Manufactured Homes in Logansport, Indiana: Choosing and Caring for the Water Heater

Logansport is the county seat of Cass County, where the Eel River meets the Wabash. Buyers here are often families, and families use a lot of hot water. The water heater in a new manufactured home is one of the few appliances you rarely see and almost never think about, so it is worth a few minutes before you order.

Fuel: electric or gas

Each plan’s spec sheet says what kind of water heater comes with the home. Some plans offer a choice. The fuel should match the rest of the house:

• Electric needs no gas service and no venting. It is the common choice on a rural lot with no gas line.
• Gas (natural gas or propane) recovers faster after a run of showers, but it needs gas service and proper venting.

If you are still deciding how the home will be heated, settle that first. Our Cromwell post covers heating fuel on a rural lot.

Capacity: think about your busiest morning

A water heater’s tank size and recovery rate decide how many showers you get back to back. Count the people who shower in the same hour, add a dishwasher or a load of laundry, and ask whether the standard heater keeps up. If the plan has a larger bathtub or a second full bath, that matters too. Our Warren post covers choosing the bathrooms.

Where it sits, and why that matters

In many manufactured homes the water heater is in a small closet, sometimes with an access door from outside. Find it on the floor plan drawing and ask:

• Can someone reach it to drain it, check it, or replace it without moving furniture?
• Is the floor around it protected, and is there a drain pan?
• If it opens to the outside, will snow or a deck block the door?

Replacing one later

A water heater in a HUD-code home is not always a standard hardware-store unit. When yours is eventually replaced, the new one should be approved for manufactured-home installation. A plumber who works on manufactured homes will know which units fit and how the venting and combustion air work. Keep the model number with your home’s paperwork; our Montpelier post covers what to keep.

Yearly care

• Test the pressure relief valve once a year.
• Drain a few gallons from the bottom to clear sediment, especially on well water. Our Berne post covers well-water testing.
• Look for rust, drips or dampness around the base.
• Set the temperature no higher than you need, which saves energy and helps prevent scalds.

Common questions

Can I add a tankless water heater?

Ask before you order. Changes to built-in plumbing and gas systems are limited to what Champion offers for that plan, and anything done later needs a licensed contractor and the right permits.

Who connects the water heater on site?

The heater ships installed. Connecting the home to water, power and any gas service is done by contractors you hire.

Where to next?

See our Cass County page, or read the site work guide.