I bought a new B. White tank, and gas flow valve, which were defective within 1 month of purchase. B White is trying to charge me $450.00 repairs to replace gas valve.
Consumer Complaints & Reviews
I replaced a Bradford White water heater that I had for 10 years with another of the same. The heater started leaking out of the hot water nipple after 4 years of service. I spoke to two people at Bradford. I was told the hot water anode tube and nipple were designed to sacrifice themselves to minerals in the water to preserve the tank. I agree with the concept of the anode wearing away, but the nipple it is attached to should never leak. I found out the nipple is made of galvanized steel, which is not a good metal for water use because it rusts very quickly. I asked why the nipple was not made out of brass, which is universally used for water pipes because it lasts forever. They just wanted to give me the boiler plate response they have for complaints when they disagree with the customer. They are not very customer friendly. This will be the last Bradford White heater I will ever use.
My company purchased a 100-gallon water heater (serial # EA10117161 D/N; model # D8OT180E3N) 3 years ago. Approximately 2 years ago it started leaking horribly. We took the unit back to whom we purchased locally (Hirsch pipe) and they did the right thing and started the warranty replacement process with a refund to us. This all transpired as promised. The problem occurred 5 months later when the replacement water heater starting leaking very badly.
We contacted Hirsch who told us there are no problems and started the process. We were upset due to the cost of the plumbing but were willing to live with it. We got a call that said they could do the warranty and we had to get in contact with the people they buy it from Signature in Corona. We did and we were told that only Bradford White could do the warranty as that this was a replacement on a warranty item.
No problems. We called Bradford White costumer service and we were told someone would come out and check the problem. To our utter dismay (since we had three bids to replace) their guy says that there is a pressure issue. When we pushed and presented the three qualified plumbers' names, numbers and opinions that this is no way a challenge and they would be willing to all testify in court, we did get a different story. We were told that the unit isn't leaking even though it is. We were told we were stupid and didn't understand that the warranty is only for the tank, which is inside not outside, and if it leaks it has to be from the plumbing lines inside the unit and they do not cover it (although they covered the first one). They told us that since this is a replacement unit for a warranty item, they honored their warranty and that it was too bad for us.
When we brought to their attention that we were given a faulty unit, acknowledged by their distributor (signature and Hirsch pipe), we were told that those people don't know what they are talking about. The technical department who all use the name Dave told us to have our plumber call them and they would walk them thru the procedure to open up the tank and tighten the top inner lines as they stated this was the problem 85 % of the time. At our expense we did this and this wasn't the problem. We called back and were told that it was the lower lines and we need to have the plumber out again and have the tank opened remove all of the permanent foam insulation.
That means to un-roll the metal tank and scrap off the insulation to get to the faulty line. At this point we decided they must be trying to just make us spend money because no reasonable person would ask this. That is the equivalent of saying they warranty our motor from defects, and when you have the motor stop working they tell you how to break it down and extract one of the piston and how to replace it. We are frustrated and completely upset that all we want is that which is fair. Replace the leaking faulty unit. We purchased something that we didn't receive! We have paid over $1800 in plumbing bills and still have a bad unit. We do not have the money to replace the unit ($4000 plus labor).
RE: Bradford White Water Heater M440T6FBN/serial number DF 9268843. This reply confirms receipt of the letter regarding your water heater(s) located at Caladium Avenue in Fountain Valley, CA. The water heater you have referenced is independently design certified and manufactured in compliance with all applicable ANSI safety standards.
As this is a gas water heater and natural gas is being burned, carbon monoxide (CO) concerns are addressed under the design standard. The water heater design (when installed and maintained in accordance with the National Fuel Gas Code regulations and the written instructions that accompany the water heater) does not pose a risk of CO.
With your description that CO levels were measured within the living space, this likely indicated your venting system (not provided by Bradford White) as installed and maintained was NOT drafting/venting properly and may have been the root cause to detectors sounding an alarm. Insufficient draft/venting will also impact the amount of air allowed into a burner chamber. This in turn may compromise proper operations and the quality of combustion.
Relative to compensation: Model M440T6FBN with Serial AD4516651 was claimed by Ferguson-Fountain Valley as a leaking water heater. Claim was received September 21, 2007 and credit was issued to Ferguson September 28, 2007 (credit issued equals the sale price of the water heater to Ferguson). Please note, NO request for labor was submitted nor received. In addition, the water heater was not named as being related to an improper combustion situation.
