Poor Water Heater Warranty Issues

I've had my Whirlpool 50 Gallon Energy Smart Lifetime Water Heater
EE3Z50RD055V for 24 months now without a single problem. The
difference in my now much lower power bill was quickly noticed by my
power company service - noted by their repeated meter checks per month
over a threee month period to see just how my power usage dropped so
significantly.

Previously, I used Rheem electric water heaters - two needed
replacement in roughly over 12 years each in my home. Surge damage
from storms is prevalent here, yet my Wirlpool is still serving me
with excellence - despite the added electronics that could be
damaged.

Whirlpool was easily contacted just because of so many poor reviews
appearing for this product. They sent me a new control board just in
case mine ever did fail. They also told me what to expect if it did
need replacement - a continuous flashing of the LED indicator and
erratic power application to the heater elements until a final
shutdown of service. The cause is an inexpensive capacitor that gets
blown from repeated power surges, and problems caused by improper
installations by unqualified installers who neglect proper electrical
precautions and connections. These are poor electrical connections,
improper wiring, and poor plumbing allowing leaking water to damage
components.

The simple installation of a 240 volt surge protector, available from
any electrical supply, will prevent any failure of the control board
in this product if both are properly wired and not exposed to water
damage. While I haven't bothered to install this surge protection on
my own units power, I will should the original board ever need
replacement. How do I know of this? I am an electronics engineer with
a number of electrical degrees, and a member of various institutes
such as NEMA.

I actually inspected the original control board componets in operation
on my own Whirlpool 50 gallon electric water heater and noted the
capacitor has been upgraded to a component offering greater surge
resistance on the new replacement control board. This was never a
problem of the manufacture, which shows good design for long service
life, but one related to poor installation and unfiltered power line
surges - a responsibility of the installer, owner, and/or power
service provider (other than damages resulting from acts of God).

Hopefully this will clear the air about what is a fine product of
great merit. One that actually saves large amounts of energy use.
Water heaters consume on average 1/3 of all household power demands -
a significant amount of the total power usage in all homes. The Energy
Smart designers and Whirlpool are to be commended for their efforts
with this product.

Sincerely,
A.A.

I have the same water heater, and was just told by a local plumbing
contractor to cut my losses and run for the hills. The Whirlpool
electric water heater is a danger to my family, due to the possibility
of fire. So I guess we are just s*****d by a company that I thought
was a trusted brand name.

you got what you paid for ...and nothing more......


You saved maybe $100 over what an honest Plumber--businessman in your
town would have charged you....


Now you are going to be nickled and dimed to death
by that SUB-STANDARD WHIRLPOOL water heater.....

In time, Eventually after shelling out money on repairs you will
finally throw in the towell and call your local plumber to install a
good brand of water heater like RHEEM


Maybe you did not know , BUT YOU DO NOW


WHIRLPOOL does not really stand behind thier product

they might send you crummey replacement parts every 5 months, but you
are at the mercy of their repairman..for the service costs....

I hope you have learned a valuable lesson here...

good luck

What is with all these junkie products...I have gone now to 3 rounds
with Home Depot and Ryobi..same type problem...the manager of the
dept. and 2 sales people stated that the item I had purchases was a
quality problem. Yet they don't stand behind the item...they even sent
my product off and it came back broken still.

The store manager then lectured me that they had changed their gas ran
products to a 30 day return and he would NEVER make an exception
again. I said look you guys told me if you sent it off and it could
not be repaired it would be replaced. It went off and came back
unrepaired so do something for me.

I was thinking don't worry about making any exceptions for
me...because I am finished with the HOME DEPOT!