American Water Heaters Reviews

My husband and I purchased a Whirlpool gas hot water tank made by American Water Heater Company from Lowes in April 2008 and the thermocouple went out yesterday October 20, 2008. It is only 6 months old. We contacted Lowes and more or less they said, "What do you want us to do about it," and told me to contact Whirlpool or American Water Heater Company. I called Whirlpool, they told me I had to contact American Water Heater. I told Whirlpool that it is their name on it and if they don't want their name tarnished they need to make sure the items they put their name on are reliable and backed up by their warranty. They said they check into complaints they get on their products but it is up to American Water Heater Company to take care of their products, in other words no help there, so I called American Water Heater and they said if I would ship them the part in question they would check it out and let me know if it was faulty and covered for replacement.

I have two of these hot water heaters. One in my home I live in and one in the home I provide for my mother and father, who are 80 and 84 respectively. The one in my parents' house has gone out 6 times in the 4 years that I have owned it. The house was brand new when I purchased it. It has cost me $300.00 total for the plumber. It is now not working having been relighted by the plumber. It was relighted at around 5pm on Saturday and the pilot light was out again Sunday morning at 7am when my parents tried to use the hot water.

We woke up October 18th having no hot water. We found that the pilot light had gone out. We tried to relight the pilot light and it would not light. I called the phone number that was on the water heater around 0815 and they said there was a lawsuit against them and that they would send me the parts to fix my water heater but I would have to pay shipping and to have it put on. They told me that I would pay $30.00 that would get it part here by Monday. So I paid the shipping and it turned out being $32.48.

Defective water heater with an electronic ignition that keeps breaking down. Family had to live without hot water for five days--so far!

We purchased at water heater thru Keyspan approx 3 years ago. We had Keyspan install our water heater. The water heater had a 12-year warranty on it. Well here we are and the water heater is not working properly. We had a plumber look at it and he said it needs to be replaced right away. We call Keyspan and it would cost us $450.00 to replace it. We called American Water Heater and they said it was a defective tank. We called Keyspan back and they said we didn't have service plan so will cost us. We said if the tank is defective and only 3 years old it should be replaced. This went on for about 2 weeks, back and forth with American Water Heater and now what is National Grid. We finally told AWH that we would contact a lawyer and they said they could send us one but would we pay for the freight at a cost of $90.00. We agreed and then heard about the class action suit... a little too late for us.

Water heater manufactured by American Water Heater, and marketed by Whirlpool and Lowes. Product # FG1F5040T3NOV. This water heater has a 6-yr warranty. Just moved into a new house with one of these in it. Three weeks later, no hot water. I took a look at the unit, and found that I could keep the pilot light lit. After plenty of frustration, I figured the thermocouple was the offending part, but wasn't positive. After looking around on the net, I've found that plenty of others share the problems, and that the thermocouple is most likely the culprit.

I called back and asked to speak to a supervisor (also in India). I asked him, wouldn't it make sense to have one of their local (to me) authorized dealers bring out and install a model they had in stock and just replace theirs? No, it doesn't work that way. I'm furious. I am NOT a litigious person but I am considering taking this to small claims court. Do NOT buy from American Water Heaters!

I had a new water heater installed in November 2003 by George Morlan Plumbing in Portland, Oregon. George Morlan is know as the Water Heater King and they install many water heaters in the greater Portland area. The water heater they installed was an American Water Heater. Model FG12250T403NOM and product #0731372 located on front of water heater.

We have 2 American Water Heaters installed in our home. Model PVG62-50T63-3PHV. These water heaters are 8 years old and both have been extremely unreliable since they were installed new. We have had numerous thermocouples, control valves, and an overpressure valve replaced. Both of these water heaters provide inconsistant water temps. Sometimes it is luke warm and other times it is scalding hot with no adjustment of the themerature on the heaters. We will never purchase another American Water Heater product and would not recoment them to anyone. I would classify their product as Junk

We have 2 American Water Heaters installed in our home. Model PVG62-50T63-3PHV. These water heaters are 8 years old and both have been extremely unreliable since they were installed new. We have had numerous thermocouples, control valves, and an overpressure vale replaced. Both of these water heaters provide inconsistant water temps. Sometimes it is luke warm and other times it is scalding hot with no adjustment of the themerature on the heaters. We will never purchase another American Water Heater product and would not recoment them to anyone. We ahve another repair man scheduled for tomorrow morning, which will cause me to miss several hours of work.

The water heater is only two years old and there is a six year warranty on this model. In April, 2008, the pilot light would not light and I called a plumber. The plumber said this model had been recalled and that the burner assembly is faulty. I called American Water Heaters and they told me they could overnight the part to me but I would have to pay for the shipping of $17.00. I was in a bind so agreed to this. The company would not pay for the $150.00 for the labor.

Thermocouple went out on my 2002 American Water Heater so off I drove to Home Depot to replace it. Found out that left thread thermocouplers are no longer manufactured, had to call the company. Called and spoke with a service rep. (probably in India) and was helpful in sending me a replacement part over night for 30 bucks.

