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Also see Whirlpool Water Heaters.
J.l.mc of Manchester GA (05/02/08)
a coustomer has a titan water heater model e1e2.5us product#40220042 serial #0503220415 the thermostat is bad and was told they were no longer available ineedto know where i can get another tiny titan water heater and what price
Danielle of Horizon TX (04/30/08)
About five days ago the pilot on our water heater gave out, after contacting the 1800 costumer service number they informed me that I had to pay a 18 dollar shipping fee and the parts they would send me would fix the problem and I wouldn't have to go through this again. Well they lied they sent the new part and after paying a plumber to install the part guess what, the pilot still wouldn't light.
So back to square one with the customer rep telling me that they'll re-send me the same part! Did I mention that we bought this house brand new and have only lived in it for 5 months, were frustrated,out of money from staying at hotels, and noe having to rotate from one family member to another just to take a hot shower. What to do next?
We have had to pay the shipping fees, the cost for a plumber to install the defective part, and the cost of staying at a hotel.
Honey of New Carlisle, OH (04/07/08)
Pilot light went out on my 2 year old water heater. I called to get a replacement part and was told to pay $18 for shipping or else it would be 5-7 days. We have already been without for 3 days because this happened over the weekend. The only way to get it shipped sooner is to pay this amount with a credit card. We do not have any credit cards.
I have now had to result in my family of 4 having to go to relatives houses to shower. I can't wash dishes or clothes. Not to mention the cost of a repairman coming out to fix it. $50 just for the plumber to come out and another $86 and hour for the time he is here.
Dave of Rockford IL (03/01/08)
I purchased a Whirlpool water heater from Lowe's in June 2003. Since then I have replaced the thermocouple going on four times now. When I woke up this morning and noticed I had no hot water, I tried lighting the pilot light repeatedly, and new the problem was the thermocouple. I went to several specialty hardware stores, and no one had a 24 left hand thread (thermocouple). I then called Lowe's who said they no longer carry this part because of a recall, and I needed to contact Whirlpool. After waiting on the line for 12 minutes, Mary answered the phone. She was very hard to understand--sounded like their call center was outside the U.S. However she did say they would send me a new manifold door assembly (which would include a thermocouple) in 5 business days, or I could pay $18 for shipping and receive it Tuesday. I have to now pay for shipping or else my family goes without hot water for a week.
I think it extremely careless for Whirlpool to not even send the Lowe's stores these replacement parts since they are the only store that sells this brand of water heater. Also, I'm extremely angry over all the constant problems I am having with this unit since thermocouples should last 10-12 years. This has become very costly and time consuming
Ben of South Euclid OH (02/18/08)
Our Whirlpool water heater (50 gal.) purchased at Lowe's has put me in a quandry. The first tank I purchased had to be replaced because it wouldn't function properly. American Water Heater agreed to replace my tank with an identical model from Lowe's. The problem is that both of my tanks were manufactured between 2002 and 2006. The tanks made during that time period were named in a consumer lawsuit because of problems with the FVIR unit. The settlement states that the tank purchaser is responsible for installation costs of the FVIR unit. How do I know that the new FVIR units will correct the tank's problem, and why should the consumer have to pay for installation costs? In addition, since I'm the owner of a water tank manufactured between 2002-06, I'm waiting for the FVIR unit to fail (which it will), and no thermocouple replacement will correct the water tank. So, in a nutshell, if it isn't broke why fix it with the replacement FVIR kit? Would I be buying myself even more problems with the water tank? American refuses to replace the tank as long as it's fixable. At what point do the installation costs exceed the original price of the tank? It doesn't make any sense.
I'm stuck with a tank that may not be corrected with American's FVIR replacement kit. American does not guarantee that the new FVIR kit will solve the problem. Other consumers who purchased the Whirlpool Flame Guard water tank series are faced with the same problem, some even worse. Just read the number of complaints about this product (dubbed one of America's worse 10 products of 2007).
Craig of Englewwod CO (02/10/08)
Pilot light will not stay lit. No hot water, so my family has been taking cold showers.
