Water Heaters

[Ed C (SoCal)]

I am having trouble seeing any difference between water heaters for mobile homes and water heaters for houses! Can anyone explain difference?

[Pendragon]

Water heaters for mobile homes are approved for mobile homes..

Water heaters for mobile homes have side inlet/outlet fittings and lower wattage elements. (That is a direct quote from Rheem).

You could install a non HUD approved WH, but if you ever needed to sell the place, a good inspector will catch it and it will have to be replaced, solely for the fact that it was not approved for use in mobile homes.

[Mark Bower]

Most inspectors will let about any type of electric water heaters be installed. Gas water heaters are a different story. A lot of it has to do with how combustion air is drawn into and expelled from the water heater.

Mark
You gotta see my repair manual!

[Bill]

As for replacement, it will probably be easier to replace it with another m.h. water heater, for the simple fact that it would not really require any plumbing work. I swapped mine out in about 1/2 hr. (electric unit). Got my replacement from Home Depot. I think it was around $150 for a 30 gallon unit. You may find a marginally better price on a non-m.h. unit, but the labor and cost to plumb it in wouldn't justify the 'savings'.