Hot water heater

Repair help for the do-it-yourselfer.
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stillworking

The questions never seem to end on this project. The old (7 years) hot water heater is leaking. In my area, Lowe's has the best prices. I have been using standard hot water heaters as replacements, but noticed yesterday that they have a mobile home model. It is exactly the same as the standard model, except for two things. The Element Wattage (Upper/Lower) is 4500/4500 on the standard and 0/3500 on the mobile home. The Gallons per Hour Recovery on the standard is 20.7 on the regular and 16.1 on the mobile home. Both are priced the same at $229 with 6 year warranty. Which one should I buy?
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Yanita
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Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2007 10:16 pm
Location: Eastern N. Carolina

Hi,

Is your WH gas or electric, electric you can replace with anything that will fit the space requirements, GAS has to be a MH approved heater.

Yanita
The difference between success and failure is who gives up first!
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stillworking

Sorry for the oversight - I should have said it is 40 gallon electric.
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Yanita
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Posts: 3369
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2007 10:16 pm
Location: Eastern N. Carolina

Hi,

As I said any electric heater can be used as long as it fits the space requirements you have .

Yanita
The difference between success and failure is who gives up first!
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chasMB
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2007 7:59 pm
Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Wellllll wattage indicates electric, Gas would be BTU. :)
The Element Wattage (Upper/Lower) is 4500/4500 on the standard and 0/3500 on the mobile home.
Just looking at the numbers you listed:
The Mobile Home water heater at 3500 watts will draw ABOUT 15 amps at 220 volts.

The Other water heater at 4500/4500 watts will draw ABOUT 40 amps at 220 volts.

1st I would look at the current draw of the Existing water heater to see how much it draws

2nd I would check the circuit breaker feeding the water heater to see what it is rated for.

3rd I would check the size of the wire that is in there now to make sure it was big enough.

IF all of these are right I would get the 4500/4500 heater due to the faster recovery rate. If any one of the 3 items is not rated for the current draw you will have to get the 0/3500 or have the electrical upgraded.
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stillworking

ChasMB - Thanks for telling me what I needed to find out to know which one to get. After checking with my electrician, I don't have to use the mobile home model. He said that one has only one heating element - thus the longer recovery time - and there probably would be complaints about not having enough hot water. I really appreciate your taking the time to explain all that to me.
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jubangy

Yanita wrote:Hi,

Is your WH gas or electric, electric you can replace with anything that will fit the space requirements, GAS has to be a MH approved heater.

Yanita
Why does the gas have to be mh rated and not the electric?
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Greg
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Joined: Wed Feb 28, 2007 8:01 pm
Location: Weedsport, NY

Gas heaters need to be vented and electric does not. The venting of ANY flame type heating device requires a MH certification. Greg
"If I can't fix it, I can screw it up so bad no one else can either."
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jubangy

I am glad you answered that thanks I just wished I ould of found thi forum 2 years ago as I replaced my water heater, which is gas and I just picked up one from a valu home center.
It was put in by someone who works in the field as I am not good when it comes to putting pipes together, I mean I can do it but it's the whole no leak rule I have problems with lol. Anyways a whole new vent was ran up through the roof. I haven't had any problems but do you think there will be any problems?
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