water heater difference Residential - Mobile Home

[RJsfishin]

Anyone know the real difference between stick house water heaters, and mobile home water heaters ?

I recently had to replace the 50 gal electric WH im my MFG (mobile) home. After seeing a much higher price on the mobile home heater, and no visual difference except the code/sticker on it, and the sales person not having any idea of any difference, I chose the cheaper house heater, and installed it w/ no issues.

Just curious.

[Flboy44]

There is an issue with the electrical setup. Standard MH has been 12-2 20 amp 240, thus a 3500 watt element. Standard tanks have 4500 elements, requiring 10-2 30 amp circuits. 

[drsteve]

DrewE wrote:
From what I could glean online, the differences are mainly the form factor (where the pipes attach, etc) and the all-important magical sticker. I'm guessing the additional expense is mostly to cover the magical sticker and the testing/approvals needed to be allowed to put It on the heater.

The HUD approval is only required by law, at the national level, for initial sale. State or local laws, or insurance company requirements, might well preclude the use of a non-HUD-approved electric water heater none the less.

Could also have something to do with production volume. The stuff everyone buys is usually cheaper just because of that.

[DrewE]

From what I could glean online, the differences are mainly the form factor (where the pipes attach, etc) and the all-important magical sticker. I'm guessing the additional expense is mostly to cover the magical sticker and the testing/approvals needed to be allowed to put It on the heater.

The HUD approval is only required by law, at the national level, for initial sale. State or local laws, or insurance company requirements, might well preclude the use of a non-HUD-approved electric water heater none the less.

[Bessie-Hunter]

Lynnmor wrote:

Bessie-Hunter wrote:
It has to do with the combustion chamber and the flue.

Since it is an electric water heater, the flue is on the power plant. 😄

At one time, mobile homes had electric water heaters with the heating element external to the tank, talk about dangerous, but it had the wonderful sticker.

I guess if I would have read "electric HW" instead of just reading difference between residential and mobile home, my answer would have been different.

[westend]

Smaller diameter or some at 120V.

[RJsfishin]

Ok, but I was talking electric.
The more a person digs into this, the more we find it is 100% politics.
I just wish I was on the positive money end of it all.

[Lynnmor]

Bessie-Hunter wrote:
It has to do with the combustion chamber and the flue.

Since it is an electric water heater, the flue is on the power plant. 😄

At one time, mobile homes had electric water heaters with the heating element external to the tank, talk about dangerous, but it had the wonderful sticker.

[Bessie-Hunter]

It has to do with the combustion chamber and the flue.

[MrWizard]

moved from technology

[drsteve]

Your insurance company might raise a ruckus if the unapproved WH causes a fire or other damage to your home.

Clicky

[alfredmay]

Other than the sticker......... and I assume the test it must pass........ the only difference I see is that the water inlet and outlet are on the side of the water heater. I know that some electric heaters have lower wattage elements.