
Jeanette of Marcellus, NY on Dec. 5, 2010
On 9/19/2008, I signed an agreement with sales person Art K of Sear's Home Improvement (from Rochester, NY office?) to replace my boiler that was about 45 years old. I also paid for an extended service agreement that included maintenance and repairs. The boiler is a Dunkirk sold as a Kenmore 105K BTU PWX series (Plymouth Extreme).
I was assured it was a very good boiler. The installation was to take place on October 3, 2008 but ended up being a two week ordeal with a person who did not seem to know what he was doing. I checked in on him once and told him he installed a valve the wrong way, and he disagreed, well guess what it was, and water was all over my utility room along now with all the remains from the previous boiler and his installation (Except the main part, the boiler, he even left the old expansion tank, which I later removed by myself with not much trouble at all--despite him saying it was stuck there. ) that he failed to pick up floating in it.
After leaving and making sure the boiler was working, I asked for a manual. He gave me a pile of paperwork related to everything except the boiler. He said he would look in his van one more time, and said one would be sent to me. By this time it is mid October, and this guy was was not very professional in dress, or demeanor. I asked to be shown how to relight the pilot light etc., and he said that next year when they did the service they would take care of that. Then I found out why.
He left, and my utility room still had garbage from the old boiler water everywhere, and the front the boiler was burnt from his torch, and there was a leak at the joint just above my expansion tank. We cleaned up the mess ourselves. Also he never had me sign a completion agreement. He just left. Round two: I want the leaky pipe fixed. After several phone calls in which the leak, etc. was explained to Bruce **, Tom **, Steve **, Laurie, Susan, etc. I was told the same person would come back to fix the leaky pipe, and I requested a different person. This happened sometime in December as it was not a top priority. Finally someone came, but no manual and they put a sticker over the burn on the front of the boiler, how cute.
The season ended and still no manual. I had to find one on the Internet to figure how to shut the system down. Round Three: I call to ask for regular service in September 2009. In third week of October, someone came. Person was very nice, told me to leave pilot on all summer to keep burner from rusting. Boiler works for winter season 2009. Round Four: Call for service in September 2010 early, someone comes and services, and everything checks out OK. Days later boiler fails. I call and they told me sorry I have to wait a week. No heat, and outside temps near freezing at night.
Technician comes and says he has to order parts also says it is not the boiler that failed, so I should pay. It is the overfill shut off and it had an electrical short. Huh, and the boiler does not run without it? So he says, "OK, you don't have to pay," but I will need to come back next week with parts because of no openings. Finally, boiler is working again. For a while. Round Five: Yesterday boiler again fails. Same symptoms. Call Sears, and woman on phone gives me an appointment of Friday (it is Saturday), and says I can call Monday and every day to hope for a cancellation. It is 22 degrees out. I have no heat. I told her I will call someone else, and she tells me it will void my agreement if anyone else touches it. No heat in Central New York in December? I call around and discover: Sears is known for poor installers, no names on trucks, subcontractors.
Dunkirk is one of the worse boilers sold---this model was discontinued the year I purchased it. Art said it had a 20 year warranty but failed to mention as I found out yesterday doing research that it is only for one part of the boiler.
That the original leak although very slow has continued enough to leave a rust circle on my expansion tank, which may or may not eat all the way through--future problem? No one from Sears told me to turn my thermostats off including the woman from Sears on the phone who said I don't know why your pumps are hot. She said turn off the electricity to the boiler. A real plumber (not form Sears) on the phone told me to turn off your thermostats. So, back to the boiler situation and the service agreement. I want to be compensated for the repair person who will come on Monday because he said he will have to get parts to fix it and all these places are closed on Sunday, (reason being he doesn't keep Dunkirk parts with him, and likely none of the other places in our area do as they don't carry them because they are bad reputation boilers) and the balance of the service agreement all three years.
In his opinion, I was bamboozled and ripped off. I have completely paid for this boiler, so no recourse there. I want a new expansion tank before this one fails, and the leaky pipe fixed. I wish I had a full refund for the boiler. I have been up since 3AM freezing. Plus, what if my pipes freeze and break? What about my dog and cat and children? Overall in my opinion, Sears should be ashamed of themselves as a company. Freezing in Marcellus.