Bradford White Mobile Home Water Heaters

Bradford White mobile home water heaters are gas storage tank models built specifically for installation in manufactured housing, where standard residential water heaters do not meet construction and venting requirements. Manufactured home construction falls under federal HUD standards rather than typical residential building codes, so a replacement unit needs to carry HUD certification and the correct venting hardware straight from the factory. Bradford White's manufactured home direct vent gas models are HUD certified and UL approved, with three-quarter inch NPT water connections and a protective anode rod built into the tank to slow corrosion. A Vitraglas tank lining with Microban is applied inside the tank to resist rust and limit bacterial growth over the service life of the unit. New installations typically call for a sealed combustion roof jack kit, since the venting system in a manufactured home has to stay fully separated from the living space. Getting the certification and venting hardware right the first time keeps a mobile home installation compliant and avoids a return trip.

Subcategories

• 30-Gallon Direct Vent Gas Models: Contractors spec the 30-gallon direct vent model for single-family manufactured homes with one or two bathrooms and typical household demand. The tank uses a Vitraglas lining with Microban built in to resist corrosion and limit bacterial growth. Three-quarter inch NPT connections match standard supply and return lines used in manufactured home retrofits. A protective anode rod ships installed to extend tank life without extra labor on install day.
• 40-Gallon Direct Vent Gas Models: The 40-gallon model covers larger manufactured homes or households running more fixtures off one water heater. Like the smaller tank, it ships HUD certified and UL approved for manufactured home installation specifically, not general residential use. The unit keeps the same three-quarter inch NPT connection sizing, so swap-outs on an existing manufactured home line do not require adapting the rough-in. A sealed combustion roof jack kit gets ordered separately for any new installation.
• Venting Accessories: New manufactured home installations need a sealed combustion roof jack kit to keep the venting system fully separated from the living space, a requirement tied to the manufactured home construction standard rather than standard residential code. Ordering the kit alongside the water heater on a new install avoids a second trip once an inspector flags a missing vent component. Replacement anode rods are also available for extending tank life on units already in service. Stocking both keeps a service truck ready for the two most common manufactured home callbacks.

Buying Guide

The first decision on any manufactured home water heater replacement is confirming the existing unit is actually certified for manufactured home use, since a standard residential tank will not pass inspection in that setting. Manufactured homes fall under HUD's Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standard, not the same building code that governs site-built houses, so the replacement tank needs its own HUD certification and matching venting hardware. Tank size comes next: a 30-gallon model covers a typical one or two bathroom manufactured home, while a 40-gallon tank suits larger households or homes running more fixtures at once. Bradford White Mobile Home Water Heaters ship with a Vitraglas tank lining and Microban protection built in, along with a factory-installed anode rod, so the core corrosion protection is already in place before installation starts. Venting is the detail that trips up new installs most often. A sealed combustion roof jack kit has to stay fully separated from the living space per the manufactured home standard, and it gets ordered separately from the tank itself, so confirming it is on the truck before the old unit comes out saves a second visit. Connection sizing stays consistent at three-quarter inch NPT across both tank sizes, which keeps swap-outs on existing manufactured home plumbing straightforward. Checking certification, sizing, venting hardware, and connection type in that order covers the decisions that matter for a compliant manufactured home water heater installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a standard residential water heater go into a manufactured home?

No. Manufactured homes fall under HUD's Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standard rather than standard residential building code, so the water heater needs its own HUD certification and matching venting hardware. Installing a standard residential tank in that setting will not pass inspection.

What sizes does Bradford White offer for manufactured home direct vent gas water heaters?

The direct vent gas line comes in 30-gallon and 40-gallon capacities. Both use three-quarter inch NPT water connections, so choosing between them comes down to household size and fixture count rather than rough-in compatibility.

Does the roof jack kit come with the water heater?

No, the sealed combustion roof jack kit ships separately and needs to be ordered alongside the tank for any new installation. Skipping it on a new install is one of the more common reasons a manufactured home water heater job fails inspection.

What protects the tank from corrosion?

Each tank uses a Vitraglas lining with Microban built in, along with a factory-installed anode rod. Both work together to slow corrosion and limit bacterial growth inside the tank over its service life.

Are these water heaters UL and HUD certified?

Yes. Bradford White's manufactured home direct vent gas models are HUD certified and UL approved specifically for manufactured housing, which is the certification an inspector will check for on that type of installation.