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Whirlpool and American Water Heater Company
November 3 2006
A lawsuit has been filed and is seeking class action status on behalf of California customers regarding defective water heaters. The lawsuit claims Whirlpool water heaters have several design flaws that eventually lead to the malfunctioning thermocouple and the company offers no support or solution. The thermocouple is a wire that goes between the gas valve and the pilot light, but if the pilot light goes out, the thermocouple sends a signal to the gas valve to turn off the gas. Whirlpool notes homeowners can prevent the thermocouple from malfunctioning by cleaning the flame-trap and combustion chamber every three months. However, the water heater manual does not specify how frequently this needs to be done. The manual simply suggests that, "At least annually, a visual inspection should be made of the venting and air supply system, piping systems, main burner, pilot burner, and flame-trap."
Similar Whirlpool/AWHC class action suits may be tried in other states depending on the success of the California case.
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My Whirlpool gas water heater does exactly that. The American water heater (Whirlpool contractor ) sent the broken part to replace, but it only lasted three months.
This will be my last purchase on whirlpool brand. Whether water heater or oven or refrigerator or etc. As long as whirlpool brand written on it, stay away from it !
Posted by Texas
on
We have been without hot water for six days now, paid a plumber to intall the part they sent and it didn't work, we stayed at a hotel but could only afford one night and now have to go to relatives homes to shower before work and school.
Posted by California
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We have been without hot water for a total of one week, preventing us from bathing ourselves or our children, laundry and dishes. Also, though Whirlpool offered to replace the part for free, we were charged $18 twice for expedited delivery of the replacement parts by mail (three days as opposed to one week). Then, when the part arrived, it takes over an hour to install properly. In general, it was one of the most difficult and nerve-wracking home repairs that I've done.
Posted by Texas
on
Our FlameLock water heater came with our house. After about 2 1/2 years (making the unit about 3 years old) the thermacouple went out. After a lengthy wait time with a plumber to get the part and replace it (he had to use 2 parts because the first broke when being installed), it broke within 15 minutes of the plumber leaving. We were without hot water for 3 weeks. Another plumber replaced it again and it lasted from the end of Feb 07 until the summer. My husband bought a replacement part at Lowe's and replaced it himself in mid 07 saving us the plumber's fee of $60 and time out of the house. It is now Dec 07 and it is broken again. This time Lowe's no longer carries the part so it has to be ordered directly from Whirlpool costing $18 for overnight delivery. We will be out of our house for 2 days because it falls on a weekend. Now we are looking at the likelihood of having to replace this same part every 3 months and spending another 1-2 days out of our house or living with no hot water each time unless we buy a new water heater. All of which is ridiculous since the heater is supposed to have a 9 year warranty and is barely 4 years old.
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