Whirlpool Water Heaters Reviews

We are a mechanical contractor in Texas. We install 300-400 water heaters a year. 90% of the time, Whirlpool finds a way not to warranty their water heaters. We replace a lot of Whirlpool leaking tanks under warranty, at our customer's expense. On 04/18/2009, Whirlpool was called to warranty a leaking tank serial #0225109250, model #EE3J50RD045V, purchased in 2002 with a Whirlpool 12-year warranty. The unit tank started leaking. Whirlpool refused to honor the warranty. This is not an isolated incident. My advice to consumers: Do not purchase a Whirlpool water heater and expect any help with warranty.

I purchased a 40 gallon Whirlpool HWH in December 2007. The pilot light will not stay on, and after several attempts at replacing the thermocouple assembly kit, the problem manifested itself repeatedly. I have replaced the kit 3 times, and each time the pilot light stays lit for a few minutes to half an hour. I have been without hot water for 5 days now. Lowe's is not helping, other than giving free kits that do not fix the problem. It is 35 degrees with no hot water. Whirlpool customer service is not of any help since the sense of urgency is not comprehended, and the Sears tech keeps changing their schedule. Now, the tank has started leaking within a year of use. I am frustrated, to say the least.

I purchased a water heater and in the 6th year, it flooded my basement. It was still under warranty, so I called and exchanged it at Lowe's for another one. I paid a plumber and then six months later, it leaked again but this time, I purchased a pan under it to the drain and it was leaking from the bottom as well. Then three months after that, a repeat of paying the plumber and removing it. Whirlpool takes the warranty from the first water heater and then only replaces one time even though they did twice for me but will not stand behind their product. I have a leaking water heater using God knows how much water a day draining from it. Thank goodness, I took the precaution of the pan!

After attempting to take a shower last night, I found out the pilot light wasn't staying lit on the hot water heater that I purchased last May from Lowe's. I went online and was shocked at how many other complaints were on this product. If I had done a little research before purchasing this, I would have not bought it. Anyway, I took the advice of a previous post and contacted American Water Heater directly and was told that since it was less than one year old, they would cover the replacement parts and labor included. They gave me the number of a local plumber and I set up an appointment which was in less than an hour. It's now fixed - for how long, we'll have to see. Good luck to all the others out there and if you're researching before buying, don't buy Whirlpool!

We bought a brand new Whirlpool water heater from Lowe's in August 2008. It has worked fine up until Easter Day 2009. The pilot light kept going out. We reset it several times during the day and it finally stopped lighting all together. We thought it might be the thermocouple. We called a local plumber on 4/10/09. He cleaned out any dust under and around it, changed the thermocouple and still nothing. After troubleshooting further, he determined it was the gas valve on the front of the heater. I called into Whirlpool and they immediately agreed to send me the new gas valve, but since it was already after 5:00 pm that day, it would not arrive until Wednesday. The plumber told me to also have them send a new thermal switch just in case that was bad too.

I have a flame lock water heater (model # BYG1F4040S3NOV) less than a year old which I purchased from Lowe's. I have replaced the thermocoupler twice and I'm going on my third.

I purchased a Whirlpool 80 gallon Energy Smart Electric Hot Water heater on 12/24/08. On 04/08/09, the Energy Smart Controller caught fire. Water heater got out of commission. Upon inspection, I noticed many relays and components from China. I had no hot water for two days while waiting for parts and service (lack of hot water in cold weather month). Energy Smart controller/board and junction box were totally destroyed. This caused damage to house wiring entering the box. I missed work time, and it’s very inconvenient to repair.

I purchased a Whirlpool electric water heater with an Energy Smart box on top to control the heater. Not a year after purchase, the box failed. It took almost 2 years to convince Whirlpool to replace the faulty unit. So what did they do? They send me the energy smart controller, stating I have to pay for installation. After going through several avenues, I finally got the box installed at no cost to us. The water heater worked fine 'til this morning when I heard a pop in the water heater closet. I found the breaker tripped, and some white smoke rising out of the controller box. I waited 'til tonight to reset the breaker, but there's no sign of the heater working at all. If this had happened when any of us were asleep, my house could have caught fire.

I experienced a thermocoupling problem with my Whirlpool water heater so I had it replaced.

This is the second water heater and we have always had problems with not being able to shower with hot water. It is terrible! We bought the Energy Smart model. Is there any recalls on it? We have just put up with it, but friends said to email you.