The replacement model M440T6FBN with serial DF9268843 I cannot comment on, as I have neither record of phone nor written records.
The comments by the gas company may be accurate pertaining to restricted airflow through the bottom of the water heater, however, their comment on the design is refuted by the independent certification and while it may represent the opinion of the individual, it is not an opinion supported by Bradford White. Please realize that the water heater does not produce nor is it shipped with "Dust and Grime". These materials are likely a result of on site variables.
I am writing to report the referenced unsafe product. I am the homeowner of the property where this product was installed. This property is occupied by my adult daughter and her two children (my grandchildren). This situation has caused physical symptoms in my family members and an extreme amount of stress for my family and myself. The worst part is that this situation was never properly remedied after the first occurrence and, unbelievably, recurred a second time.
Following is the incident history beginning with the more recent situation: October 7, 2009 Water Heater Purchased and Installed to Replace 2nd Bradford White Defective One - $940
October 2, 2009 - 8:30pm The home carbon monoxide detector alarmed. My daughter opened the windows and called the gas company. A gentleman from the gas company came out and determined that the water heater was emitting dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide and shut the water heater off (he said the reading was "off the scale"). He told my daughter it was safe for her and the children to remain in the house as long as the water heater remained off.
He commented that this model has a problematic design in that there is a grate at the base of the unit from which oxygen enters. Over time, the grate becomes blocked with dust and grime and when that happens the oxygen supply is insufficient, which caused the yellow flame (instead of blue) and the emission of carbon monoxide. He said if the water heater was to be removed, taken outside and drained, and the grate hosed off, it would probably operate ok for another couple of years until the debris builds up on the grate again, and then the problem will recur. His advice was to get a different model. This was just a tragedy waiting to happen.
This unit is actually the second one I've purchased. This same exact brand new model was installed July 15, 2004. This frightening scenario that just occurred in October 2009, also occurred in July 2007 as follows: July 28, 2007 - 2:00pm The carbon monoxide detector alarmed. My daughter opened all windows and called the gas company. They came out and checked water heater, dryer and furnace and said it was ok and left gas on. My daughter and grandchildren had not been feeling well during this time suffering from nausea, headache and fatigue which we attributed to illness (didn't occur to us they were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning).
July 31, 2007 - 2:00am The carbon monoxide detector alarmed. The gas company came out again and determined the water heater was emitting excessive amounts of carbon monoxide and shut it off. The next day a senior gas company employee (30 years experience) came out and started-up the water heater and said the water heater was emitting as high as his meter would go (I believe that was 2000 ppm). He shut off the water heater.
August 3, 2007 A new water heater was installed ($680) --same model. August 6, 2007 Lance of Bradford White said he would refund the $680 for water heater and installation. August 7, 2007 Rob from Bradford White picked-up the defective water heater to take to their lab to check. The gas company returned to check new heater and said it was ok but the emitting problem may recur with age because this unit had a bad design.
August 20, 2007 Paul of Bradford White called and confirmed they would reimburse me the full $680. August 25, 2007 Rob from Bradford White came out to check the new heater. 34ppm in vent said ok. I have original service slips from the gas company and sales receipts from the plumber. Bradford White reneged on their commitment to reimburse me the $680. Instead they reimbursed only $295 for the water heater but would not reimburse the labor to install it as promised. They still owe me $385 from the first faulty heater.
My objective in writing you is twofold: 1) to obtain my long overdue reimbursement from the first incident: $540 for the first defective unit I purchased on 7/15/04 and $385 still owed me for the unit I purchased on 8/3/07. Also, reimbursement for the Rheem unit purchased on 10/7/09. MORE IMPORTANTLY 2) that [they] take the appropriate action to prevent a future recurrence.
People could die. My family was made ill and the gas company employee even remarked that the detectors saved their lives ("It's great that you had these detectors. You would not have awakened in the morning with the water heater emitting like this. The detector saved your lives.") The obvious question is "Why isn't there an emergency shut-off when carbon monoxide is excessively emitting from the water heater?" That would be a place to start but this model should be recalled to protect the public.
Two Bradford White 50 gallon water heaters that supposedly had 6 year warranties developed leaks coming out the top in less than 4 and 1/2 years after put in service. Has there been a history of defective quality and/or premature failures of Bradford White water heaters installed by new house building contractors?
