GE Water Heaters Reviews
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About GE Water Heaters
GE appliances come with a standard manufacturer’s warranty, but the company also offers extended protection through Bodewell Care Protection Plans. Administered by Assurant, these plans cover functional part failures resulting from normal use. Coverage is available for individual appliances, so you can customize your protection plan.
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Reviewed Dec. 17, 2015
Same complaint regarding GE water heater purchased from Home Depot May 2011. No hot water. Followed all instructions to re-light pilot which is not re-lighting. This water heater was installed professionally. I have never had a water heater go out on me in less than five years!
Reviewed Nov. 29, 2015
We bought this GE Ultra Low NOx Ge in 2008. We have changed pilot parts a few times. But that has NOT HELPED, it only lasts a month with no interruption. For sure at least once or twice a week since 2010 the pilot goes out. And of course our warning sign is when we jump into the shower in the AM, hoping for a warm shower only to find out that yet again the pilot light is out.
Yes, it only takes 20 minutes to ignite and warm the water. But some mornings you just do not have that extra 20 minutes. On important days I try to remember to check prior to going to bed, but without fail it turns off. Last week 3 mornings, lukewarm water. Started this week off Sunday... off (that is # 1). It is finally time to dump this!!!
Reviewed Nov. 25, 2015
Long story short, after just 4 years my GE low nox thermocouple wouldn't give me a signal (suppose to be 15mv). I warranty ordered a replacement from GE. Just for kicks, I cleaned the old one with my wire brush, and BAM! now it works! but having disassembled the whole thing I go may as well put in the new one. The GE kit comes with 3 new gaskets which seems like is necessary to replace since this heater is of the sealed type. Now there is a Home Depot kit that comes with a single gasket, and that maybe OK if you just slide out the whole burner (4 star screws) and nothing else, both gaskets are not too worn. At this point you can just wire brush the old thermocouple and see if that does the trick. Disconnect the thermocouple off the valve, put a volt meter there, put a cig lighter under the thermocouple and you should get ~15mv. If this works shove the whole thing back in and see how long it lasts.
Reviewed Aug. 10, 2015
We purchased a GE water heater GEUNM441216338 12/04/12 at Home Depot. About a year later the thermocouple went out, the part was overnighted to us. My husband is handy & was able to replace part. NOW it's out again & another thermocouple is being overnighted but may possibly receive it Wednesday.
Updated on 08/13/2015: We received thermocouple Wednesday but after spending a couple of hours installing the part, we had to call GE and explain that it was the wrong part. We were told, "Oops we did not send you the updated installment instructions and sent it to us through email". BUT the water heater pilot still did not light. We called GE the next morning and we went through lighting procedures with the tech on the phone & still the pilot did not light. We were told that the gas control did not work so they overnighted the 2nd part which we received this morning. If we had called a plumber for these repairs we would be out a lot of money which on a pension can hurt. Hopefully this works!
Reviewed July 31, 2015
I bought the GE Hybrid water heater 3 years ago and have been having trouble with it for about six weeks. I had a plumber out 3 times who could do nothing. Now they tell me the evaporator needs to be replaced. So the technician comes out today and it is tucked in a corner of the basement, but he cannot get in to service it. So they tell me I must get a plumber to disconnect it and move it out into a bigger space in the morning, then have the tech come back and deal with it. Then call my plumber to come out and reconnect it. This is going to be a very expensive proposition. If I have one more problem with this I will dump it and buy an old fashion water heater. What a piece of crap. Do not intend to ever buy another GE product.
Reviewed June 29, 2015
GE Geospring Hybrid Water Heater - I bought this water heater after reading glowing reviews of its energy efficiency. I have owned this product for a little over 3 years. In that time period it has produced several error codes and needs to constantly be checked and reset in order for it to function in hybrid mode. The GE technicians came out and replaced an evaporator coil and expansion valve after about 14 months of use. Since that time error codes continue to happen on a weekly basis or more often. Reset the system and all is fine for about another week, then it throws more codes.
I have called numerous times to the GE tech support who will send someone out for a fee. The warranty is crap for such an expensive product. It doesn't work as advertised and has been nothing but a pain. If you want to spend hours of your time and lots of money buy this product, it won't let you down. I am now contemplating just replacing with a conventional water heater and pay the extra money on the electricity bill. It will be money well spent.
Reviewed June 12, 2015
Our original water heater went out after 20 yrs. Went to Home Depot and purchased what we thought was a GE Water Heater (has the GE logo on it but is really a Rheem) model # GEUNM331203863 Sept 2 2012. My husband who is an electrician installed and had it checked out for correct install by our plumber same day who said he did a great job. On 6/9/2012, my son said - "we have no hot water" - of course I didn't believe but checked out myself - sure enough, no hot water. Pilot light was out for no reason and I could not get it restarted (followed instructions and pilot light came on but would not stay on after releasing ignition). Called GE who transferred my call 4 times - I forgot to mention that I was online as well looking up the model only to find that there are 100's of complaints for the same model - I was told that it's the Thermo Couple and they were Fed exing it. Received next day and had professional install - still didn't work.