I purchased a Whirlpool Water Heater on 9/14/2006. It has a 6 year warranty. The upper and lower thermostat, and lower element, went out on 4/7/2009. I contacted Whirlpool on the morning of 4/8/2009 and was given part numbers, and was told that I could go to Lowe's and purchase the parts. I went to Lowe's and True Value Hardware with no luck. I called Whirlpool back and was told they could overnight the parts to me at a cost of $20.00 for shipping (this product is under warranty). I paid the $20.00, thinking I had no other choice.

I just read some of the many complaints about Whirlpool Flame Lock water heaters. I purchased the same product from Lowe's on 9-13-08. I, too, am sitting here a week now with no hot water because the water heater will not light. A Sears’s repairman came on 4-3-09 and assessed the problem, but did not have the part. When we called Whirlpool on 4-2-09, we were told that Sears did their repair work; they also said that the repairman would have the part. When the needed part was emergency shipped to us and received on 4-6-09, we were promised that if we called as soon as we received it, the recommended repair company (Sears) would immediately send someone to repair the water heater. Two days later, I am waiting for the Sears repairman to come sometime between 8 and 5. It is now 10:00 AM and no repairman. Since this product obviously has many problems, I don't understand why it is still on the market, or why Lowe's sells it!

My mother had to get a new water heater in Oct. 2007 (Whirlpool Model BFG1F4040S3). It lasted four months and then it would not stay lit. I called for help and just like everyone else, I got someone in India and was advised the same thing - $20 for three days. We did have our own plumber come because my grandmother died. We had to have hot water because we had company coming in. My plumber talked to them and could not get it fixed after $75. My mother did talk to a manager at Lowe's and told her that my grandmother died. She was told to bring it back.

I bought this water heater at Lowe's. The first 2 years wasn't too bad. I would have to relight the pilot light every spring and every fall. On the third year, it started turning off 3 to 4 times a month. I called the 800 number to complain and I found out there were a lot of people having problems with the type of water heaters staring with model #FG. They told me they would send me new and updated thermostat for that model. It worked okay for about 8 months, then it started turning off every spring and fall again. Then it went back to 3 to 4 times a month again. I called them again. This time, they sent me the new thermostat and new pilot assembly to install again. Both times I had to hire a local plumber to install these parts.

I bought the Whirlpool BFG1J4040T3NOV 40-gallon flame guard gas water heater from Lowe's and had it installed by a professional in late 04/2008. This week, the pilot light stopped staying lit. Re-lighting it only works for one heating cycle, and then it goes out again. It has a 12-year warranty, so I did an Internet search for Whirlpool water heater warranty to find the hotline to call for warranty claims. I ran across this site in the process, and realized I was among hundreds of other consumers facing the exact same problem within the first year of owning the unit.

Six months ago, I replaced the old assembly unit under the water heater with the new enhancement kit with the white button to reset it. Six months later, this has failed again because the pilot light is still not working. I bought a new thermocouple thinking it will solve the problem but it did not. Now, I am waiting on the gas control valve or thermostat (whatever they call the box with the dial now). Hopefully, this will solve the problem. If it does not, then I have no idea what else it could be. Now is the fourth day without hot water and I am never buying a Whirlpool product again.

The thermocouple on our Whirlpool water heater (Model # FG1F4034T3NOV /Serial # 0349109409) has repeatedly gone out at least four times over the past three to three and a half years. The most recent occurrence happened last week on 4/1/09 upon which American water heaters said we could go pick up the new part for free at Lowe's. However, the part was not available at any Lowe's store within our area. Over the years, we have basically gone many days without hot water in having to get someone out here and resolve the issue. On top of that, we have spent over $500 in just service calls in repairing this issue. In dealing with Whirlpool/American water heaters, they have offered no help.

I purchased a Whirlpool FG3030S LP gas fired water heater two years ago. The pilot went out on the unit but would re-light for one heating cycle and then go off again. I went back to Lowe's store where the heater was originally purchased. No replacement thermocouples were available and the defective thermocouple has left hand threads. Common thermocouples would not work. I ended up at another Lowe's 35 miles from the last. I was told the original thermocouple is obsolete and I would need a burner replacement kit.

I purchased a Whirlpool flame lock gas water heater from Lowe's and have had nothing but problems. The pilot light will not light and have had plumber out multiple times. When I finally got Whirlpool on the phone, of course, he was from India and I couldn't understand a word. We finally got someone who could tell me they would have someone here by Monday (4/6/09). It has been 10 days that we have no hot water. They just called and said the service tech was on vacation so they couldn't come out until 4/15/09. Unbelievable! Not no, but hell no. I have my 86-year old dad living with me and that is just not good enough. Whirlpool and Lowe's should be ashamed of themselves!

