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Whirlpool Water Heaters

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Steve of Battle Ground, IN November 20, 2009

Similar to others on this rant. Whirlpool water heater purchased at Lowes (why do they still sell these things). Pilot would not stay lit. WH still under warranty. Called warranty department. Was told to get conversion kit, free, at Lowes. Just ask for part A6910810. Personnel at Lowes looked at me like I was crazy. Called warranty department again. Asked them to ship it - of course, at my expense. If you happen to also arrive at this point, PLEASE NOTE - THE INSTALLATION DIRECTIONS ARE INCORRECT. When it comes to the pilot tube connection, the directions say to hand tighten the nut and ferrule to the controller. Then, run the pilot tube through "until tube bottoms out then tighten nut with wrench". If the tube "bottoms out" and is not through the ferrule, tightening will crimp the ferrule - making it unusable. At this point, you will discover that it is an odd (metric ?) size that cannot be replaced. INSTEAD, push the nut and ferrule over the tube. Insert the tube into the controller until it bottoms out. Then, slide the nut and ferrule up to the controller and tighten, being careful that the pilot tube stays pushed tightly into the controller (does not slip back, allowing ferrule to miss connection.

Julie of Ashdown, AR November 19, 2009

I purchased a Whirlpool hot water heater from Lowes last Dec. I had alot of trouble with the pilot lite going out. I called Whirlpool and they told me the water heater had a 6yr warnty the first year was with parts and labor. The next five years was just parts. One of the customer rep. said that they were having trouble with that hot water heater, but whirlpool would make it right.

The whole time I have had it, the hot water heater has been repaired every two months, they have been coming out and fixing the same thing. I think have because they won't tell you whats wrong. They even tryed to blame it on the installer. My renters have been out of hot water on weekend and hoidays, that realy [is bad] when you have family coming over and no hot water. I got sick of it so I went to Lowes at 10:00 one night and I wouldn't leave until something was done. At this time the 1yr warnty is about up. Lowes called Whirlpool and got me an RA number to exchange the hot water heater.

I got the new hot water heater home and installed it. It worked fine for about a month, guess what, thats right pilot light went out again. Called Whirlpool and they told us there is a little button on the side, and to push it and the pilot will light, we did. It will not stay on, they are taking cold showers again or halling water from the stove again. Does anyone no how many trips it takes to get hot water from you stove to the tub, my renters said about eight and it still don't give you alot of hot water.

Well I bought extended warnty from lowes, when I got the new one they told me that I would never have to talk to Whirlpool again. Boy how dumb am I. This time I call to get lowes to fix it, you Know what they told me Call Whirlpool, Why because I have a 1yr warnty because it is a brand new hot water heater. Whirlpool said "No the warnty is when you bought your last one", it ends in Dec. 10,2009. Lowes said that they could not start covering it intill next Oct. because I have a new one and Whirlpool covers it for the first year parts and labor.

I called Whirlpool back they are mailing me the part I asked them if they were going to send someone out to fix it they told me that they would reburse me up to 75.00 for some to come and fix it. Ya right, like I know were to send the bill. The bill probley wouldn't get there untill Dec.10 and the warnty would be over. Whirlpool also said when I took back the other water heater if I would of paid any more money to get the new one than my warnty would of started all over again.

I called Lowes and told them that Whirlpool would not send anyone out. Lowes is sending someone to put in the part but I know its not over yet. Lowes said that if anyone has to come out and fix it alot then I will have to contact Whirlpool and get them to give me another one. I just want my money back for the water heater. All Lowes carries is a Wirlpool brand.

If anyone gets anything from this please don't buy from Whirlpool and I'm starting to wounder about Lowes. See you cant bring it back to Lowes and get your money back, you have to talk to Whirlpool and they will never make it right or give you your money back. Dose anyone know what I should do? Renters not having hot water for weeks! I can not keep taking time from work to keep calling or trying to take care of this and its not doing any good.