Called GE again only to find out that they were less cooperative. Got professional back to take the thing apart again to check both the sensor and the ignition box. GE sending that out as well. Water heater guy said he's been through this before and probably won't work. Spoke to next door neighbor who I found out had same problem and had to get new water heater like most of the complaints that I have read. Also discovered that the water heater that clearly has the GE insignia is really a Rheem water heater - explains now why I can't pull the manual off the GE website.
Our old water heater was a Caloric which is now defunct but functioned faithfully for 20 years. I have 3 other GE products in our home that we have also had problems with: Freestanding oven/stove.....first time we used the self clean on oven,the glass cracked and had to be replaced - used self clean again, same thing happened. Our refrigerator is also a GE and we had a shelf failure - only thing that was on that shelf was bread. Every time - I call GE they say "we have parts only warranty." Next time, I will buy LG - heard wonderful things as well as great customer service.
Reviewed May 12, 2015
We replaced our 16 year old water heater (no GE) not quite two years ago. It's supposed to be under a 6 year warranty. Apparently it doesn't cover much, and trying to get tech. support for a replacement part is very aggravating. The pilot light won't stay lit, the PG&E tech. said he sees this several times a day with this particular water heater, they probably should recall it if they didn't already. He lit the pilot, took several minutes. It keeps going out. I call GE, am told I can't get info. regarding parts until a plumber checked it out. And then, only a one time thing! Really?!?
So now I have to pay a plumber, have no hot water. I have 4 kids. That means no showers, laundry or dishes until a plumber can verify it's a POS! Not happy at all with GE. Oh, by the way, bought a GE dryer a few months ago, the repair guy has been here three times!! It should be a lot easier to have repairs made on warranty products without having to pay extra for plumbers and appliance repair technicians in order to fix a shoddy product!!! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GE PRODUCT AGAIN!!
Reviewed May 8, 2015
We purchased the GE water heater from Home Depot in February of 2012. We are now having to replace it after several service calls. We have had nothing but trouble and extra expense. We have decided to buy from a local company, not a GE water heater and have it replaced. The last licensed plumber at our house was afraid to continue working on it. It was making loud noises. Explosion! He was afraid for his and our safety. Never again will we buy a GE product. It should last 10 - 15 years. We have drained it yearly to extent the life of the water heater. GE should step up and take care this repeated problem.
Reviewed May 8, 2015
GE 40 gal. water heater model GG40T06AVG01. Initial purchase at Home Depot on 9 Sep 2011, installed myself. Less than a year later it failed on 18 Aug 2012. Replaced/installed by myself. Less than 3 years later, it failed on 8 May 2015. Poor quality product.
Reviewed April 22, 2015
GeoSpring water tank - Bought this year and a half ago. Everything worked fine for the first 6 months, then alarms, codes, failures, service call after service call... non-stop since. For the last year, the tank has either beeped constantly every day or 2, or presents failure codes, F4 is the code of this week. We had a tech in and out of here so much, that he even left his tools here seeing that he comes back once a week. What a piece of garbage this unit is. When we bought the unit, we read all the bad reviews, but were assured that GE had the issues worked out. This is NOT the case... stay Clear of GE products, they use cheap chinese parts, but charge you top dollar for their units. There are far better units out there than this one. We so disappointed with this unit, that we stay clear of ALL GE PRODUCTS.
Reviewed April 7, 2015
We recently purchased a GeoSpring hybrid electric residential model # GEH50DFEJSRA, and are very disappointed. The capacity is 50G, replacing our previous 40G, yet we run out of hot water quicker after only 2 showers. Our kids are young and currently not showering every morning, but in the near future they will be and this heater will not serve our family. Any household with 3+ people should not purchase this, however 2 or less and you should be fine. The re-heat time is also very poor. I took a normal shower, and a full hour later my wife took hers and still ran out of hot water.
Finally, everything I've read here regarding GE's poor customer service is true. They havent returned our calls, and when talking to them they inform us they will charge us $95 to inspect our tank. Their solution is for us to change the setting every morning to High Demand, and then reset to Hybrid once the showers are complete. Most people regard a HWH as an appliance that they should not have to adjust daily.
Reviewed March 29, 2015
Purchased GE water heater just less than 2 and half year and goes bad. It happened right on Saturday night and we need this fix badly but the GE support was not opened. We ended up to call a local repair guy and get it fixed. It appears the most common problem with GE from many reviewer has experienced with. I will call GE on Monday and see if they can reimbursed the repair cost. Will provide more update.
