HVAC unit installation services are designed to be efficient and hassle-free. 

Our team of experts will work diligently to have your new unit up and running promptly, so you can enjoy the comfort you deserve.

Here are a few signs your HVAC unit might need a repair or replacement:

  • Your AC is breaking down
  • Your energy bills keep increasing
  • Your HVAC system is 10+ years old
  • Your unit is making hissing or clicking noises
  • You are experiencing inconsistent temperatures throughout your home

Remember, when it comes to quick, reliable, HVAC unit installation, there is no better choice than General Supply Inc!

Indiana’s Top HVAC Service Provider

General Supply Inc is proud to be Indiana’s top HVAC service provider and #1 pick for HVAC installation! We have passionately served the state of Indiana since 1993 and have built a team of hoosiers who love their fellow citizens as their own.

General Supply’s team has a combined 100+ years of service experience within the manufactured housing industry, so you can feel confident knowing we manufactured homes are second nature to us!

We are committed to offering affordable HVAC services using on-site HVAC specialists, without compromising on quality. Whether you need a new installation, repairs, or regular maintenance, our cost-effective solutions and flexible financing options make it easier for you to get the HVAC services you require while staying within your budget.

Check out our HVAC financing options or call to schedule us to come out and assess your needs. Don’t let the heat get the best of you and your home—trust General Supply Inc for reliable HVAC unit installation and exceptional service in Indiana!

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Troubleshooting Your A/C

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When it comes to air conditioning, sometimes what appears to be a big problem can be a simple and inexpensive fix. During the summer months when the humidity is high and the temperatures are soaring, it is not uncommon to have a capacitor fail in your outside condensing unit. Unfortunately, it will often fail at the worst time, leaving you without cool air in the summer heat. The good news is this is not an expensive part to replace. However, you should not attempt to replace it yourself. This is a repair best left to the professionals, so be sure to call an HVAC contractor to handle this service for you. There are many varieties of capacitors available, and it is crucial that yours is replaced with the correct model and specification

If your A/C unit fails to cool your home, there are some things you can do to troubleshoot that will save you time and money before calling a professional contractor.

1. Check your thermostat

Ensure your thermostat is set to cool and the fan is set to “on” or “auto”.  Make a note of what the temperature is in your home and what temperature your thermostat is set at for cooling.

2. Check your air filter

In most cases, your air filter will be in or near your furnace. Make sure that it is not excessively covered with dust, lint, or pet hair and that air is flowing back to your furnace. This is especially important in manufactured homes as they often do not have a return air system built into the home. With an electric furnace, the filters may be metal and sitting on top of your a-coil. This may be a good time to remove and wash that filter and then replace it back on your unit. With a gas furnace in your mobile home, the filter is most likely inside your furnace door. If it is dirty or clogged, now is a good time to remove and replace it. If you do not have a replacement filter handy, leave the dirty one off but get a replacement as soon as possible. Do not leave your furnace without a filter for more than a day.

3. Check your floor registers

Make sure all your floor registers are open and there are no restrictions for air moving through these registers.

4. Check your circuit breaker

Open your main electrical box and look for a double pole breaker that should be marked as A/C unit or compressor. A double pole breaker is two breakers tied together, usually 20 to 30 amps in size. Some older units could have an even larger breaker. If this breaker looks like it has been tripped, reset it by pulling the breaker all the way over to the off position and then returning it to the on position. Do not attempt to replace this breaker by yourself. If the breaker will not reset, call a licensed professional immediately.

5. Check your outside A/C or heat pump condenser

Look to see if the fan on your outside unit is moving and blowing warm air from your unit. Listen for the compressor inside your unit to see if you can hear it running. There will often be a data plate on the outside of the unit. Take a picture of it with your phone if you can or try to write down the model and serial number of the unit if it is available. Also, look for any ice build-up on your outside A/C unit. If the coil is covered with ice or you see excessive ice around the copper lines coming to your unit, turn the unit off right away. Call your HVAC professional and let them know that your unit has ice around it. This is usually an indication that your unit is low on refrigerant or that there is not enough air moving back to the furnace. The same applies if you see excessive ice around the a-coil located in your furnace cavity. Again, turn the A/C off immediately and call your professional. While you’re outside, check your outdoor A/C unit coils for any cottonwood, grass clippings, dust, or other debris. Hosing off these items can increase the performance of your A/C.

Taking these steps may bring your A/C or heat pump back on to the cool position. If it does, congratulate yourself on saving the cost of a house call and needless repair, not to mention getting a cooler home when you need it. If there is still an issue, contact a reputable HVAC service technician and provide them with the information you have gathered up from these notes. This will save you time and money by providing the technician with valuable information that will allow them to be better prepared to fix your A/C unit on the first call.

If your compressor is still not blowing cool air and your unit is less than seven years old, there is a good chance that the capacitor has failed. If so, your technician will have you up and running again in no time at all and at a cost that won’t break the bank. Don’t forget to schedule regular HVAC maintenance appointments, with spring and fall clean and checks, to keep your systems in top shape. If you are looking for a qualified technician but don’t know who to call, contact your rep at General Supply, and they will be glad to be of assistance.

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Tune Up Your A/C for Summer Maintenance

If the A/C unit in your manufactured home is struggling to keep up with the summer heat, it may be time for a seasonal tune up. High temps can strain your A/C system leading to lowered energy efficiency and even system failure. With regular maintenance, you can identify and prevent any potential issues. Here’s three easy ways to tune up your A/C for the summer:

Change Air Filter

An air filter plays an important role in your modular or manufactured home by keeping dust and debris out of your HVAC system. Cleaning or replacing your air filter every one to three months prevents this debris from accumulating and circulating around your home. A fresh air filter also increases energy efficiency and maximizes clean air flow. If you have children or indoor pets in your home, it is even more important to stay on top of air filter replacements.

Clear Away Debris

With a central A/C system, clearing away debris from the outdoor condenser unit allows it to run efficiently in summer weather. A good rule of thumb is to keep any landscaping at least two feet away. This means trimming back any overgrown shrubs and trees that may be too close to your A/C unit. You’ll also want to clear away any old leaves, dirt, or other debris that may cause blockages. For a deeper clean, you can also clean the coils and fins in your unit when they get dirty (learn how here). 

Schedule Professional Maintenance

To give your A/C system an extra boost, a best practice is to schedule an HVAC tune up twice a year. For your A/C in the spring and your furnace in the fall, call your HVAC company to perform professional inspection and testing. The experts will check for any leaks, loose connections, and proper airflow to help maintain your system and locate any damage. Investing in professional maintenance at regular intervals will ensure the long-term health of your A/C system, saving you in repair or replacement costs down the road.

With regular maintenance, you can keep your A/C system running smoothly so you can stay comfortable and cool inside during the summer months. The time you spend on a quick tune up now will help you prevent an unexpected A/C emergency when it gives out on a hot summer day. If your mobile or manufactured home A/C system does need repair or replacements, you can find all the parts you need here at General Supply, Inc.