Jack of Sound Bch NY (02/08/08)
The pilot outages have very little to do with thermocouples. They have an extreme condensation problem. I don't think the company even knows how to correct this. A condensation is created perhaps because of the sealed chamber. I try to loosen up on the cover screws (has helped a little). Also, the screen at the bottom of the heater has to be clear. Good luck.
I receive constant complaints as a service tech.
Fred of Goodyear AZ (12/24/07)
I purchased my home in 2003 and it came with an Amercan Water Heater Company 50gal Flame Guard water heater. About 2 months ago, my water heater flame went out while I was on duty, and my wife and family were left w/out hot water. Luckily my brother-in-law came over and after 30 minutes of fighting with it, was able to get it going again. The same thing happened again 2 weeks ago, and I personally spent 45 minutes holding down the red button because I couldn't get it to light with just the 60 seconds the company tells you to hold it down for.
Now, here it is, Christmas eve and my family has no hot water! The heater pilot light won't come on no matter how long I hold the button! I went and purchased a universal heatercouple at Home Depot, and after going to the AWH website for instructions I replaced the heatercouple only to find out 2 very important things.... 1) AWH feels that these water heaters are so special that they need to have thermocouples with left-handed threads. All the universals are standard threads, so now that I've gone through all the trouble of taking it apart and replacing the thermocouple, it wont work! What kind of racket is this? Eliminate the possibility of using an inexpensive universal part, so I'm forced to go to a the company for expensive factory parts. THEY'RE closed today, and I have no way of finding out how to get a part on Christmas Eve! 2) I found out that there is a class-action lawsuit against American Water Heater regarding defective thermocouplers. Go to www.waterheatersettlement.com for information.
NO HOT WATER ON CHRISTMAS!
Richard of Friant, CA (12/03/07)
I have the same complaint that I have been reading about on your web page. Thermal coupler going out. My 1st coupler went out about 2 years, when it was still under warranty. The 2nd purchased lasted one month.
Company sent a new assembly with coupler reset but it still went out about every 2 days. So company sent new gas valve, still went out every two days. They will send parts but won't pay for the tech. Installing the coupler is not easy and should be done by a trained pro.
So far I'm out over $200 and the problem is still not resolved.
Carlos of Mendota CA (11/05/07)
My American Water Heater is three year old, and about six months ago the pilot light went out without warning. I lit it up and it worked fine, until now 11/3/07; and now the pilot will not stay on by itself. As soon as I take my finger off the reset red button the pilot dies, and the water heater won't work at all. I thank consumer affairs because until now I had no idea that this was a manufacturing defect, and that American Water Heater Co. is not assuming responsibility for their low quality product. I will now go to Lowes to purchase a thermo couple, and hope that will fix this problem for a few months.
My family and I have been taking cold showers and using only cold water for about a week. Thanks to you guys I don't have to pay a plumber to tell me what is wrong or to charge me for repairs that I don't need.
Brad of Brookston IN (10/29/07)
I purchased a flamelock water heater (American Water Heater Company) and have replaced the thermocouple myself 4 times. I now can't even replace the part because Lowes doesn't carry them anymore. I did not think I needed to keep the receipt for a water heater, so they won't take it back. Now I have no hot water for a family with four children, and no part to fix until American sends me a new one that will last about 6 months.
Kevin of El Paso TX (10/23/07)
I had an American Water Heater Installed in a new home in June 2005. In April '07 the pilot light would not turn on to heat the water. American Water Heater sent a conversion kit that cost $65 to have a plumber install. Now in Oct '07 I have the same problem, and Amercian Water Heater told me I must have a bad thermocouple. When I asked the American Water Heater Tech support person if they had a design problem, he replied "no". When the plumber came to change the thermocouple for another $65, I found out that he has experienced "a lot" of similar problems. My subsequent research indicates that there is a definite design issue with these water heaters and American Water Heater is hiding it. American Water Heater is not living up to their warranty and should issue a recall.
Already spent $130 in repairs for a $227 water heater that is only two years old + loss of hot water and lost work waiting for a plumber.
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