Reviewed March 29, 2015
Our prior water heater lasted decades. This GE Water heater lasted less than 3 years. We bought it July 6, 2012, and it stopped working March 26, 2015. It's the thermocoupler, and the guy installing it is having a horrible time. He's been at it 3 hours! We've used him before so this isn't someone we just found in the yellow pages. He says that GE are designed to be "repair-unfriendly." So, I just paid $200 and he thinks it will go out again within 1 to 3 years max.
We've been here 45 years w/ 3 water heaters. We recently bought a GE because the brand name is good. We are done with GE. Suppose a more vital part broke and gas leaked or it exploded. When a product is poorly made, there is no telling what can happen. We plan to get a new one as soon as possible. The problem is that so many places make junk, that we don't know whether we will be spending more money to make ourselves less safe.
Without decent consumer regulations, people are constantly being cheated and there is nothing consumers can do about it, except pay and pay and pay. No wonder the 1% percent become richer while the rest of us become poor. One reason California consumers have been subjected to worse and worse business practices is their foolish decimation of the country's best consumer protection statute, Bus and Prof Code 17200. When consumers learned that if an attorney fought against a big business and won on behalf of a consumer, the business had to pay the attorney fees, a majority of the voters were outraged that the attorneys were getting paid and they repealed the essence of the law.
The California voters were successful in getting rid of the section which allowed the consumer's attorneys to be paid, but that also killed the consumer's ability to fight against a corrupt business. Our GE water heater cost $417.60. Previously, I or another consumer who had been sold such dreck could sue GE to make them stop cheating consumers. No more. Now GE and other mega-corps can cheat as many people as they want with substandard merchandise and making millions more in profit.
But where do we go? GE made millions selling cheapo products, so Maytag, Kenmore, etc. will do the same. They focus on the bottom line in the short run. Until they've completely trashed their company image, making junk is more cost effective. By the time the chickens come home to roost, these executives will be gone along with the multi-million dollar pay checks.
When people myopically reduce regulations, they end up being cheated as there is no one to stop the crooks. The best regulations are consumer protection laws which allow individuals to sue the corporations who then have to pay if and only if the consumer wins. Yet, people cut their own throats by voting away these types of consumer protection statutes.
Reviewed March 21, 2015
The defect is in the Gas Control and Thermal Coupling, per my licensed plumber. GE tells me my water heater is still under warranty; therefore, I would like an authorization code to have it replaced by Home Depot where it was originally purchased. Home Depot tells me I need GE to give me the authorization code. BTW, your CS rep was very helpful. She is sending both items to me, but I prefer to have a replacement for the cost my plumber will charge to install parts in a questionable product. Thank you.
Reviewed March 9, 2015
Please sign me up for the class action lawsuit with regard to Rheem and GE. I too had a bad experience with them. I had one misdiagnosis and 3 service calls before I got it fixed. THIS IS A SHODDY PRODUCT. They will not pay me for the service calls because I did not use a licensed plumber. I used my maintenance man. They wanted me to use an authorized Rheem plumber at first but there aren't any in BRUCETON MILLS, WV. SO DOES THAT CONSTITUTE "DOUBLE DIPPING?" DO NOT BUY FROM THEM. SAVE YOURSELF SOME GRIEF. THEY THINK IF THEY JUST DENY, DENY, THAT WE WILL GO AWAY.
Reviewed Feb. 27, 2015
My water heater failed after being exchanged last May 2014. Went into Home Depot who advised I needed to contact GE. I contacted GE on a Tuesday who after checking the issue said I needed the tank exchanged. GE advised they would send out an order to have this done. Two days later, I had to call back GE as I did not get any calls from a local contractor working on behalf of GE. GE then provided me a number for Fente Pluming. I called Fente Plumbing on Thursday who did not have my info. I was told they would contact GE and call me back. I again called Fente Plumbing close to 5 pm that evening and was told they close at 5 pm. I said I was to get a call back and no one did. Again, I was reminded of their office hours. The guy took my name and said someone would call me on Friday.
I then called GE who said they would contact Fente and to call them back as they don't have access to call out and had to get some sort of ok, I guess. I called Fente Plumbing on Friday morning around 9:30 am and spoke to an employee, who told me they had to contact Reem (GE Rep) to confirm labor charges. I told her GE rep on Tuesday said I would not be charged. The only charge would be for the difference in the unit if Home Depot did not carry the same model. She advised she needs to confirm and would "call" me back. I told her I'll call GE. I then called GE and spoke to a rep who advised he would contact Fente Plumbing and discuss the charge. I was put on hold and when he came back on, he said that the rep at Fente would contact Reem as he would put in an order to increase the payment to offset my fee and the Fente rep would call me back.
Originally, I was told by the Home Depot rep, I needed to get an authorization number to exchange the water heater. The GE rep told me that only Home Depot can get that (while his tone in his voice was getting curt) and, I should have them contact GE if needed. This is the worst service I have experienced in years. I have a 12-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old granddaughter that I watch from time to time when my son has to work. I should have has this water heater replaced since Wednesday. No one has advised when I can expect to get this exchange completed. Going forward, I would give my business to Lowe's (good experience there before) and not buy GE products!
