Whirlpool Water Heaters Reviews

I purchased a Whirlpool Flame-Lock water heater (with a 9 year warranty) from Lowe's on Dec. 16, 2003. I woke up to no hot water on Wednesday, June 6, 2007. I attempted to re-light the pilot but that didn't work. I called 1-877-817-6750 and spoke to a gentlemen with a heavy accent. He knew *immediately* what the problem was and said he would send a new thermo-couple unit but I had to pay the freight which ended up being $24 for over-night delivery.

Thermocouple went out. I guess this is common with the Flame Lock system in the Whirlpool water heaters.

After a long and persistent effort, the store manger finally agreed to refund my money.

I purchased a Whirlpool Gold water heater in 2002. I didn't have any trouble with it for 2 years, and then suddenly I have to replace thermocouples every 2 months or less. Installation of a replacement thermocouple is a hideous nightmare. My husband is an engineer and he had a very hard time with the non-standard left-handed threads, etc. I have had 2 sets of renters in the home where this water heater is. It is highly inconvenient for them AND us. Two families are being inconvenienced due to this terrible product that I trusted by the name.

Plumber came out to look at the thermocouple because it wouldn't light. Discovered that the tank was leaking inside. Said it would cost more to fix that we paid for it - today's weekend service call fee was $117.

Installed new water heater and had to change thermocouple 3 times in the first 6 months. Also, just replaced thermocouple on sister-in-laws 1 year old whirlpool waterheater 4 times and is out again.

We purchsaed a Whirpool water heater Model no. FG1J5040T3NOV, Serial no. 0239102539 from Lowes Hardware either in 2003 or 2004. I have personally replaced the thermocouple 4 times and the thermostat once. I can't afford to hire a repair person so I have done all the repairs myself. Well now it is out again and I was lugging pots of hot water to the tub so my son could take a bath.

We purchased a Whirlpool Flame Lock Gas Hot Water Heater. Not 5 months later we had no hot water. We got someone to come check it out, and corrected the problem. Then the same thing happened. It was the same problem as before, the thermocouple. Whirlpool I thought was a good name brand. I don't know why Whirlpool can't be forced to recall these faulty parts and come up with one that last. I will never buy ANYTHING Whirlpool again!

I purchased my Whirlpool 50 gallon Flame Lock gas hot water heater from Lowe's in April of 2002. My first thermocouple went out Jan 2003 and then again in Nov 2006. Luckily, I run my own business and was able to change both at my own expense as far as labor. However, on the second one, I give up trying to contact Whirlpool, after three days, on the 800 number they provide with no answer. What good does it to have a 12 year warranty on a product to find out after you purchase it that they are only responsible to replace an item only one time?

I have a water heater that is less than 2 years old and it won't stay lit. Brand is Whirlpool.

I purchased a Whirlpool hotwater heater from Lowe's 1 year ago and have had to replace the thermocouple 3 times in the past year and my hot water heater will still not light. I called Whirlpool and it is still under warrenty and they said I need to replace a door at no cost BUT with a $35 shipping cost.

After purchasing a Whirpool electric water tank, we noticed that it was making an unusually load noise that could be hear through two insulated walls across the house.

The tech on the phone told us the noise was due to water knocking, and would not say anything else. My tank has been installed less than three months, and was purchased less than five months ago.

After purchasing a whirlpool hot water heater it just stopped working one morning. I called Whirlpool and they expected me to completely disassemble the unit. Maybe I could just blow up my house!

In March of 2003 we bought a Whirlpool 40 gallon Flame Loc water heater and 2 months later we had to replace the thermocouple. It worked for about a year before the next thermocouple had to be replaced. Since then we've learned how to replace our own (4 in the last 2 years). During that time Whirlpool and Lowes have been no help. The thermocouple isn't a warranted part.

The thermocouplea on the Gas Heaters have all failed at least 2 times each. The Electric Heaters Circuit Boards have failed.The thing is junk.

