Complain about a product or service

Rheem

Cathy of Camarillo, CA November 10, 2009

Had the local So.Cal Gas company come to our home for annual checkup on our gas appliances. The gas man found a bad gas leak from the GE Water control valve (which is only 1year and 10 months old). He immediately shot off the gas. Needs to be replaced. So I called the Warranty Dept. to report the problem, they said they would sent a new control valve, labor not covered. I ask why I have to pay for labor service since this a very serious matter A GAS LEAK. Their answer was "thats the warranty covers". Only the first year. I became very upset. They "did not" seem to understand that this was a very serious problem. My major complaint is that if I did not have this annual check on our gas appiances. There would have been a VERY BAD GAS LEAK. I feel they should pay for the labor costs. I feel this could be a major problem to other people who should be made aware of.

Cathy of Port St. Lucie, FL September 6, 2009

This is my THIRD Rheem water heater, I had had to pay installation for in 2 years and not to mention the damages. They tell you to keep the product stickers. Well the plumber needs them to replace the water heater. All they mention is home owners insurance and I am out 900 in installation fees... Don't buy one it is not worth the torment or unexpected expence to replace a product three times and not know if your going to do that how many times.

Lisa of Strasburg, PA July 11, 2009

When we bought our home it had a Rheem water heater. 5 years into the 7 year warranty the heater went out and flooded our basement. We had to have the carpeting and paneling replaced. The damages were 10,000.00 Rheem sent us a replacement heater. Less than 5 years later the heater split at the seam and flooded our basement again. When we called Rheem they told us that our replacement water heater was only under warranty under the first heater and they were not going to do anything for us. We had to pay for a new water heater (definitely not a Rheem!). We are still waiting for the final cost of the repairs this time.

Diane of Castleton, NY July 6, 2009

I called Home Depot to install a water heater. They sent a plumber and a Rheem water heater. It was 50 gallons, gas, came with a 12 year warranty, and had a no need to bleed warranty. I noticed a slight decease in my hot water amount. Called a plumber to repair or advise. He advised me that the entire basement was flooded.

The entire basement was flooded. There was mold on the walls. They had to be removed as well as the ceiling and carpeting. Home Depot gave me a new tank. Rheem advised me to contact my homeowner's insurance. Stated that they would pay the deductible on the phone. Received a letter stating that I must provide color photos of the plumber installing the tank and numerous other ridiculous requirements.

Francine of Irving, TX June 2, 2009

Rheem gas water heaters came with the house we built in 2001. One failed in 8/2007, the other is working, no sign taht it will fail or is going to fail. The water heater that failed cause over 5K in damages, etc. They denied my claim because they did not get a chance to review the water heater. I have a report from the plumber that installed the original water heater and they installed the replacement water heater saying that the water heater failed due to manufactor defect because they way it failed, the erosion was from the inside out. As a result it cause undue pressure to build up and explosive escape from whichever avenue it can escape from. In my case, the pressure escape via the top of the tank. The plumber said that it could have been just as easily escape from the welding seam. It just so happened that it did not on this particular water heater.

Looking at it from afar, you would not know anything was wrong with it except for a few eroded spots on the top of the tank. Rheem try to blank the damage to my property on a catch-pan, which didn't come into play when the water is spewing from the top of the tank causing damage to the surrounding area of my attic, which leaked into one of my Jack-N-Jill bedroom and closet. Damage to everything in that closet and 1/3 of the room, then leaked down to my dinning room causing damage to my chanderlier shades, rug, table cloth and various chairs. Not to mention the newly installed bamboo wood flooring.

Clifford of Hudson, IA May 8, 2009

I purchased a new Richmond (Rheem) Gas Water Heater Model 6G50PV-42F 04/11/08. Approximately every 3-4 months the heater stops working. To return the heater to service requires me to remove the burner assembly and use a vacuum cleaner and shop air pressures to suck and blow out the shut off damper air passages due to the design limitations. Rheem refuses to accept responsibility for the heater not working, claiming the enviroment around the heater is too dirty for the unit to operate properly in. The heater is in my basement in the same location a previous gas water heater that operated with no problem for 13 years. Rheem has installed a shut off damper through which all air must past to the burner for safety reasons. I propose the damper membrane holes are too small and become easily plugged which blocks off the air supply. The new design hot water heater I have will not operate in a normal home enviroment as would the old design without the damper assembly.

Rheem refuses to stand behind their product and is not a supplier I would recommend. I have filed a complaint with the Consumer Product Safety Commission concerning this product.

john of naples, FL April 27, 2009

I purchased a 19 gallon water heater 3 years ago. After three elements, I put a new one in. 3 weeks later it burned an element out, it was set to factory heat settings.

Delbert of Sevierville, TN April 3, 2009

Delbert of Sevierville TN (04/03/09)
When the unit starts running there is a bad odor coming from the vents this just started happening and the company came out and put a part on the unit and charged me 300.00 dollars and the problem is still there

my home is unbearadle with this smell to live in plus i was out 300.00 for nothing

William of Bettendorf, IA February 27, 2009

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