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Robert of Marysville, WA October 24, 2008
Robert of Marysville WA (10/24/08)
Within the last 4 years I purchased two Whirlpool water heaters.
The first one failed within two years.
I paid a service tech to replace the thermocouple but it wouldn't work so I chose to replace the water heater with an exact model. I did this because of space constraints where the heater is located.
The newest one I had installed less than 2 years ago failed last night.
I called the installer who told me of a recall and that it was free to order a kit from WWW.FLAMELOCKSUPPORT.COM. They still want to charge me 5.00 for shipping and the installer wants 300.00 to install the part on an 800.00 water heater that is only 2 years old. Very disappointing and frustrating.
Again, this is the second Whirlpool waterheater in 4 years, which is supposed to be under a 6 year warranty. I've paid over 2000.00 in replacement and service costs and the manufacturer won't support installation of the replacement parts. I have to pay for labor.
Lavonna of Chillicothe, OH October 24, 2008
Lavonna of Chillicothe OH (10/24/08)
I bought a flame lock natural gas whirlpool water heater one year ago and I'm without hot water. I called a plummer and he wants 70.00 an hour. I've never herd of having to clean your flame trap every 3 months, there's alot involved in taking this apart and I can't afford to call a plummer 4 times a year.
This seems to be quite a problem to alot of consumers and I think this product should be taken off the market before someone gets hurt trying to fix this theirself, like me! My problem is the thermocouple as it seems to be for everyone, there should be a recall on this, model# bfg1f4040s3nov.
Jodi of Colorado Springs, CO October 23, 2008
Jodi of Colorado Springs CO (10/23/08)
On March 5th 2008 I purchased a whirlpool hot water heater energy smart, one that was in a class action law suit. Within a week I had problems with it and I called Lowes, after I did some internet research. I told them I did not want the same model, I had paid 961. for the tank and install. They replaced with a whirlpool different model on 12 Mar 08, a flamelock.
I did not have any problems with the new tank for 7 months, this hot water heater also has a 12 year warranty. I woke up on the 21st of Oct 08 to NO hot water, after 2 hours of trying to light the pilot light I called the 800# on the tank and spoke to someone from India, that was difficult. I got an authorization # and a phone number, and a part to be shipped to me overnight. I called the number givin to me and the had a guy out today the 23 Oct 08. He installed the new part.
My concern is I did more research, and Lowes and Whirlpool know that these 2 model tanks have major problems and they will only replace parts once and only for the first year of purchase. If this same part goes out again, and it will per many complains on the internet, I am responsible for the purchase of the part, shipping of the part, and install of the part. Whirlpool and Lowes knows this issue and are still selling these,
I went to Lowes 23 Oct 08 and spoke to a manager and he was not will to help me, he said he knew of the problems and he tells people not to buy them, he just was not employed at the Lowes in Mar08 when I purchased both of my Whirlpools. He also said that Lowes will warranty my hot water heater, but when I asked for that in writing he said he could not do that, but that they have all my info and I will just need to go into Lowes and they will fix it at their cost when it goes out again.
Clayton of San Antonio, TX October 23, 2008
Clayton of San Antonio TX (10/23/08)
Whirlpool tank manufacturer (American Tank Co.) shipped replacement valve overnight as promised during 1rst phone call on 10/20/08. 3rd party service company for Sears (All-Pro) contacted me on 10/21/08. The All-Pro plumber Keith was professional and he came the same day (I was able to call his cell phone to tell him the part arrived so that he could work me in later that day). Valve was replaced along with a new thermocouple and the unit is working (so far). This version of tank (starts with BFG in the model number) has the standard RH thread for the thermocouple so any standard replacement thermocouple will work.
Also, the original thermocouple that came in the tank and the new replacment thermocouple do not have the thicker pregnant looking section of thermocouple tube that houses the internal thermal fuse that was going out and causing a lot of the defective thermocouple problems. In fairness to Whirlpool, my experience was not as bad as the previous reports as the unit was repaired by Whirlpool within 2 days of notification. I just hope that it does not continue to act up in the future as others have reported!
Clayton of San Antonio, TX October 20, 2008
Clayton of San Antonio TX (10/20/08)
Purchased a Whirlpool Flame Lock 50 gal natrual gas hot water Heater from Lowe's store in north San Antonio on 5/10/2008 (Model No. BFG1H5040T3NOV). Cold water showers started on 10/19/2008). Tested thermocoupler per user manual and found defective. Read about everyone else's woes regarding these heaters last night (wish I had known and/or Lowe's would have told me when I bought this in May 2008).
Bought 3 thermocouples today from Lowe's and installed 1rst - it did not work and failed the 12 mV test. Tried 2nd and it passed mV test. Pilot stayed lit for one heating of the water tank. Now it will not stay lit and back to cold water! E-mailed Whirlpool last night to register complaint. Received a call from American Water Heater Co. (Tennessee tank manufacturer for Whirlpool) today and they said that they were going to overnight a new replacement control valve. They gave me a number to call to schedule service and a reference number to pay for the service call.
Teh service company turned out to be Sears who took my info and then told me that they used a 3rd party service provider in my area. They said that this service provider would call me within 24 hrs to schedule a service call. Sears would not tell me who the service company is and I am now waiting for a phone call from some company that I don't know who they are to (hopefully) get my valve replaced when it (hopefully) arrives. And taking cold showers everyday until all of this happens in the hopes that this new replacement valve will solve all of these problems.
Old water heater (Rheem) lasted 11 years with no problems until it leaked. This one is only 5 months and we get cold showers and a lot of wasted time messing with it (which means that I am not earning a living since self-employed and can't get work done having to mess with this defective product). PLEASE, PLEASE - if any class action suits filed in Texas against Lowe's and/or Whirlpool count me in. I just want the thing replaced with a different brand (Rheem) at NO COST TO ME!
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