About 17.7 million people in America live in mobile homes, and many of these individuals do own their home. Just like any other home, mobile homes rely on a water heater to provide hot water to the people who dwell inside, and occasionally, this unit will have to be replaced.

If you happen to own your own mobile home and have a water heater that needs to be replaced, you may be tempted to tackle the job on your own. However, there are a few mistakes that you can make in the process that can be detrimental to the entire situation. Check out some of the mistakes DIYers make when installing a water heater in a mobile home without professional help.

Mistake: Not making sure the water heater is approved for mobile home use. 

Not all water heaters are designed for mobile home use. In fact, it is common for approved water heaters to have a smaller stature than most. If you try to install a unit that is not approved for mobile home use, you could face a lot of issues, including with your homeowner's insurance policy. 

Mistake: Not making sure the water heater has enough space for the new unit.

In a mobile home, the floor plan can be much more conservative, so the space available for the water heater may not be all that large. You have to make sure the new water heater you pick is relatively the same size as the prior unit. Otherwise, it may have to be relocated to another place in the home where the proper clearance around the unit is possible. If you are trying to replace a water heater with a larger size, it is always best to work with a professional, whether you live in a mobile home or any other home. 

Mistake: Not properly connecting the water feed lines and creating a leak. 

If you are installing a water heater in a tighter space than usual, it can be a little hard to get the water lines connected just right. Even though mobile homes are built to be rather solid, they do not stand up very well to water leaks. The slightest leak from a water heater that is not properly hooked up could easily lead to a lot of damage to the floor of your home. A professional water heater installation service will take extra steps to make sure all connections are tightly sealed so there are no leakage concerns.