In August of 2004, my husband & I bought a Whirlpool Flame Lock gas water heater from our local Lowe's. They installed it for us and it worked fine until Dec. of 2006. Had a repairman come out the next day and he determined it was the thermocouple that went out, so he went to Lowes to get one, came back to our home and finished the repair. He was here for long over an hour and had a hard time with it. That cost us $132.00.

I purchased a 30 gallon Flame-Lock water heater from Lowe's about a year and a half ago. On 2-11-07 it stopped working, so I called the gas company to come check it out. He told me it was the thermocouple and I needed to call a plumber. I called two plumbers infact, and they both gave me estimates for over $200, based on the fact that it was a special part and they would have to disassemble the bottom of the tank to replace the part. At that point I called the provided 800 number and after a long wait the service rep says the part only costs $12 at Lowe's and it just takes 15 minutes to replace. Now, my husband is an excellent mechanic who owns an auto repair business and it took him about an hour to replace this thing. I can't imagine someone not so mechanically inclined trying to replace this part. After the part was replaced the pilot light came on but it wouldn't stay on, so I called the number again and the woman told me I needed to take this thing apart again, and clean the vent with a toothbrush and vaccum it out every 3-6 months like I should have read in the manual. I was beyond frustrated at this point, but I went ahead and cleaned the vent (which was pointless, the toothbrush didn't even get dirty and there wass nothing to vaccum), AND THE PILOT STILL WOULD NOT STAY LIT! We have gone 11 days without hot water, I have to boil water to wash dishes, clothes, and take baths, I mean this is beyond inconvenient, this is cruel and unusual. It is now about 11:30pm, too late to call that number so I decided to get on the internet and look up Whirlpool Water Heater complaints, and to my dismay I have read all of the prior complaints about this defective product, and I am glad I did because I will not put another hard-earned dollar into this thing.

I bought a Whirlpool Flame Lock Water Heater in Oct. 2002. The first year was fine then the Thermocouple went bad. Back to Lowe's and bought a cheap thermalcouple. It worked fine until Feb. 2007. Back to Lowe's and bought a whirlpool thermocouple. I can't get the pilot to stay lit at all. Then I read this site at midnight and find out that I'm not the only one that's been taken to the cold showers with Whirlpool. Thanks Whirlpool!

Purchased an electric Whirlpool Energy Smart hot water tank from Lowe's in October, 2004. We are having a problem with hot water coming and going and the diagnostic board sensor clicking constantly for the last two months. Called the 800 number and never was able to discuss our problem with customer service after being on the line for 45 minutes. After reading all of the complaints, we are convinced that we might as well junk it and purchase another brand even though this one is only 27 months old.

On 2/2005 I purchased a Whirlpool 40 gallon water heater from Lowes and had Lowes install it. On 1/18/2007 no hot water and was not able to relight the water heater. Was directed by Lowes to the Whirlpool 1-877 number (can you say useless) and it took over 3 hours to get a real person on the line. Was told that I need to clean a "trap" on the bottom and it should have been cleaned every 2 to 3 months. I was never told about this procedure when the unit was installed.

I am absolutely disgusted with having to deal with failing thermocouples. To make it worse, they use the left hand thread thermocouple, which is not readily available (except perhaps at Lowes). A hot water heater is a basic necessity in a home and Whirlpool should step up to the plate and replace these heaters! Shipping of the part takes days.

Purchased a Whirlpool hot water heater from Lowe's 2 years ago. Heater has a 6 year warranty on parts and tank. Tank is leaking and I had a professional plumber come out and test it and he found that the tank has a pinhole in it. We phoned Whirlpool's Warranty line and were told that the tank could be replaced but we would again have to pay for the removal of the defective one and installation of the new one (the tank is located in the attic)...this is substantially more than the cost of a new tank.

I have a Whirlpool gas hot water heater and I have to keep changing the thermocoupler every 3 months. There has been a couple of times that I have had to change it in 3 weeks. Now Whirlpool is offering me a pushbutton switch that I have to pay for the shipping and for someone to install it. They are not offering to replace my heater at all. When will they offer a recall on these?