Reviewed Feb. 8, 2015
It looks like the GE hot water heater have a well known defect. The thermocouple goes out after just a few years. My hot water heat is 3 years old and the thermocouple is finished. No one stocks this item and so I have to wait until a week day to order it from GE. Meanwhile I am out of hot water for several days and then I have to wait for them to ship me the part. My previous hot water heater lasted for 15 years. It was not a GE.
Reviewed Jan. 30, 2015
I purchase a water heater. After 13 month it went out. It took a week to get it fixed because of their turnaround time and sending me the wrong part. 3 months later it broke again, it took about 4 days to get someone to fix it. Last night it went out again, not even 2 week since they fixed it. Water heater should last at least 5 years. I demanded a new one or my money back and they refused. I have tenants living at the property. They are upset because they have to wait so long. I explain to GE that we need someone ASAP because there is small children - they seem to not care. GE should have a company on-call 24/7. It seems that they don't care how long we have to wait until they can find someone to go out. I will never buy GE or Rheem - it's very disappointing since we only used to buy GE for all of our appliance. No more - they have gone down on their quality. Please let me know if there is a class action against them, I will join in.
Reviewed Jan. 27, 2015
Had a GE Water Heater fail after 5 and 1/2 years with 6 months left on the warranty. Called 800 number on side of Water Heater and in 5 min. lady said it needed replaced and to take it back to the nearest Home Depot. Went to Home Depot and since they don't carry GE anymore and only have Rheems, that they would credit me the full price I paid for it toward a new water heater if I had the receipt, or $217 if I didn't have the receipt. The Rheem was $375 and since I didn't have receipt I would have to pay the difference. I recall paying about $330 for the water heater new but after almost 6 years, a $215 credit was fine with me.
It seems to me after reading some of the previous posts that GE has changed some of their policies as far as how they handle their warranties - at least in my case anyway - because there really were no issues other than I wish the tank would have lasted longer. And it would have been nice to get a little closer to the original price, but then again I didn't have a receipt on an item I wanted warrantied, so they very well could have said no to anything. I will also add that I had my plumber install a water heater that they brought with them and Home Depot just gave me the 215 + tax as in store credit. Win win.
Reviewed Jan. 24, 2015
Purchased a GE Electric 40 gallon water heater on February 4th 2013 & used it till April 15th 2013. Shut it down till October 20th 2014 when we returned to home and the water has been coming out rusty for a few minutes then clear since then. Have flushed it out several times and if not used for a day the water comes out rusty. This unit is based in Florida and is only used 6 months on and 6 months off. Called GE and was told the anode could be bad and is not covered by the warranty. Looked in the manual and there is nothing about not covering the anode replacement but the book says all part are covered for 2 years. Sounds like they need to update their warranty book. No big deal about the cost of $38 for the anode and I can change the part myself but I don't like reading one thing and being told another. The last tank I had here before lasted 12 years. I'll never buy a GE product of any type again.
Reviewed Jan. 21, 2015
After 4 years and 4 months of use, my GE Hybrid water heater stopped working in the "hybrid" mode and switch to standard "electric" mode. I phoned GE and they said the parts would be covered but the labor to install the defective components was not covered and I would be responsible to pay unless I had an extended warranty (which I do have from Sears). Right now I'm happy (as long as I don't have to pay for installation of defective parts) but GE should have recalled these defective expensive units.
Reviewed Jan. 12, 2015
GEH50DNSRSA - Purchased from Sears 12/28/10 with extended warranty that expired 12/28/13. Has been operating ok since then. Higher than expected electric bills led me to suspect water heater problems (or perhaps old heat pump problems). In late Dec. 2014 changed from Hybrid mode to High Demand to accommodate visitors and noticed water accumulation under base of unit. Was not a great deal of water, and it came and dried up, and then appeared occasionally again for about a week, stopping about 1/1/15. Believe water felt a bit "greasy" but could not determine any other abnormality.
Yesterday, 1/11/15, I saw a flashing blue light and read the dreaded message on the display. "Attention: Heat Pump Failure - Call Service - Now In Electric Mode - Call 1-888-443-4394, HPF Code: F-C." For a water heater expected to last 10 years, I consider this a premature failure, and because many others have reported the same problem, consider it to be a chronic problem. GE has not, to my knowledge, issued a recall, and some law firms are considering a class action suit due to the widespread nature of the problem. For an operating water heater, I would give this a 4 or 5 star, but it's widespread failure rate warrants a low rating.
