Rheem XP29T06EC30U1 water heater broken

[taviaromescu]

This water heater was installed in our mobile home by the previous owner. It suddenly just stopped heating water recently. So I was looking at the manual, and says on there that this model must not be installed in a mobile home, but doesn't say why. I called the Rheem technical support dept., and the person they had answering the phones there did not know why either. They had an untrained person on this phone line, and she wouldn't let me talk to a supervisor. She said it wasn't made for mobile homes, but did not know any more than that. Does anyone know why?

 

[bud16415]

I have read that a mobile home water heater has to have a HUD approval with non-adjustable temperature setting.



It seems crazy to me as well. I guess the idea is a mobile home may be a rental and they don’t expect people renting to know enough to not set the water temp too high.



There may be insurance reasons also based around that HUD rating. You may want to ask your insurance agent about it as well just to make sure you would be covered.

 

[Snoonyb]

A panoramic photo, may be of assistance and would reveal the area surrounding the installation.

 

[taviaromescu]

Thank you.

 

[ojsameday]

As per HUD's Homeowners' Center, all mobile homes must have water heaters with a non-adjustable temperature and a pressure-relief valve. Do your water heater has a similar feature? Also, what is the capacity? for mobile homes, a standard 30-40 gallon water heater is installed.

 

[Sparky617]

All water heaters would have a TPV standard. Interesting on the non-adjustability requirement for temperature.

As to why it stopped working suddenly, it could be a burned out element. If it has two, one could have been burned out for a while and you just didn't notice it. Elements are replaceable. To confirm. Turn off the power, and check for continuity using a Volt Ohm Meter. It should read 10-15 ohms out when set to ohms to indicate that the element is still intact. If it is open, it's burnt out.

This video shows you how to test it. Testing a water heater element

Here is a video on replacing it. Replacing a water heater element

 

[billshack]

it could be that regular hot water tanks must be install a certain distance from a combustable wall.
Water heaters must be surrounded by a certain amount of clearance, or air space, to function properly and safely. A clearance area of 12 inches is required on all sides of a hot water heater.
this is due to roll out where a flame rolls out of a combustion chamber .

 

[Sparky617]

it could be that regular hot water tanks must be install a certain distance from a combustable wall.
Water heaters must be surrounded by a certain amount of clearance, or air space, to function properly and safely. A clearance area of 12 inches is required on all sides of a hot water heater.
this is due to roll out where a flame rolls out of a combustion chamber .

The OP doesn't state, but Googling it, it looks like it is a propane water heater. So it could be any number of issues related to gas delivery to the burner. Not my specialty, after making sure you have propane in the tank, I'd start with the thermocouple that shuts off the gas when the pilot blows out.

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