Whirlpool 40 gal. gas water heater with flame-lock control continuously fails due to poor design. Since purchased in January, 2003 I have been forced to replace the failed thermocouple 7 times. Whirlpool/Lowe's have not provided any solution for this continuing problem.

Purchased the Flamelock with the 12 year warranty. The thermocoupler went out and I contacted Whirlpool. They offered to send it out to me for a hefty little shipping price. And I will have to wait for it.

I have replaced 5 of the thermocouples on my Whirlpool FlameLock gas hot water heater. It breaks down every 3 to 6 months.

We woke up Saturday morning to no hot water in our Whirlpool water heater purchased from Lowes about 18 months ago. The Whirlpool service desk answered the call Saturday morning after a 10 minute wait. The problem is with the circuit board which they are to ship out Monday so that leaves me withour hot water for 4 days. (Guess water heaters are to only fail Monday through Friday. They have no provision to ship parts over the week end.)

My Whirlpool hot water electric water heater sparked and started the inside foam insulation on fire. I happen to be by it when it happen or it would have caught my house on fire.

Purchased 4 Whirlpool hot water heaters for my management company. All 4 thermo-couples failed within 2 months.

I have a defective Whirlpool Energy smart water heater and a defective company to deal with.... Whirlpool. After many, many tries to get someone on the phone at the 877 phone number, (hung up on, busy signals etc.) I gave up. This company is absolutely horrible.

I read the article on Consumers Steamed About Whirlpool Water Heaters by Joseph S. Enoch and we also bought one and had our water heater go out and it also was the thermocouple. I called Whirlpool and they told me that I could purchase the part at Lowe's and that it would take my husband 15-30 minutes to install it. My husband is not mechanically inclined and we hired a plumber and it took him over 1 hour, he ignited it and the water heater made such flume of fire that it made me so nervous to put the water heater back on

I purchased an 80-gallon electric whirlpool water heater from Lowes 3/19/05. After about a year the water temperature went back and forth from scalding to cold.

Why should I retype what absolutely EVERYONE else before me has already said? My Whirlpool water heater is JUNK.

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.

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.

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.

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.

We purchased a WHIRLPOOL hot water heater from LOWES on 01/29/2004 in approximately 3 months it went out on the coldest day of the year.We contacted LOWES & They said to contact WHIRLPOOL via their 877 number.My husband talked to a guy that said, it was our ceiling fan fault because it blew out our pilot light.Our ceiling fan is not in the same room.They would not even replace any part or warranty their own heater.A plumber told us to replace the thermocouple, which we did x 6 times.Now 2 years later we are having the same trouble and are sick & tired of this piece of junk.

Once again Whirlpool DOESN'T come through. The thermocouple went bad again for the 3rd time in one year.I am finding out that everyone is having problems with the gas hot water heater from Whirlpool. I will never buy another Whirlpool product again. And not just because I had problems. Any manufacturer can have a problem with one particular part. It's how Whirlpool has handled it. They simply have a sorry about your luck attitude. The first thing they said was to just go buy a thermocouple. When I said it was still under warranty, what ever that means to Whirlpool, they got rude and really didn't care if it got fixed or not.

I own rental property and in March of 2005 purchased a Whirlpool 40 gallon Flame Lock water heater for one of my rental units. In May of 2006 the unit had its first thermocouple failure. Less than four months later the second and third ones failied. The third failing within 24 hours and as if this time has not been replaced.. Needless to say there will be no more Whirlpool products in my units.

We purchased a Whirlpool water heater in April of this year. The thermocoupler failed within the first two months and has subsequently failed 5 or 6 more times. It's out right now!

Purchased Whirlpool Flamelock water heater and have replaced the thermocouple twice in the last 6 weeks. Lowes (where I purchased it) said Whirlpool has a design flaw but refuses to own up to the problem. Each time I must replace the part myself because the 6 year warrenty does not cover labor.

