Mobile Home Water Heater Repair Manufactured Home Water Heater Repair Install Replace DIY Help
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Mobile Home Water Heater Repair Install Replace
Yes, in some cases you can replace an electric mobile home water heater with a "regular" home type. Check your local codes. If you are replacing a gas water heater I recommend using a HUD approved type made for a mobile home. You will notice that the difference is that the cold water inlet and the hot water outlet are on the sides of a mobile home water heater as opposed to the home water heater type that are on the top. (Do not use PVC on a water heater, CPVC only, PVC plastic water pipe will not stand up to hot water.) Extend the cold and hot line to reach to the top with couplings mentioned in the polybutylene plastic water pipe section. If you have the PB pipe you can convert to CPVC. This will require the purchase of couplings, elbows and the proper plastic pipe cleaner and plastic pipe glue for the CPVC. Be sure to read all instructions for the glue and the new water heater. It is a good idea to allow any glue to dry for the maximum amount of time. Be sure that the new water heater is the same voltage and current rating of the the water heater electric circuit now in place or upgrade to match the new unit. Remember to turn off the water supply and power before you start. If there is no cutoff valve on the cold water line at the water heater this would be the time to install one.
You can repair the old water heater problem. The problem I see most often is the bottom element burned out, if you have a two element system. There are different types of water heater element mountings. These are screw in or bolt on. You may have to get the proper type of wrench to get it out, this looks like a giant spark plug socket. If the water heater is old I would recommend replacing it. The other problem I see is the water heater thermostat. These can be tricky to troubleshoot. If you don't replace the unit it would be a good time to flush out the old water heater to clean out lime, rust and etc. since you will need to drain it anyway to change the heating element. You do this by attaching a garden hose to the spigot at the bottom and running water through the water heater via the still attached cold water line until the out going water is clear. Below is an example of replacing the mobile home water heater or manufactured home water heater with a standard home water heater. Be sure the electrical supply is adequate for the water heater. Changed from 20 to 30 amps 240 volts with #10 wire and a double pole 30 amp breaker.
Mobile Home Water Heater Insulation
Insulating your water heater can be a great way to to save energy and reduce to wear an tear on your water heater elements or gas bill. I have two pictures of insulating techniques. One is for electric water heaters and one is for gas water heaters. I also recommend that you insulate the pipes leading into and especially out of the water heater. Radiational cooling of the hot water out supply water lines accounts for a lot of loss. You can use foam insulation pipe sleeves that are available at most any home supply store. Be sure to follow the water heater insulation manufacturers instructions.
Mobile Home Water Heater Leaks
Remember to turn off the power and water supply!
In a mobile home manufactured home the spots you want to check for signs of water pipe leaks are around the cold water inlet, the hot water outlet, and around the elements. If you do not see any leaks around these areas then you can only suspect that the internal tank has developed a water leak in which case the mobile home water heater needs replacing. Be sure to repair any floor damage before installing a new water heater.
Tankless Instant Water Heaters
If and when the mobile home water heater finally dies, consider "point of use" or "tankless" water heaters. The price on these have come down a lot. This will mean however that power must be pulled into each location. Tankless water heaters also require more maintenance than standard water heaters, most manufacturers recommend flushing them on a regular schedule. Do your homework and I think you will find the overall savings and added home value will pay off. Instant hot water is nice to have!
Water Heater Timer Switch
Water heater timer switches are a great way to save money. Not only does it cut down on the wear and tear of your water heater elements, it also reduces the on time that your water heater may be heating water when it is not needed. To install these is quite simple. Be sure to choose the one that matches the voltage and current rating of your water heater, either 240 volt or 120 volt. Most water heaters are 240 volt 30 amps. Below are some pictures of the one that I use. The installation instructions are printed on the inside cover. Turn off the power at the circuit breaker box and confirm that it is off before working on the water heater. Simply cut the existing wiring and place the box in the middle of the circuit. When I got my timer box (8 years ago) it was about $20.00, I think the price has probably gone up since then, however it won't take long to get payback from the energy savings. I have mine set to come on twice a day for 2 hours. If you need to over ride the time you simply push the timer over ride button. It takes about 30 minutes to have hot water if the the tank is completely cold in most cases. The timer function then will automatically resume as it cycles around.
Mobile Home Water Heater Manufactured Home Water Heater Repair Install Replace DIY Help
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