Mobile Home Water Heater Vs. Regular Heater: What Are The Differences?

Imagine a situation where you just installed a water heater, but you found a mobile home that is much more in your price range. You don’t want to lose the value you put into this water heater, but you also can’t use it in your mobile home. When it comes to a mobile home water heater vs. regular heater, the two have significant differences.

Considering a mobile home water heater vs. regular heater, mobile heaters are more expensive, and the cold water connection is on the side. They are also about half the capacity of regular heaters and have both natural gas and propane in one unit. Regular water heaters have all the connections on the top, and you cannot install them on combustible flooring.

Below, we will get into further details of why mobile home water heaters are different from the standard variant. We will also get into the option of tankless water heaters and other associated topics below, giving you the knowledge to make a definite purchasing decision.

For people who need to make a replacement, the first thing that they note is the difference in cost. It depends heavily on how complicated it is to install your water heater. Some trailer houses do not have ease-of-access in mind. As a result, that cost can be $1,500 or more.

A standard water heater costs an average of $1,200 for both the appliance and installation. For mobile home water heaters, the appliance alone usually costs about $1,000. But you can get a standard water heater for about $450 to $700.

In 1974, The Manufactured Housing Construction And Safety Standards Act was released, setting the minimum safety standards one would have to follow while producing mobile homes. The act was amended in 2010 by the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee to address emerging changes.

If you are looking for mobile home water heaters’ codes, this is where you need to start.

This act is important because it addresses limitations on water heaters. The Safety Standards Act tells us of the following rules on manufactured home water heaters:

If you don’t want to mess with weird tanks, your other option is to choose a tankless water heater. There are a few options available, but HUD has made this a bit tricky.

HUD rules still need to be followed if you plan on purchasing a tankless water heater. Suppose you install your water heater on the inside. In that case, you need to ensure that there is proper ventilation that meets HUD approval.

If you install your water heater on the outside, you don’t have to worry about following ventilation standards. However, it is inadvisable to install any water heater outside in any climate that experiences freezing temperatures.

They are great when you consider energy efficiency as a widespread issue. Saving money on your propane bill will result in your electric bill being higher. Given that more homes rely on electric heating, it may be best to consider electric heating in the long run regardless.

Also, HUD has expressed that tankless water heaters have repeatedly failed to meet their requirements. That happens because tankless heaters do not have the backflow protection mentioned in the Manufactured Housing Act.

Be sure that you ask them about their HUD approval before starting. You can also contact your local offices for further information.

It is possible to choose an electric water heater for your mobile home. However, you will likely need to have an additional circuit breaker to account for the higher electricity usage.

Also, combine electric usage with a mobile home water heater, and you can expect the cost to be still expensive. Electric water heaters are more of a convenience issue, as they prevent you from having to worry about choosing between gas and propane.

Depending on how rural you are, you may still have to run into this issue. Some electricity lines don’t have the quality you need. However, you aren’t likely to run into this issue unless you live in a remote location.

If you have just purchased a manufactured home, you can typically find it located near the furnace. Look around until you see a clear sign of a heating element in your mobile home.

You can access the heater and water tank from the outside with a metal door in many designs. It is there to make it easier to replace your water heater should something happen.

If you aren’t sure where it is, ask the purchaser or see if you can’t find the manufacturer. It should not be too difficult to locate. It is best to locate the water heater before making a purchase. The cost driver behind a water heater typically comes from the complicated installation.

Electric water heaters will not have a gas release valve or thermocouple.

To start your search for HUD-approved mobile home water heaters, you can begin with Google search for businesses in your area that sell them. To advertise a water heater for manufactured homes, companies must ensure HUD approves the heater. If a water heater is HUD-approved, it will feature a sticker on the side indicating this information.

You can still get homeowner’s insurance, however, some policies may exclude a mobile home water heater. Therefore, make sure you know the specifics before you make your final decision on your insurance carrier.