Water heater went out because of faulty part. Thermocouple went out. Our townhome was kess than three years old at the time. We had to send away for a new part. Paid for overnight shipping, but our package did not arrive overnight. The person we ordered the part with did not realize that it was too late in the day on a friday for us to we receive overnight shipping. We were not contacted and made aware of this problem. Of course there was no one to take care of this problem until Monday. So needless to say we were without hot water for nearly a week.

my water heater gave up un me and I can not get service parts anywhere. I have one of those flamelock water heaters that use the counter clockwise thread on the thermo couple. My has not been bad. since is took four years before it went bad.

Flamelock, Water Heater. Thermocouple went out. Went 6th st Lowes but they didn't have any parts. Appliance guy said he has had hundreds of complaints. Suggested I call other stores. I did and got the same answer. Called the 800 on the tank. First got the class action law suit line (if you reported before June 28 you get a few bucks) but he told me how to get through. I got Justin who after giving him my serial #he read me a tech bull. about cleaning the filter and checking the draft. The screen was as clean as the day it was put in... the house is only 1.5 years old.

My water heater went out so I tried to re-light the pilot. After many failed attempts contacted home owners ins. to have tech come out and fix. He said that the unitrol valve and thermo couple were busted and call the mfg since it was still under warranty. I called and finally got thru to tech support. They said that they could send the thermocoulple part and I would have to pay for the shipping. They did not have the unitrol and I would have to go and find it then send the receipt to the company for reimbursment.

I was told they could send me the part free of charge which would take between three to five days, yet I would have to pay for the repair (which will cost me $300.00) This is a cost I should not have to pay due to the recall on the part. my heater is only three years old, I would like to be reinbursed for my inconvience as well as this part.

I tried to call American Water Heater about the conversion kit and about why we never heard back concerning the paperwork we filed related to the class action lawsuit. Whenever I called and identified myself, they hung up on me without saying anything.

The control for the thermocouple has gone out three times in 5 months. The first time i had an local company service the unit. The second time I called AWH and was told a replacement part would be sent. They expected my tenant to replace it. I arranged for a tech to do the work, but after installation the part did not work. I called and was told he should call them to be talked through the problem. I will have to pay for another service call and I convinced that this part will fail in a few months.

American Hot Water Heater should change their name to American Cold Water! After about a week of cold showers and laying on a cold basement floor exchanging thermocouplers, no progress has been made. And after reading these excerpts from other victims of cold showers, We have decided to move on and get a new hot water heater because I'm done talking to technical support on the other side of the world and waiting for another defective piece.

My town home is 3 years old,, it has a American water heater in it. 3 months ago,, Feburary,, I had to replace a thermol couple,, after purchaseing a universal kit, it has standard threads, where as the american water heater company seem fit to install left hand thread. Well off to the specitility store. I found a american themal coupler, installed it and it work until now june 3. so back to the special store, well they have no more, will have no more. told me to call the comapny. I did, He said he'd send the part out the next day, should take 3 days he said or I could pay $18.oo to overnight it.

I am a gas technician with 25 years experience. A customer called with a problem with his water heater. It is an American water heater, Flame Guard model. After my initial frustration of the left hand thread thermocouple, I contacted American water heater company. The representative was efficient and courteous. He explained there is a conversion kit, which would be supplied by the manufacturer, to repair the heater. He explained the shipping options to me, and as this is a rental property, I needed the kit as soon as possible.

I had an American Water Heater Installed in one of my Apartments in Aug 2004. In July '05 the pilot light would not turn on to heat the water. My property manage callled in a plumber and I was told the thermocouple needed replacement and it was not available. I spent a couple of hours cleaning the thermocouple up and got it going. The waterheater has gone out a several more times with the same scenario,

We built a home in 2003 and the builder installed an American Water Heater 50gal Flame Guard water heater. On May 23rd, I discovered I had no hot water. After taking a closer look at my water heater that evening I discovered the pilot light would not stay lit. So I called early Saturday morning to American Water Heater Company. After getting no one on the phone, my wife filled out the Technical Assistance Form online and a tech called me. I was informed that my Thermocouple went out and I needed to order a new one but with it being Memorial weekend I would not get it until Wednesday, May 28th.

Water heater stopped working on Friday night of May 23rd, which was the start of the Memorial Day weekend. I didn't find out about it until Saturday morning when I came home from work. I called Keyspan who then sent an technician over. Who then said I needed a burner conversion kit and that the way i could get one was to call the American Water Heater Co. to replace it. I called all day Saturday and kept getting the company voicemail and I left a countless number of messages because their message said someone would call me back and no one has. I even tried using their website to try and find the part but the website doesn't even have it.

I am the owner of a 3 year old American water heater that has given me nothing but problems. The most recent one is my pilot light, that won't stay lit. After trying to light it for over an hour I finally called my plumber. He told me that he gets these complaints all the time and that there is a class action lawsuit on AWH for faulty thermocouples.

I have an American water heater. I have had it for 3 1/2 years and the thermocouple has gone out. I understand there is a class action suit against them, but when I talked to a person at American they told me the suit was settled. In talking to several plumbers in the area they tell me it isn't. I know this is a problem so why are they being allowed to charge $18 for shipping and then requiring the owner to replace the part themselves which I understand is not only dangerous, but it still doesn't work.

Our condo building purchased 5 Pro line water heaters four years ago. Since then, 3 of the 5 units have had a problem with the no hot water that required us paying for the shipment an installation of a defective part. The company assumed no responsibility and would not reimburse us for these costs.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

Pilot light will not stay lit. No hot water, so my family has been taking cold showers.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.