I purchased a Whirlpool Flame Lock water heater in 2003. I have replaced the thermal coupler 3 times. We have contacted Whirlppol several times & they will not replace the unit and keep sending us to Lowe's for parts. The water heater went out again this weekend so I replaced the thermal coupler again. About 9:00 PM this evening I noticed a strong smell of gas in the house. I immediately shut off the water heater & upon investigation found that the pilot tube has cracked & is now leaking gas. I will now have to call a professional to see what can be done to repair it. According to what I have read on this website, the Manifold door assembly is no longer an available part, so I assume the unit will have to be replaced.

I purchased a Whirlpool gas water heater not even a year ago from Lowes in Farmington Mo. I had to replace the thermocoupler twice within a year. I currently have cold water and now im working on the gas water heater again tonight on 09-11-06. The gas water heater is a 50 gallon, six year warranty policy from whirlpool that is stamped on the product. Whirlpool has refused to take the product back and give me my money for purchasing a lemon. They want me to call a repair man and claim it is my problem.

We purchased the unit three years ago, and it seemed that it was working great for only the first year and a half. After that it seemed we were lighting the pilot every month for at least six months. Then we were lighting it three times a week, then lighting two or three times a day which means that it would go out about ten minutes later. The final was that it stopped lighting. Called Whirlpool and was informed that we needed to purchase a thermocouple at Lowes and that it was very easy to install ourselves. That was far from the truth. After about 2 hours of struggeling with the 19 step installation, it still would not light. Had to start from the beginning and then noticed that the pilot tube was cracked. Now we are told that the part is not available nor is the replacement of the whole unit that includes the thrermocouple,manifold tube and pilot tube attatched to the manifold. Our only option now is to purchase and have installed a new water heater.

I have been installing water heaters for over 13 years. Every time I have to go to a customers house to fix the Whirlpool Flame Lock water heater I tell them they need to replace the heater with a better heater. The time and money these people are spending to fix these Whirlpool heaters, they could put in 2 or 3 new tanks of a better brand of heater. All the plumbers in my area ( 4 surrounding counties ) won't even touch these heaters because they will be held responsible when they go out in 4 or 5 months and most of them don't want that headache nor do I.

I purchased a 50 gallon Whirlpool energy smart electric water heater from Lowes, model no. EE2H50RD045V April 17 2006 with a 9 year warranty according to the sales rep. The unit worked approx. 5 months and stoped working. I go back to Lowes thinking either they will fix or replace, much to my surprise they give me a telephone noumber, 1877 817 6750 with assurance they would fix the problem . After dialing this number for over a week, I have not as yet got speak to a representative. Nothing but a recording: "all lines are busy at this time, call back later."

I purchased a Whirlpool Energy Smart Electric water heater 4/4/05 at Lowe's and on 8/31/06 the controller failed. A stop at Lowes and they refered me to Whirlpool. A call to Whirlpool's warranty number got a replacement controller sent but I have to pay the shipping and labor.

We have the Whirlpool Flame Lock water heater. Bought Feb 06. Replaced thermocouple on Aug 2, 2006 and now we are replacing it 4 Sept 06. We were told by whirlpool that the Flame trap should be cleaned every 2 months. That wouldn't of work here considering our thermacouple went at the 1 month mark. We were told if the thermacouple goes again within the next few months they will replace our hot water tank.

I just read all these complaints and as a service tech for whirlpool and an installer for Lowes you all are getting a run around. 1st all parts are free for the warranty you have and yes the labor is only covered for 1 yr after the install but go to any other company and thats not true -- it could break next day and they won't cover install, Parts are drop shipped next day for free. I too have my share of repairs for these heaters but that's why I am in the business and all the prices you have paid are cheap. We charge $125.00 for heater repair.

We bought a new Whirlpool Energy Smart Residential Electric Water Heater from Lowe's in Dec. 2004. It's now August 2006, and it is already no longer working. I've tried to call Whirlpool's toll free number to ask what--if anything--the company plans to do about this obviously flawed product, but have so far been unable to speak to anyone at all.

In Oct. 2004, we purchased a Whirlpool Energy Smart water heater for our vacation house. We were depending on the good name of Whirlpool to give us good service.