I understand that GE no longer makes this in China and has a redesigned unit (as shown on the Sears site and GE site at a much lower cost than I paid) assembled in Louisville, KY. Reviews available online are mixed about GE's response to the chronic problems. Some indicate multiple visits by technician and different sets of parts are required with customer paying for the visits. Others indicate that even though the labor is not included in the 10 year warranty, GE provides it free. After I post this, I will be calling to see what my fate is. More information may be forthcoming. At this time with possible large labor charges pending, I cannot recommend this unit or its successor.
Reviewed Dec. 9, 2014
IF you read the reviews on this site, mine is a familiar story. 18 months after installation, my GE Water Heater stopped working. I tried to call GE but their water products group is only open until 6 pm Eastern. What? People in the West don't count? My city utility has a service to relight pilots lights so I called and the tech came very quickly. He confirmed that it is the thermocouple: second time it has failed. Will call GE tomorrow to register my complaint but not holding my breath for any action.
Reviewed Dec. 5, 2014
No matter what it is whether it's a GE hot water heater, an iPhone, a car or a frozen TV dinner, you're going to find someone that had a bad experience. After a day of rain eight years after I put in my Home Depot GE hot water heater, the pilot was out. I don't know if it was wet in there or what but it took me 10 hours of repeated attempts and while I was searching online for answers and deals on replacing it, I kept trying. And tonight at 10:30 PM I didn't bugger about, I just held down the pilot for one minute, and then once the pilot remained lit on its own, as fast as I could I turned the thermostat to medium high and kaboom it lit up wonderfully. Maybe it dried out but I would not say that GE water heaters are a piece of Home Depot junk. As I said earlier I installed mine eight years ago and it has never had a problem and since tonight it restarted and I checked the tap and now have hot water. I suspect it will be fine but if I need a new one, eight years hasn't been a bad run. Just follow the instructions very carefully and repeat and repeat and repeat. Good luck.
Reviewed Dec. 3, 2014
I had a GE water heater installed in a new construction 13 months ago. And today dec 02, it won't turn on - only the pilot light. So I called GE and you might know the story, all kind of ways to say is not the heater? Really? I have receipts that say 2 years in home parts and service and GE won't honor the warranty. There is no word on their promise to change it, so I will take to court with all my paper work even if I lose - I just need to show the piece of defective water heaters GE sells. Read the reviews and Rheem is the same co. I have purchased 1 in November 2012, one in sep 2013, one in dec 2013. Now Home Depot says in their file - I am under warranty but HD needs authorization from GE to replace and in the meantime I'm out of hot water. PLEASE LISTEN - DON'T RISK IT. GE - NO GOOD MAKING THE WARRANTY. I'm going tomorrow to buy an American Standard and deal with GE later.
Reviewed Nov. 22, 2014
I bought a GE water heater from Home Depot and within a week, the Thermocouple had to be replaced. 2.5 years later, the pilot won't go on and again the Thermocouple needs to be replaced. I called GE and requested a refund of the water heater due to long term maintenance issues and the 100 plus reviews of the same problem that is systemic at GE. They refused my request to take back their defective product so I can buy an actual functioning product that doesn't repeatedly breakdown. I bought a thermocouple from Home Depot for $12.98 plus tax and they said to call GE. GE said they would fedex the part and it's Saturday so likely won't be here until Tuesday. I called Water Heater Professionals who charged me $149 service fee and $149 for the Thermocouple part that costs $12.98 at Home depot. I had the part and asked if he could discount the part since I had it and the receipt showed the cost and he said "no". This really is a scam defrauding consumers. For $300 I have just paid half the cost of the water heater and the part is guaranteed for only one year.
GE or Rheem needs to be held accountable for selling an inferior defective product. They should replace all defective parts with parts that aren't disposal, throwaways and should have a service representative in the area to change out these parts for free as we already paid for what we thought were standard parts when we purchased the heater. There are enough people with problems to keep this guy busy as "Water Heater Professionals" can attest. Anyone interested in a class action please count me in. I feel like I'm being robbed repeatedly and these hoods have no conscience. There's hundreds of people who are being taken advantage of and nothing is being done to deter this behavior.
Reviewed Nov. 19, 2014
I purchased a GE energy saver 40-gallon water heater in 2010 at Home Depot with a 12-year warranty. In 4 years, the safety system became defective and extinguished the pilot. I contacted GE technical support for replacement parts in August 2014, and again in November 2014, the same safety system failed. In less than 4 months, the same safety system failed twice. I requested a return of the defective water heater, but GE refused. I also have a GE energy saver drinking water dispenser, which started leaking all over my carpet, causing hundreds of dollars in damages to my floor and carpet after 2 months of use. The older GE products back in the 1960s may be good, but the newer GE products, particularly the energy saver ones, are trash and a waste of money.
You are asking for trouble if you buy GE products. You are just throwing money away to buy trash. Trash that will cause you more money and headache than what it is worth. GE is in the business of selling customers defective products. When you do find out the product is defective and want to get a refund, GE will refuse you your refund. They will keep sending you defective replacement parts until your warranty expires. This is how GE works. So stay away from ALL GE products. You are asking for trouble buying GE products.
