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Whirlpool Water Heaters

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Hurley of Marietta, GA November 8, 2006

Hurley of Marietta, GA (11/08/06)
Why should I retype what absolutely EVERYONE else before me has already said? My Whirlpool water heater is JUNK.

I have the 9-year model, 40 gallon gas water heater.  I installed the new thermo coupler myself with not much problem. The water heater heated one tank of water and now I can't even get the pilot light to stay lit. I followed the directions to the T the first time but I took it apart just to make sure I did everything correctly and still no pilot light.

Whirlpool doesn't answer a phone after 8pm, the website doesn't even list the water heater as something they sell and the FAQ's are directed at getting new customers only.

Jen of Corpus Christi, TX November 4, 2006

Jen of Corpus Christi TX (11/04/06)
We purchased a brand new FVIR Whirlpool 12 year warranty water heater. After paying for the water heater at 500 and then a plumber's professional installation for 300, we still have no hot water. The pilot light refuses to light. Additionally, it is Saturday after your tech department closes so my family of four will not have hot water, best case scenario, Monday. I am seriously considering the 30 days return to Lowe's option.

Brad of Muncie, IN November 4, 2006

Brad of Muncie IN (11/04/06)
I purchased a Whirlpool Gas Hot Water tank from Lowe's in 2005. Since that time, I have had three thermocouples fail. Whirlpool customer service continues to direct me to Lowe's and informs me there is nothing they can do about it, although I bought the tank because I believe Whirlpool had a reputation for standing behind their products as suggested in the warranty that came with the hot water tank. Whirlpool customer service has refused to do anything to help me remedy this situation. Our family is tired of losing hot water every three months.

We have incurred an 80.00 repair bill each time the thermocouple fails. Because the thermocouple utilizes left handed threads, we have been at the mercy of Lowes to find a replacement thermocouple -- adding unnecessary time and frustration to the repair process. I now learn this evening (11/3/06) from searching the Internet that I am not alone in this problem. I do hope at some point a class action suit will be brought against Whirlpool and Lowe's who have profitted unfairly at the expense of many consumers.

I. of District Heights, MD November 1, 2006

I. of District Heights MD (11/01/06)
I purchased the Whirlpool Energy Smart electric heater Model #EE2H50RD045V from Lowes in November 2004. My old heater broke down the day before Thanksgiving when I had my entire family at my house from out of town. The unit cost 200 and I paid the plumber 125 to install it. In the summer of 2005, the water began going out quickly. After a 5-10 minute shower, I had no hot water. During the winter of 2005, the water was unpredictably warm or cool. The real nightmares started happening in September 2006.

The sensor began blinking non stop. It would blink once--for the reset message. I would reset it and it would still keep blinking. I lost hot water 3 times in September 2006 for 2-3 days at a time. Then in October 2006, I lost hot water every 3-4 days. The blinking then changed to two blinks--hot water temperature too hot. Ofcourse at that point, I had no hot water at all. I called the plumber yesterday who informed me that the Whirlpool Energy Smart is trash and that he strongly recommended I replace it.

He said previous customers who had the same product had numerous problems with the sensor/message box and they got replacement parts from Whirlpool that subsequently went bad after several months. He recommended the GE Smart Heater from Home Depot for 371. I called the 1-877 number this morning to report my problem. I was on hold for 15 minutes and no one ever came on the line. After reading all these complaints, I've decided to jump ship and not waste any time with replacing the sensor and just buy a new one. I'm utterly dissatisfied and amazed that I wasted 325 for a unit that lasted barely 2 years.

I've suffered multiple scalding episodes during the times when the water became incredibly hot, the night before the water would completely go cold. I have to spend 516 for the purchase and installation of a new unit.

Charles of Franklin, OH October 26, 2006

Charles of Franklin OH (10/26/06)
I purchased a Whirlpool Flame Lock water heater on Feb 8 2004. The thermocouple went out on Oct. 24 2005. I thought that after 2 years and 8 months was good for a thermocouple until I started reading all the complaints that Whirlpool has had with the thermocouples. I guess I am one of the lucky ones. I will make a suggestion that Whirlpool starts packing 10 extra thermocouples with their water heaters, or contack AO Smith and get a few pointers from them on how to perfect theirs. As for me, no more Whirlpools for me. I have a refregirator that I brought in Sept of 1969, that I am still using in the garage. It is a Whirlpool, Maybe the company should stop making their water heaters all together.

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