I purchased a new 40 gallon Whirlpool hot water tank from Lowe's around Feb. of last year, 2005 (Flame Lock model #BFG1F4040S3NOV). Well last week the tank stopped working. While I was at work my wife tried several times to relight the pilot with no luck. Once I got home that night, it did light but only to go back out a few minutes later. I figured it was the thermocouple,.... and since the disign on these tanks changed in 2003 they are kinda a pain in the rear end to change out now. I called Lowe's and was referred to Whirlpool,.... only to be told by a Whirlpool Rep that their labor warranty is only good for a year and that I would have to pay the service charge and labor to have a repairman come out to fix the tank.

I purchased an energy smart Whirlpool electric hot water heater approximately one year ago for my rental home. The tank needs to be reset every few days and now it doesn't work at all.

I purchased a new Whirpool hot water tank 2-3 years ago. I have had to replace the thermocouple over 13 times already!

I purchased a new Whirlpool Flame-Lock water heater in late 2003. I would not even be able to guess how many thermocouplers I have had to install on this water heater since owning it. The longest I've had one to last is approx. 6 months. I had one go out after heating only one tank of water! Average life has been about 4 months. The original factory installed thermocouple did not last 6 months.

We purchased a 40 gallon hot water heater at Lowe's in June, 2005 and we installed it. This week, no hot water. My husband tried to get it to light but no luck. After reading the other article on the web site I see that we are going to have a time getting this fixed. I doubt if this water heater will be in our house for very long, because if we have to take such care of the thermocoupler, I'd rather get one that I don't have to worry about. If Whirlpool slaps its name on any old inferior appliance, I will no longer even consider purchasing any other product with their name on it.

I just read an excerpt from Mary of Carbondale, Ks who stated that whirlpool will replace the water heaters to customers that have had numerous problems with them. Will they reimburse me for my water heater? I had mine removed when I bought my Sears Kenmore water heater 5 weeks ago. I still have my original receipt showing what I paid for my Whirpool water heater. Since they are replacing Mary's water heater, I feel it is only justified that they reimburse me for my old (2.5 years old) whirlpool.

Fantastic News! As someone who has been suffering a long time with thermocouple replacements on my Whirlpool Hot Water Heater the American Water Heater Co. finally got the message. I just called for the umpteenth time about repayment for a thermocouple and they are replacing the entire tank. They have indeed reengineered the hot water tank to once and for all take care of the thermocouple issue. I verified this by taking a plumber to Lowe's to see for ourselves. Everyone on this website that has been thru this thermocouple nightmare needs to call 1-877-817-6750 and get their replacement.

I bought Whirlpool flame lock gas water heater with 12 year warranty on 9/6/04 and keep having to replace the thermocouple.

I just had my 6th thermocouple fail in my wonderfull Whirlpool water heater. It's almost like clockwork, about every 6 months.

On November 2003 I bought a 50 galon Whirlpool water heater 12 year waranty On July 16th 2006 it stopped working, no hot water. I called whirlpool and was told to get the Thermocouple replaced, A plumber replaced it and still it does not work ( cost $ 85.00 for the plumber) I didn't work. I called again and was told to replace the flamelock control Valve. I do not want more expenses afterreading all the complains from Whirlpool water heaters,so I deceided to purchase a new one ( other brand) having paid ( 681.00) for the whirlpool in 2003.

I purchased a gas hot water heater about 2 years ago. It stopped heating so I tried to contact the Whirlpool water heater division for three hours today and could only get a recording. I notified Whirlpool Corporate and received a run around, it seems their water heaters are made by American water heaters so they feel they are not responsible.

I purchased a Whirlpool FLAME LOCK water heater in May 2004. I made sure I purchased the heater with a 12 year warranty so if I had any troubles I would be covered. It worked until June 2006.

I bought a 50gal electric Whirlpool hot water heater from Lowes and within 9 months it stopped making hot water. As of now my family is without hot water as well as appox. $200 for the cost of the hot water heater.