Reviewed Nov. 3, 2014
A GE water heater was installed in our new home in 1962. As of today, November 2, 2014, we are pleased to let you know it is still in excellent working condition 52 years later... Way to go GE... The only update we changed lower element twice in 52 years!!!
Reviewed Oct. 29, 2014
On phone, give them all the information, answer all their questions time after time. Then they transfer me to the warranty department & now they want to keep asking the same questions. I told them the tank is leaking inside putting the flame out. This is a sealed unit. GE rep says "It is leaking from the pop of vale, could it be leaking from one of the lines?" HELLO DO YOU UNDERSTAND ENGLISH OR DO I NEED TO SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE? REAL SLOW, THIS IS A SEALED UNIT. IT IS LEAKING BEHIND THE GLASS PUTTING THE FLAME OUT. "Well Sir You need to bring it back to Home Depot".
Reviewed Oct. 4, 2014
I installed the GE 40 gallon electric water tank 5.5 years ago (had a 6 year warranty) and my tenant called and said there was water on his carpet on the outside wall adjacent to tank. This was a call at 11pm on a Sunday evening. I rushed over to their apartment and could physically see where the tank had failed. Needless to say the tenant needed hot water so the next morning, having shut the water supply off to the tank, I replaced the tank. Contacted GE and they gave me this run around about why I didn't have a plumber come check out the tank. I own rentals and have replaced 95 tanks myself. There's more to the story but my point is: DO NOT BUY A WATER TANK MADE BY GE. They are garbage.
Reviewed Aug. 22, 2014
My 20-month-old GE water heater had a pin hole on the dip tube above the tank, and gave me a flooded basement yesterday. My plumber told me I should get a free replacement of the dip tube because the tank is less than 2 years old, and he would install the new one for me. That led me to call the 800 number, and the 800 people insisted that a GE contractor plumber should examine the tank first before they can send me the part, however, they didn't tell me that I have to pay the service fee to their contractor... and there are something else that I have been annoyed so much that I am now too frustrated to write it up..... Now I'm thinking to file a BBB customer complaint against GE. GE should learn to be responsible for the quality of their own products.
Reviewed Aug. 19, 2014
I have had not one, but THREE of the Chinese made GE heat pump water heaters. All failed, after approximately one year, with the "F-C" compressor code. Each one was replaced by purchasing a new one and returning the failed unit. My last version is the red unit that is "proudly made in the USA." No doubt, with the same Chinese design. This one fails by signalling that the air filter is dirty and then switching to resistance heat elements. Rather than have my wife divorce me over having to remove everything from our utility room (again) to change the unit, I installed a Supco tap on the tube coming from the compressor. This allowed me to recharge the refrigerant, which had leaked out in all of the previous units. Stay away from this product and GE. Their warranty is a joke.
Reviewed Aug. 13, 2014
Since July 28th 40 gallon gas heater has been down, called GE and those morons make you troubleshoot this and that. I replaced thermocouple July 30th, still doesn't work, call GE back, they send out control valve, that gets replaced by plumber few days later and still doesn't work. Call GE back, this time they tell me they will send out a 3rd part for delivery on 8/11, no part shows up. I call GE on 12th, and no part has been sent, WTF. I get a hold of a level 2 rep who says they tried to call plumber? Not sure how they got his number.
My # is on acct and no messages from GE, so now I finally have 3rd part being sent. If doesn't work putting a hole in heater and giving back to Home Crappo (Depot), GE could of solved this by sending their tech out to repair but wouldn't, so I used my home warranty service. Cost me $125 to have plumber come out, at least that's a one time fee. GE is awful - never again.
Reviewed Aug. 3, 2014
The late evening before Christmas Eve 2012, our water heater went out. Called around, and finally found a plumber who said that they could come out the next day, Christmas Eve. Plumber shows up and tries to fix old water heater, said we need a new one. It is now late afternoon on Christmas Eve, and I am really starting to get freaked out about being without hot water on Christmas Day. He leaves to go get a water heater, comes back to our home with the GE Rheem model #gg28t06axk00 purchased from Home Depot. Installs it and when finished, writes up our invoice. I am dismayed and upset that the plumbing company apparently charges WAY over the cost of what it would cost if I were to walk into Home Depot and buy it myself by $275.00. Of course what choice do I have but to pay the exorbitant fees, because after all, it is late on a Holiday evening and I now have hot water. Later, the fact that I was overcharged for this piece of junk will be like pouring salt on an open wound, but at the time, I had no clue, and again, was just happy to have hot water for our family during the cold Holiday time period.