Rayne of Kansas City, KS November 17, 2009

My whirlpool water heater wouldn't lite, Ismelled gas and called the gas company. A Tech came out , fixed the gas leak and tried to restart the water heater, it wouldn't stay on,he said he thought the thermo couple was bad. I called the toll-free # because Lowe's and no one else had the part to fix it, this was Fri Nov.13, 2009. Whirlpool said they would over night the part at no charge except a 20.00 fee for shipping. It was there the next day, a different person said that it was scheduled to ship and be here Monday 11-16-09 and I would not be charged shipping. It came I installed it today 11-17-09, still wouldn't light.I called whirlpool again the man had me disconnect the igniter switch ans press the button 15 to 20 times, no spark, he said I could pick the part up at any plumbing store or Lowe's and if I mailed the reciept they would reimburse me since it is still under warranty. Well, no one here has the part, I called 12 different places. Called whirlpool again, they are shipping me the part, will arrive Thur.Showering at the nieghbors for 5 nights, I am going out tonight to buy a different water heater.

Etta of Jonesboro, GA November 17, 2009

I just found out about the Class Action Lawsuit for the Whirlpool hot water heater with the left hand therocouple, and I have had to wait 5 days to get this past repaired. The part came in today and we had to pay an additional 20 to have it rushed from Whirlpool. Whirlpool told the plumber that the part can be purchased at Lowe's, but every Lowe's that the pluber went to said they never have the part, and it has been on back order for a while. This is a monopoly and an inconvenience to me who is already recuperating using a wheelchair, and then I could not even take a hot shower and it cost me 350 for the repairs.

barry of Torrance, CA November 14, 2009

I purchased a water heater from Lowes in 2004 and the piolit lights won't stay lit. The conversion kit I need is on back order. What can I do? Model # FG1H4040T3NOV

P. of Moorhead, MN November 13, 2009

Bought our Whirlpool hot water heater in 2008.Pilot light will not stay lit. Replaced the part once and 6 months later it went out again. Why is Lowes not held responsible for something they knew was a problem and still continued to sell them. They should be forced to replace all of them with one of equal value.

David of Sterling, KS November 12, 2009

Hot water heater quit working on Sunday morning, November 9, 2009. Tried to relight it between 1:30 AM and 3:30 AM on Monday, November 10, 2009, so my wife could have a hot shower before going to work. Could not get it lit. Called the service number listed on the warranty paper and got someone in India named Ray. Ray told me a new thermocouple would be shipped out and I would receive it on Tuesday. Called again Tuesday afternoon when the part arrived to find it had not shipped. Talked to Ray's supervisor Peter to ensure the part would be sent. He said it would arrive today, Thursday, November 12, 2009. Went to Lowes where we bought it to ask for a new replacement. Salesman told us it was a kit and he had them on backorder. Our name was put on the list. Salesman also told us the manufacturere rushed to modify the water heaters because of a government mandate and that caused the product to be defective. The representatives at the Indian call center kept telling me to buy a universal thermocouple and put it in to fix the problems.

When I called three local hardware and plumbing supply businesses they all said this was a thermocouple with a left handed thread and wouldn't work nor could they get the part. My local hardware store said they had received a letter from American Standard saying these thermocouples were no longer available for them to stock. Four days without a shower or hot water. My wife is going to friends houses to shower and I will be doing that too. How water heater was purchased on October 7th, 2008 at Lowe's, long after these products and the class action suit was settled. Lowe's is knowingly selling a defective product. After reading the reviews on this website, it seems to me I need to buy another water heater from someone other than Lowe's and a brand other than Whirlpool.

gary of joplin, MO November 12, 2009

hot water heater I"ve replaced burner ass. three times the last two years and have done without hot water for days.

John of Mascoutah, IL November 11, 2009

Follow-up to 11-10 Failure. Received igniter via UPS and installed it. Support had me reset thermal switch. Documentation on thermal switch reset is unclear. 11-7 support person said button in center does not move. Today support person said it moves slightly. Discussion of 11-7 failure we agreed that malfunction could be dirt clogging orfice preventing gas flow. Door assembly was removed burner and orfice cleaned. Door assembly was re-installed. Pilot and main burner lit. Will monitor.

Jill of Holt, MI November 11, 2009

I purchased a 50 gallon Whirlpool water heater from Lowes 2-18-04. On 4/3/07 I purchased and paid to replace the gas valve. On 4/23/07 I replaced the thermocouple. On 12/24/08 I called plumber because I couldn't get water heater to restart. Plumber restarted water heater. On 11/2/09 I called plumber again to restart water heater but plumber couldn't get it to stay on. I replaced hot water heater 11/3/09.

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