As with the many who complain of the Whirlpool FlameLock gas hot water tanks, I'd replaced two of their left-handed thermocouples before finally getting a way to reach somebody at AWHC. They were cooperative, but they don't have the parts I needed. In fact, they won't have the regulator, which appears to crimp the tip of every thermocouple, at three different towns for five to seven days.

I bought an Energy Smart electric water heater at Lowes about 3 years ago. Last month it stopped heating. I called the service center and they sent me a new control board. I installed it but because the board was different so the cover I had did not fit.

I purchase a Whirlpool water heater from Lowe's and 12 months later no hot water. I called the number listed on the tank and they told me to purchase the thermal coupler. The thermal coupler is very difficult to install, along with natural gas and a spark of electronic, means it would not be safe for the average person, therefore I paid $72 for a plumber to put install.

I purchased a gas water heater made by Whirlpool from Lowes on Aug. 26,2002. Within a couple weeks I no longer had enough hot water to shower with. I had to keep turning down the cold until I had to finally turn the cold water off just to keep warm water running over me. I disregarded it because I was just thankful to have ANY hot water after having to replace my old one. I purchased model number FG1H4040T3NV. After reading all these other complaints on this site I see I am NOT alone in having this problem!

Bought Whirlpool water heater, electric model#EE3Z50RD055V, ON 6/2/04. Control board went bad in 12 months. Called the 877 number and discovered 'lifetime warranty' includes only one replacement of a part for each part over your lifetime. They sent me the control board. The new board failed again on 5/2006. It lasted 11 months.

Thermo Coupler went out on Whirlpool Gas Water Heater. Called Sears. They could not find replacement. Waited for part on back order but it never came. Out of hot water for 7 days. Finally found a thermo coupler at Lowes and had to replace it myself. Read consumer report and found that there are thousands of folks with thermo coupler problems on the Whirlpool water Heaters. How many complaints will it take to make Whirlpool correct this problem. Some of these problems are really dangerous.

I have a 50 gal hot water tank, that caught fire. The tank has a life- time warranty on the tank and parts. The unit functioned properly for two years or more, then, without any warning, simply caught fire.

For the second time in less than three years I am having to replace the thermacoupler on my Whirlpool hot water heater and, like everyone else with this problem, am having to foot the bill to have a plumber properly install it. There appear to be many owners of Whirlpool water heaters with the same problem; and we are pretty much being ignored by Whirlpool for what I see as a major design flaw.

We like the guy from San Antonio, TX bought the exact same water heater and have had the exact same problems. Replaced the therma couple and valve a year and a half ago (for the low price of $180) and this morning the water heater went out again and again told the same thing. Of course, was told each time that neither of these items was under warranty at either time. Now researching to buy another brand of water heaters.....NOT WHIRLPOOL.

I purchased a new 50 gallon Flame Lock Water Heater with a 12 year warranty in January of 2006. Seven weeks later, I had no hot water and was told that the thermocouple had gone bad. I also found out that the 12 year warranty was a joke because Whirlpool only pays the cost of the $14 part and not the cost of the service call to have it properly installed.

We bought the Whirlpool Flame Lock 50-gallon water heater in February 2004 from Lowe's. We have now replaced the thermo coupling 4 times. We are so disgusted with this thing. Not only have we replaced the coupling that many times, but we have found out that you can only get the part from Lowe's. If we had known even this, we would never have bought it.

Purchased a Whirlpool 50 gallon "Flame Lock" water heater from Lowe's in 2002. In July 2004 the heater went out and plumber had to replace the "Thermo-couple" and Gas Control Valve. Now here it is April 2006 and heater has gone out again. Called Whirlpool this A.M. and after 30 minute wait finally talked to a service tech. Was told to go to Lowe's and get a new "Thermo-couple" which would solve the problem.

I usually keep quiet about poor quality, but having 4 children this is an extremely inconvenient problem. Whirlpool has a nice looking water heater. It would be a much more useful appliance if you could count on it to actually turn cold water into hot water. I bought it new from Lowe's in August 2004 and have since gone through 3 thermocouples. These are their "handy" flame lock thermocouples. And thank you for making these $14.00 parts with a left handed thread.