The smart box has broken twice. The second time, the wires were burnt down to the copper yet it failed to throw the circuit breaker. It is a fire waiting to happen. If my family dies in a fire, I want this complaint on record. I can't afford a new water heater. This one is only 4 or 5 years old. Whirlpool told me that they have no problems with the smart box and have received no complaints about the wires. I am scared for my family's safety.

I have one of these FG Whirlpool water heaters. It came with the house I bought and it started acting up about two years ago. I found, at least then, that if I tap on the gas lines as I held the pilot, I could get the pilot to stay lit, and it would last a day or two. One day, in utter frustration, I really banged on it hard, and it has worked for the last 18 months or so. Now, I am back to re-lighting it almost daily, and although I still have to beat on it to make it stay lit, it won't stay for more than a few hours. I am not sure what to do.

I purchased a water heater in February of 2003 and mine does not work now. I heard that they are defective. Can I get a reimbursement?

I purchased a new Whirlpool Flame Lock 40 gallon natural gas water heater from Lowe's in North Canton, OH in November 2008. From the beginning, the heater would not heat enough water to take a bath or shower. We turned the thermostat all the way up and still did not have enough hot water. I drained the water tank and refilled it; still the same problem.

I bought a Whirlpool electric water heater less than eight years ago. The heater had twelve-year warranty. When I contacted the company, they did not respond to my email. Save your money and don't pay extra for a water heater with long warranty. They will just ignore you. Get an HWH from a local plumbing supply instead. It is much cheaper than Lowe's or Home Depot.

We purchased a Whirlpool water heater one year ago from Lowe's. A year after installation, it quit working. Whirlpool fixed it under the warranty on Friday afternoon. Today is Saturday and it's not working again. We were without hot water for days before we got it fixed the first time. I can't get anyone out here to fix it again until Monday. I talked to a plumber other than the one who fixed it and they wouldn't even come out to work on the Whirlpool water heaters due to their known problems! Why is Whirlpool selling this piece of junk? And why is Lowe's continuing to sell Whirlpool products for them?

Our Whirlpool gas water heater suddenly will not keep on pilot. I had a plumber out who got the thing to light, but two hours after he left, the pilot went out. I could relight the pilot and heat up the water for less than 24 hours before it went out again. Then, as soon as I released the reset button when I tried to get the blasted thing working again, the pilot would go out before being able to turn the unit on. The plumber said that it if didn't continue to work, he could replace the electronics for $275, plus $85 to pick up the unit, which seemed absurd, to say the least.

I purchased a 40-gallon water heater from Lowe's in 2008. Eleven months later, the pilot went out and would not light. When I went to Lowe's, they were rude and said that they would give me a part but I had to call the warranty department in Tennessee to request a piece of paper so that Lowe's can give me a part. I told them that I did not want a free part to put on a defective hot water system and demanded that they credit my Lowe's card. They would not do it. I had previously called the American Water Co. that makes this piece of junk in Tennessee and they wanted to charge me $30.00 to send me a part. After 11 months? I don't think so.

Please add my name to the list for Whirlpool gas-fired water heater model BFG with the Flame Lock Safety System. My problem was the same as so many others on your website. The gas control valve failed to work after only 14 months of use. Whirlpool's action/performance to resolve this was abysmal. We were without hot water for a week, and would have been without even longer had it not been for their contractor taking pity on us and providing us with a replacement control valve until the Whirlpool back ordered valve finally showed up on March 25th, 2009 - two weeks after the problem was brought to their attention (March 12, 2009). To boot, Whirlpool never let us know (nor their contractor, Sears) that the part had been back ordered. We were both expecting to receive this on 3/16, then 3/17. What incredibly lousy customer service! Moreover, Whirlpool told us that the next time it fails, it's on us! From other complaints I have read on your website, we can more or less count on this. Shame on you, Whirlpool.

We had a problem with the Whirlpool flame guard water heater. The pilot won’t light up. We got a replacement from Lowe's, but it still won't light. We called the plumber service, who determined that the replacement part was defective. We got a new one but during installation, the screw to mount the unit breaks off. We called Whirlpool and they told me to drill out the screw, which doesn't work. They are going to send new a piece which should arrive in 48 hours, so I'm looking at a minimum of 72 hours with no hot water. I asked Whirlpool to compensate with a hotel room so the family could shower, but they told me, "No way". I'm lucky they are waiving the shipping charge on the piece they are sending out.

I purchased a new Whirlpool 50-gallon water heater and I couldn't even get through one shower without constantly adjusting the water to a warmer setting. As I can see, there are numerous complaints about Whirlpool water heaters purchased at Lowe's. I can't believe they still sell this brand.

