fidelfs
Member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2007
- Messages
- 523
Hi all,
I don't initiate post much but this time I think I will do it.
I bought my house brand new in 2000 in Houston, TX. Ryland followed all of the building codes at the time. You know builders; they install a lot of the utilities builder grade (not the best quality). My water heater was on its last leg last year. I decided to go to the Home Depot (HD) and bought a new GE gas water heater, with 12 year warranty (yeah, right?) and cost me about $600.00 and I paid close to $600 more to install it in my attic. I know, I know, the installation was a rip off but I thought this way I will have HD to back the product on all angles. Covering all of my bases? or so I thought.
That was in 11/2008, I don't remember the exact day. 2 weeks later I experienced the first problem. I took a bath at night (remember November it is very pleasant in Texas at night) there was no hot water, just warm water. The next morning I got hot water again. I thought maybe the washer was on or the dishwasher was washing a load, so I didn't follow up.
This happened again 2 or 3 weeks later in December at night (Again December is chilly at night in Texas) and it has happened ever since that moment.
I can say I am a lazy guy so I didn't follow up again.
One day in May/2009 (l still have the one full year warranty) I didn't have any hot water. It was a cold awakening when I took that bath early that morning. I went to the attic and the pilot light was off. I lit it and I said ok this could happen at any moment in time, so it?s no big deal. Then, later that very same day, when it was time for my nightly shower, no hot water.
I went to the attic and lit it again.
I called HD customer service and they told me they don't handle the warranty so I had to call GE. Big surprise, I didn't expect HD to get that low.
Well, I called GE and I had the most obnoxious and rude customer service rep. He said that they had so many complaints about water heaters and attic installation. The problem is the water heater cannot draw enough oxygen and that is an environmental problem and was not covered by the warranty. I explained to him that I don't think that is the problem because the issue arose in November and the attic was cool. (Remember I said November is pleasant in Texas ;D ) He said they don't care, and they cannot do anything. I requested service and he said they would charge me for that.
They diagnosed without even looking at the equipment. I am happy I am not dealing with GE medical because I could very well die with the way they diagnose problems.
I refused and called HD again.
I called the Atlanta headquarters, they sent a technician from Delta mechanics (GE authorized installer, that works with HD ). He said GE knows they are having problems but they are refusing to retro fit the hot waters with a high altitude valve to get more oxygen. The Federal mandates placed by the government to the manufacturers state that their products must be more efficient so the new water heaters now don't have the front panel access. It is now sealed so you cannot access it. The problem is, the new attics are really tight and in Texas (and other southern states) they are hot and there is not enough oxygen. I still have my doubts about that being the problem because the problem began in Nov/08.
Well, after several calls and cold showers, they denied the warranty claim again. The only way I can have the hot water is to set the water heater above 140 degrees, which is illegal in Texas (That is what the technician told me). They are not allowed to set the water heater hotter that ambient temperature. I, as a homeowner, can do it, but it?s still not a safe practice.
The model is SG50T12AVH00 BRAND GE and sold exclusively by HD. The technician told me all tank water heaters are having this problem (all the manufacturers). They need to retro fit with a high altitude valve to fix the problem but they have to recall nationwide or at least Texas wide and they don't want to do it.
I found GE and HD have multiple complaints (www.complaint.com, http://www.thetankatwaterheaterrescue.com/forums/forum3/1310.html and others). The first complaint was in 2003 and they are not doing anything so far.
Now, I have to buy a new one and I am unemployed since 3/2009 (IT Business), so I cannot afford it. Beware, and make your research.
I don't initiate post much but this time I think I will do it.
I bought my house brand new in 2000 in Houston, TX. Ryland followed all of the building codes at the time. You know builders; they install a lot of the utilities builder grade (not the best quality). My water heater was on its last leg last year. I decided to go to the Home Depot (HD) and bought a new GE gas water heater, with 12 year warranty (yeah, right?) and cost me about $600.00 and I paid close to $600 more to install it in my attic. I know, I know, the installation was a rip off but I thought this way I will have HD to back the product on all angles. Covering all of my bases? or so I thought.
That was in 11/2008, I don't remember the exact day. 2 weeks later I experienced the first problem. I took a bath at night (remember November it is very pleasant in Texas at night) there was no hot water, just warm water. The next morning I got hot water again. I thought maybe the washer was on or the dishwasher was washing a load, so I didn't follow up.
This happened again 2 or 3 weeks later in December at night (Again December is chilly at night in Texas) and it has happened ever since that moment.
I can say I am a lazy guy so I didn't follow up again.
One day in May/2009 (l still have the one full year warranty) I didn't have any hot water. It was a cold awakening when I took that bath early that morning. I went to the attic and the pilot light was off. I lit it and I said ok this could happen at any moment in time, so it?s no big deal. Then, later that very same day, when it was time for my nightly shower, no hot water.
I went to the attic and lit it again.
I called HD customer service and they told me they don't handle the warranty so I had to call GE. Big surprise, I didn't expect HD to get that low.
Well, I called GE and I had the most obnoxious and rude customer service rep. He said that they had so many complaints about water heaters and attic installation. The problem is the water heater cannot draw enough oxygen and that is an environmental problem and was not covered by the warranty. I explained to him that I don't think that is the problem because the issue arose in November and the attic was cool. (Remember I said November is pleasant in Texas ;D ) He said they don't care, and they cannot do anything. I requested service and he said they would charge me for that.
They diagnosed without even looking at the equipment. I am happy I am not dealing with GE medical because I could very well die with the way they diagnose problems.
I refused and called HD again.
I called the Atlanta headquarters, they sent a technician from Delta mechanics (GE authorized installer, that works with HD ). He said GE knows they are having problems but they are refusing to retro fit the hot waters with a high altitude valve to get more oxygen. The Federal mandates placed by the government to the manufacturers state that their products must be more efficient so the new water heaters now don't have the front panel access. It is now sealed so you cannot access it. The problem is, the new attics are really tight and in Texas (and other southern states) they are hot and there is not enough oxygen. I still have my doubts about that being the problem because the problem began in Nov/08.
Well, after several calls and cold showers, they denied the warranty claim again. The only way I can have the hot water is to set the water heater above 140 degrees, which is illegal in Texas (That is what the technician told me). They are not allowed to set the water heater hotter that ambient temperature. I, as a homeowner, can do it, but it?s still not a safe practice.
The model is SG50T12AVH00 BRAND GE and sold exclusively by HD. The technician told me all tank water heaters are having this problem (all the manufacturers). They need to retro fit with a high altitude valve to fix the problem but they have to recall nationwide or at least Texas wide and they don't want to do it.
I found GE and HD have multiple complaints (www.complaint.com, http://www.thetankatwaterheaterrescue.com/forums/forum3/1310.html and others). The first complaint was in 2003 and they are not doing anything so far.
Now, I have to buy a new one and I am unemployed since 3/2009 (IT Business), so I cannot afford it. Beware, and make your research.