Almost exactly one year and one month later in February 2014 (once again in the coldest part of winter), the hot water runs out while I am doing dishes. I think, how can this be happening? This water heater is barely a year old, and my last one lasted well over ten years. After working on trying to light the pilot light numerous times to no avail, we dig out the warranty information and call the 1-800-431-1549 number. WOW what a complete joke and total run around. I have never been treated so rudely. Since it was a Friday, and I am on the west coast, they say they will overnight a new thermocouple, but will not be able to even place the overnight order until Monday of next week! What I am suppose to do with a two year old, a teen and my hardworking spouse with no hot water for the next 6 days? They could care less and I'm sure they go home and all take hot showers and laugh at all of us who call in and keep them in a job. Over the weekend and into the following next week, I try to call around to see if anyone has this thermocouple that I can just go buy and have it replaced so we can get our hot water back. As others have stated, nope. No one carries it and can only be sent from Rheem.
As the days march on and no part has arrived, I begin calling the service number to see what is going on. Every time I speak with someone different who gives me a different story. One person says they can't see a tracking number, to call back in a few hours. When I call back, the next person tells me they have had the tracking number for 2 days, but can't explain why when I try to track the package, it is not showing as a valid tracking number. Meanwhile, the days march on, and we are still without hot water. FINALLY, I talk to one guy who seems to have a heart. He is nice and says sorry. He doesn't know why I haven't received the part yet, so he agrees to send out another one. The day after he sends out another one, the original shows up. This will turn out to be a blessing, and if at all possible, I suggest trying to get them to send you two, so that you always have an extra one on hand because you WILL end up needing it. Call the company (plumber) that Rheem has told me will come out to replace thermocouple and excitedly tell them I finally have the part.
Bummer, they can't come out to fix it until 2 days later. When they do show up the guy tells me they have replaced so many of these thermocouples on these units he has lost count. Well, it's finally fixed and a week a few days later, we have hot water again in the middle of winter. It is now late July 2014. As I'm taking my evening shower, the hot water runs out. This time I know exactly what it is and call the customer service number again. They are closed. Keep in mind, it has only been 5 months, and the thermocouple has gone out AGAIN. The guy on the phone is a total jerk and ask me how hot we have the water set to? I tell him I have no idea. He then says that it is OUR FAULT this happened so soon because we have our water temp set too high. The funny thing is, we have not touched the heat setting. It is on whatever THEIR service professional they sent out put it on last time it went out.
Also, the last time it went out, not one of the many people I spoke to at the 1-800 # ever suggested it went out because of the temp being set "too high" I also ask the guy that isn't it obvious that this is a recurring problem and what will they do about it? He told me that as long as the part is replaceable, they will just keep sending a new part and after the warranty runs out, it will be our responsibility to pay to keep fixing it, that we have no recourse. They say they will overnight a new thermocouple. Luckily, I still have the spare one for last time, so this go round, we are only without hot water for 2 days, and the part arrived soon after the guy who installed our spare one left our home.
After researching GE Rheem water heaters online, I find this website and read everyone's story. It all sounds way too familiar. I feel especially bad for the elderly and disabled people who have had to deal with this complete joke of a water heater. I am now operating on the assumption that this thermocouple can and will go out at any time, and seeing as how I only have a few months left of my full warranty, we will be shopping and paying big bucks once again, for a new water heater. I cannot and will not take the chance of this happening again. Unfortunately, like every other working family out there, we don't have the money for a new water heater and install at this time but will have to come up with it somehow.
In closing, please, PLEASE, do not buy a water heater made by GE and Rheem. Ours is not an isolated incident, and I believe a class action lawsuit is called for. Also, tell friends, family, and co workers to stay far far away from these piece of crap. I only wish someone would have told us. Also, SHAME shame shame on you Home Depot for continuing to sell these in your stores. You know what pieces of crap they are, yet you continue to gladly take people's money knowing full well that the quality is substandard.
Reviewed July 8, 2014
My GE water heater failed on Saturday, July 5, 2014. It had been professionally installed November 2013. I contacted the 800 number on the tank after performing basic diagnostics (cycle breakers at box, use reset button). The woman who answered the phone asked if I had a multi-meter to run diagnostics. She submitted my request for warranty repair citing "manufacturer defect". She said if I was not contacted Monday to call back. Repair subs are given until the close of the NEXT business day to contact the customer. She would not tell me the name of the plumbing contractor this was assigned to.
At 4 p.m. Monday I called GE back. This time I was given the name of the plumber. I called them and they told me they no longer work on GE water heaters. (hmmmm... I wonder why?) They had sent GE an email this morning telling them that. Neither GE nor the plumber saw fit to let me know. I called GE once again (third time the charm?) and got a snotty service operator who lacks training in how to deal with a VERY UPSET customer (three days no hot water!). She gave me a work order number and told me I can now call a licensed plumber in. GE will pay up to $125 for the diagnostic call. Anything beyond that I pay for and submit for reimbursement. When asked how long that took, I was told 4 to 6 weeks!!!!