Pilot goes out, it won't light. I have replaced the thermocouple 3 times. The last time was 2 weeks ago. Now, it's out again. It is still under warranty. Evidently, that doesn't mean anything to Whirlpool. I am writing this for my mother. She is 87 years old and doesn't need this hassle. Either get out and fix it or bring out another one. If something isn't done and soon, this water heater will be sitting in front of her house with a huge sign explaining why it isn't in her house, working. Thank you.

I purchased Model# EE3Z80AD055V from Lowe's in October 2008. This morning, I went to let the dogs outside, walked into the laundry room, turned on the light and the control board on the hot water heater is smoking! I turned the power off to unit from circuit breaker box and the top of plastic control box has melted and inside wires were fried.

I purchased a 50 Gal. Flame Lock water heater from Lowe's about 9 months ago. The flame will not stay lit. I called Whirlpool and spoke with some guy in India who took all my information. He told me that I would need to call the repairman and gave me the 800 number which happens to be the Sears repair dept. He went on to say that the part would be sent to me and the repairman would come and install it at no charge. I just got a call from the repairman dept. and the female voice on the phone informed me that the repairman could not make it out for 4 days. I told her that I would make the repair myself and ask her if she could go without hot water for 5 days.

year warranty. Have children with no hot water, have to wait for replacement part from Whirlpool then have to call Public Service and Gas co. to try and fix problem. Then months later the same thing happens. Whirlpool should replace the heater or give back the purchase price for water heater. We paid for a product that doesn't work as stated. They should have stated water heater has problem with pilot light going off. Then I could have made the choice to have this inconvenience. Whirlpool tells you they know about the defects. Well FIX the problem so it doesn't keep happening.

year warranty. Have children with no hot water, have to wait for replacement part from Whirlpool then have to call Public Service and Gas co. to try and fix problem. Then months later the same thing happens. Whirlpool should replace the heater or give back the purchase price for water heater. We paid for a product that doesn't work as stated. They should have stated water heater has problem with pilot light going off. Then I could have made the choice to have this inconvenience. Whirlpool tells you they know about the defects. Well FIX the problem so it doesn't keep happening.

We purchased a new Whirlpool Water Heater with Flame Lock on April 2, 2008. On December 28, 2008 it stopped working. The pilot light went out and would not stay lit. After 4 days and no hot water, Whirlpool sent another Flame Lock Kit at our shipping expense. It was installed by a certified plumber. ONE HOUR later, it went out and would not restart. I called Whirlpool back and they can send another part. 9 days without hot water!

This is NOT an actual complaint. It is some insight! I could not get the pilot light to stay lit. I went to Lowe's to get a new thermocouple. It was the wrong thread. After taking it apart and figuring it out, I went online and found this website www.flamelocksupport.com. I just ordered a new manifold assembly for $8.00 shipping parts free!

I had purchased a Whirlpool water heater for our home (model number BFG1F4034T3NOV). In the middle of December, the pilot light went out. We had to relight the pilot light every time we needed hot water. It constantly goes out. Our technician has replaced 3 parts on this and may I remind you, I bought it in April of 2008. I have been trying to light the pilot light all day today. So far I have had no luck in getting it to stay lit. I am beyond frustrated and have 2 small children. This is a huge mess and inconvenient to me and my family. Never will we buy anything with the label of Whirlpool again.

My 10-month old Whirlpool LPG water heater model: BFG1F4040S3PV went out. After dealing with them for six days, three different parts, and three plumber service charges, I finally went and purchased a different heater so I could have hot water. They will not even talk to me about reimbursing me for the original purchase price.To have hot water in my house, it has cost me $388.43 for the original, $250 for service and installation, and $463.00 for a new water heater. That is a total of $1,101.43.

In 8/16/04 I purchased a Whirlpool gas water heater with flame lock safety system (model FG1H4040T3NOV, serial 0430101786). Since purchasing this unit, I have had to replace the thermocouple 4 times (10/4/05 - $182.00, 2/28/06 - $133.00, 8/23/06 - $85.00, 7/08 - friend installed). Each time I called the Whirlpool 800 number, what a runaround. The third coupler failure (8/23/06), Whirlpool sent out a Filter Guard kit (basically a plastic screen that encircles the base of the water heater. This is to keep the accumulation of dust down). I am also told to clean the flame trap every three months. Not easy to do. Doesn't seem to matter because coupler still fails.

I purchased a Whirlpool BFG 30-gal natural gas water heater in May 2008. It's Jan. 5, 2009 and there is no hot water. The pilot light won't stay lit. I went to Lowe's and got the manifold kit. It didn't work. I called Whirlpool and did their troubleshooting tips. Still, the pilot light won't stay lit. I'm going to hound them but I think I will go elsewhere, Home Depot maybe... This Whirlpool water heater is junk.