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Whirlpool Water Heaters

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John of Mascoutah, IL November 11, 2009

Installed BFG conversion kit Nov 7 2009. Failure encountered Nov 10. Suspect Thermocouple. Could not light pilot as original igniter failed. Called support (India)who will ship new igniter. Requested Thermocouple be shipped also. No hot water in PM or Nov 11 (Holiday) or Nov 12 until after parts are delivered and additional troubleshooting. must disconnect gas supply, pilot line, thermocouple line, remove door assy icluding burner then possibly remove clip holding thermocouple, replace thermocouple and then re-assemble and re-install door assy and reconnect supply lines. Time to next failure unknown

Julie of Georgetown, KY November 10, 2009

We purchased a whirlpool hot water heater and pilot lit would not stay lit. After talking with a plumber and searching our town for the repair parts we were told that it would be a week for the parts. Tried calling whirlpool, only for constant hold times. Never spoke with anyone. We wised up and switched our water heater to electric.

Jeff of Burlington, VT November 9, 2009

Add me to the list. I bought a Whirlpool 40 gal. water heater from Lowes. Crapped out in 13 months. Pilot light will not stay lit. Zero help from Lowes. Zero help from Whirlpool. After reading all complaints in this website, I decided to cut my loses and purchase another tank. NOT FROM LOWES. NOT A WHIRLPOOL. Shame on Lowes for selling this junk.

Alys of Garfield Heights, OH November 9, 2009

We purchased our Whirlpool water heater from Lowe's in November 2000. A couple of years later we had to replace the thermal couple - because of the class action lawsuit with Whirlpool we were reimbursed the 15 we spent. The device has gone bad again, but now we cannot get this part. The entire Burner Unit assembly needs to be replaced with a Kit Code A. We were told we could get this kit from Lowe's at no cost. I've called all the Lowe's locations in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Summit and Stark counties - everyone is out and the part is on back order.

Each store is telling me something different, but most are saying the part has been back ordered for about 1 month or longer. The stores told me to call Whirlpool directly - so I called Whirlpool. They told me I could have one shipped to me for 20 and have it in a couple of days. I don't understand why I can get it so quickly, but Lowe's is back ordered for a month or longer and furthermore, why I have to pay to have it shipped.

If Whirlpool knew this was a problem, based on the class action lawsuit and they were revising the burner unit, they should've send notices or coupons for consumers to get this taken care of. Instead, I had no idea and had to wait for mine to go out again. We've now been without hot water for four days and will add to that until we can get the Kit from Whirlpool. This is unacceptable as I had two children that require hot water for baths.

Steve of Ft Lauderdale, FL November 9, 2009

In August 2008 we had a new Whirlpool water heater (model BFG1H5040T3N) purchased from Lowe's installed in property owned in Atlanta. In October 2009 the pilot light went out. Our handyman relit it. A day later it went out again. Our handyman was unable to get it relit and told us we would probably need a new thermal coupler (after checking there were no other problems which might have caused the outage). He warned us that manufacturers would only sell entire heating unit these days and told us to call Whirlpool. I did and was told I couldn't get any service w/o a serial number.

We were not in Atlanta at the time so we called a plumber to go by. He said the serial number plate had been 'ripped off' - said unscrupulous installers may have done it. He contacted Whirlpool, but the representative wouldn't talk with him either without a serial number. He offered, at our expense and agreement, to buy two burners to see which one would fit. Whirlpool still refused to do anything without a serial number. We got ahold of the original paperwork - no serial number, just the model number. The plumber checked with Lowe's to see if they could help - they couldn't.

The time lapse alone from the point at which we engaged the plumber until a new water heater was installed (ultimately our only recourse) was seven days. Needless to say, the tenants were not happy.

John of Mascoutah, IL November 8, 2009

Bought 40 Gal Gas water Heater in 2004. Had to replace thermacouple three times which is time consuming as well as inconvenient. Yesterday, I installed BFG Conversion Kit. Install Instructions are general, incomplete and cover multiple models. I beleive a class action law suit should be initiated to recover costs and inconvenience. I beleive another failure is in my near future.

William of New Castle, DE November 8, 2009

I called about a Whirlpool water heater that quit wortking after 18 months that is under warrenty. I was given instructions to contact a repair center to fix the problem, but I would have to pay for the serice call due to a manufacturing defect. The part is covered, (about 15.00) but service will cost 90.00 plus to fix. Since Whirlpool is familiar with the problem, and continues to sell a defective product, why should I have to pay to fix (service call plus parts)for something that is under warrenty for 6 years (tank and parts)?

I have been without hot water for three days now. I have to find alterate places to shower, the dishes need to be washed, clothes washed, and had a medical emergency with a pet cat that needed an eye washed out due to oil getting into his eye, and no warm water to flush it out. Try holding a screaming, scratching cat's eye under water when it's cold. I have the scar's to prove it. Whirlpool needs to pay the whole bill since A: They know of the problem. B: They haven't recalled the Product. C: They do not make full restitution to the consumer's who purchased their product. D: Are unwilling to admit their fault. E: Unwilling to replace the defective product. F: They use their disclaimer that they cannot be liable for damages, injury, or death resulting from failure to comply to installion and operating instructions. As a consumer, I have never come across a company that is so unwilling to admit fault, and is so willing to pay for parts to fix a problem, yet unwilling to pay for the service to install them. I bought your product, now make me whole.

Joan of Carmichael, CA November 8, 2009

We purchased a Whirlpool Water Heater model #BFG2F4040T3NOV a little over a year ago. Within the first few months the pilot went out several times and had a hard time getting it to stay lit. Finally got it to stay lit, until 2 days ago. The pilot went out so we lit it and it stayed on and heated 1 tank of water and did not go back on. We had to keep relighting the pilot to have hot water.

Last night we tried to light it and it will not stay on so we have no hot water. We looked at the manuel that came with the hot water heater and while similar it is not the same water heater parts. This was The worst time for this to happen. anytime is bad, a great inconvienance. My daughter just went threw an operation. Home for a couple of days and she needs to change dressing and clean the areas. There are also 2 little boys who need baths. Trying to heat hot water on the stove to do dishes or clean up is not fun.

We went to Lowe's to see if we could get parts but they have limited parts for this model. We replaced the thermocouple, but still won't stay lit. Apparently from what I have read here and experienced so far, We should just go and buy another water heater. NOT a Whirlpool.

Brian of Orrville, OH November 8, 2009

Whirlpool hot water tank model#SG1J5040T3NOV 50gal. is only two years old and has stopped working, it has a 12 year warranty. Purchased at Lowes and they had to call six other Lowe's stores to find one with a "repair kit for our model" which happened to be 55 minutes away and now that we have "the kit" at home it doesn't even fit our model anyway. The paperwork that came with the kit is three pages long but NO MODEL #'s printed on it to associate the part with the kit. We bought it at Lowes in good faith they they only sell Quality products.... I guess the times have changed and so will our choice of where to shop next time. After reading the other experinces on this site I will just head over to Home Depot and purchase a new one from them. NOT A WHIRLPOOL!

Kathleen of Leicester, NC November 7, 2009

My plumber is now installing the 3rd water heater since Tuesday, Nov. 3rd!!! It is now Saturday Nov. 7th! To say the least I have been inconvenienced to no end, this has been expensive!!! Time consuming, I have missed important medical appointments! Lowes has been more than supportive and cooperative, but, your product is obviously NO GOOD!

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