I cannot begin to say how disappointed I am in both the product and the service. Whatever became of the electric water heater that would last 20+ years? This didn't even last 20 months. Whatever happened to GE being a company with integrity that produced reliable products and had excellent customer service? Apparently two things that no longer exist in GE. Notice the tick box requesting to be contacted by an attorney below? That in itself speaks volumes!
Reviewed July 5, 2014
I remember the days when water heaters lasted longer than a year. Not today, with the lovely and crapified GE/Rheem water heater. In less than 4 years, we have need to replace the water heater completely and are on our third round of replacement parts on the replacement. The only good thing is they have a customer service dept, but WOW... DO NOT PURCHASE THIS WATER HEATER SOLD AT HOME DEPOT... It is C R A P!!!! THE GG SERIES IS AN ABSOLUTE P.O.S....
It's Saturday, 4th of July weekend and we get the pleasure of our replacement part by Wednesday of next week.... No consumer carries the thermo coupler of ignition switch. RUN from this water heater....GE... Congratulations because I have purchased my LAST piece of equipment from you.... "GE, we bring good things to life." WHAT!!! You produce hunks of **.
Reviewed June 27, 2014
We bought our GE Geospring hybrid water heater from Lowe's in July 2012 with high expectations but still bought extended warranty. The moment it was uncrated and hooked up, the fan, its shaft, and one bearing pulled right out of the motor, clang-a-lang. Strike one. First service call, the tech just pushed the shaft back in motor, ran for a day, comes out again. Strike two. In about a week the new parts arrived, GE service would not refine service visit to less than an eight hour window, lost day of work. Strike three. Next came constant "clean filter" warning, followed by F5 and FF codes in May 2014, no longer worked in hybrid mode. Would produce only lukewarm water in electric only mode. Took three weeks(! ) to get GE service out just to troubleshoot it, the evaporator had corroded through and leaked out refrigerant. Strike four.
Parts arrived and service tech came out on Friday 13th of this June 2014, installed parts, but the 8 am - noon service window stretched out to 5 pm, another day of work lost. Strike five. Unit worked for three days, then it completely shut down as if no power. Checked wiring to unit, unit has power, some internal failure of the water heater, no hot water at all. Strike six. Calls to GE service this time routed me in a loop of phone numbers, unable to get them to schedule a service call, so called GE Innovations. They were helpful, even overnighted a new control module (they seemed to know already what had failed, wonder how they knew) and set up tech service appointment for 27 June 2014. Afternoon of 26 June 2014 found voice message from GE service center in Atlanta cancelling my appointment because the tech said he wanted to order control module first! The same module they had already sent! Strike seven.
Immediately called their service number from the recording at 4 pm, only a voice mail, so called GE Innovations and explained not to cancel appointment as the module was already on site and awaiting tech to install. They said it was too late to un-cancel appointment, next available was 1 July. Strike eight. So now another five days without hot water! Fantastic! And probably another day of work lost. Yep, it was sure worth the $1,000 plus we paid for all this aggravation, ridiculously poor part quality, and even worse service. Our advice: stay away from these lemons and lack of commitment from GE.
Reviewed June 21, 2014
Bought the 1st GE gas water heater from Home Depot in 10/2008. On 7/25/2011, I had no hot water. I called the warranty line and someone walked me through some troubleshooting steps. Faulty Thermocoupler they said. GE overnighted a wrong part. Not having hot water for 3 days, I was very upset on my next call to GE. They accommodated me and gave me an authorization # so I can return the unit to Home Depot and replace it with brand new unit. It was not an even exchange. I was credited for the old unit and charged for the new unit based on the new purchase price. The difference was $87.22 including tax.
Today, 6/21/2011, I have no hot water again. I called the warranty line again and went through another troubleshooting - same problem as last (3 years ago) - faulty thermocoupler. It appears GE's thermocoupler does not work every 3 years. GE will send the replacement part and I hope they will send the correct one this time. In the mean time, we have no hot water for the next several days. It is very unfair and I hope GE gets investigated as I am sure there are many other complaints about this.
Reviewed June 19, 2014
Bought a new GE gas water heater from home depot in dec of 2011. Yesterday (june of 2014) I have no hot water. I called the warranty line and a nice guy walked me through some troubleshooting steps. Thermo coupler is bad it seems. They are overnighting me a replacement free of charge, and I will install it myself. I'll update you all when it arrives. Hopefully that is the fix. But, my comment here is to show the customer service I received up to this point. It's been good. Things happen. Nothing is perfect. Parts fail. That's life. We'll see if the thermo coupler fixes it (fingers crossed...).
GE Water Heaters Company Information
- Company Name:
- GE Service Contracts
- Company Type:
- Public
- Ticker Symbol:
- GE
- Country:
- United States
- Website:
- www.ge.com