Bought a Whirlpool hot water heater on 7-7-05 from Lowes and we have had to replace the thermocouple 3 times since we have had it. We have 3 small kids at home and we have gone without water any where from 2 to 5 days every time it went out.

We bought a hot water heater (gas). We havent had it a year and we already have to fix it. There have been a lot of complaints,with the thermocouple. I'm not very happy with this. I had to take off work to go buy the part, even though it's under warranty. If they send it to me, it will cost me $25.00 for shipping it.

I bought Whirlpool gas water heater on 4-27-2003 Model number FG1J4040T3NOV from Elk Grove Lowes store. On 3-3-2006. The pilot lit was off. When I reported the problem to the whirlpool rep, who told me that the thermocouple was gone. The rep gave me the lowes part # 86367. I purchased 2 thermocouples ($13.99 each) and save the second one for the future. It took me more than 3 hours on my time to purchase and replace the thermocouple. It is sad that Whirlpool does not own up to its design problems.

Talk about DeJa Vue. I've had the same experience with a Model: FG1H4040T3NV. Purchase in 11/02 from Loews, replace thermocouple 3 Months later because of Lint inside that was not cleaned out at installation and it's not their warranty problem because I didn't read the one paragraph in their Owners/install book to check for dirt in a new appliance.??? Replace it with a universal unit because Lowe’s 1: didn't have the part and 2: their store representative said factory parts didn't last anytime at all. Of course, Whirlpool gets a free ride because warranty parts are not used.

I will join the chorus of complains over Whirlpool's poorly designed malfunctioning water heaters. 2 1/2 years ago, I bought a 50 gallon Flame lock from Lowe's and it crapped out on me this week. At the time it was installed, Lowe's failed to give me a instruction manual, so I missed the bit about cleaning it out every three months. When I went to install the new thermocouple, we could not remove the left screw that attached the airtight front plate. I drilled the screw out, and found the heater full of water and the burn plate rusted.

Purchased Whirlpool Flame Lock 50-gallon water heater in 2004. About 8 months later we had a no hot water problem. Called plumber, they indicated a lot of problems with this heater, contact Whirlpool as it was still under warranty for parts. Took several days to receive part, but part was incomplete. Ended up going to Lowes and taking part off display model. Then a year later (11/20/05) same problem. Each time two trips by the plumber; one to diagnose and return trip once the part received, not to mention no hot water the entire time (3 to 5 days)

We bought our whirlpool water heater at lowes 2 years ago and the flames went out and we had no hot water for 2 days. Called the company talked to a Chris he asked me a few questions, I answered, then he told me to get a new thermal couple at lowes and he would reimburse for the cost, our plumber put it in. Chris said nothing about this product having a recall or a bad part that we are continually going to have problems with, shame on whirlpool.

On June 14, 2004 we purchased a Whirlpool water heater from Lowes in Schererville, IN., within six months the thermal coupling went out. Lowes sent out a repairman at their expense. Now here it is again no hot water and this time no help. Lowes states that the heater is out of warrenty and Whirlpool tells us buy the part and they will pay for it but not a service call. They then tell us to go to their web site for directions on how to replace the coupling.

On Sept. 20, 2002 we purchased our Whirlpool water heater. Thinking that Whirlpool was a great name brand that stood behind their name and quality, we purchased our first Whirlpool. Three years later I am thinking differently. We are now on our fourth thermocoupler and still no hot water. We are removing our hot water heater and purchasing another brand. I wish I had seen this web site first. I see that other people have complained and now AI cna join the list.

On 10/03 purchased new Whirlpool Water Heater. On 5/04 Had to have service company come out because water heater was not working. Same month at a later date, the water heater had to be replaced. On 10/04 had to have service company come out because water heater did not work. 5/05 water heater is not working. Whirlpool stated that the replaced water heater guarantee is retroactive to the date the original water heater was purchased.