Consumer Reviews of American water heaters

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Date created: 2013-05-20 Name: R.G.
Location: Pearland, TX

Satisfaction Rating:

Review:
"Terrible Product, Ineffective Customer Support"
I am having my own American water heater nightmare right now. Long story short, both my awh water heaters (installed in parallel) went out last Friday. In both cases, the pilot would simply not stay lit. After calling customer service, they sent me the pilot/thermopile assemblies for both tanks. They arrived Monday. I installed one, tried it, and it didn't work. Exactly the same problem. I called again. The Rep indicates he will send the control box for the tank in which I replaced the pilot assembly, but he would not send it for the other tank until I replaced the pilot assembly. I argued with him to no avail. It is logical that if both went at the same time and replacing the pilot assembly in one wouldn't fix it, it wouldn't fix the other. His answer: "not necessarily". So, he preferred to continue wasting my time and an unnecessary replacement part that to help fixing the problem. Of course, I went ahead and replaced the pilot assembly in the second water heater. Guess what? It didn't work. So now I am trying to contact them again to get the box for the second heater. Oh! And of course, they send you the part, but either you have to install it or spend the money to have it installed by a technician. Let me understand that: their crappy product went out after only 18 months of use, and I have to pay to fix it. Conclusion: stay away from this shoddy brand!

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Date created: 2013-03-25 Name: Daryl
Location: Dallas, Tx

Satisfaction Rating:
Review:
"American Water Heater"
I purchased my home in 2004 and the builder installed two fifty gallon American water heaters with a 6 year warranty. The units are quiet and consistently deliver hot water on demand. I have not had any problems with the unit in nine years. However, I was not aware that I needed to flush the units and I now have a sediment build-up that is evident by a popping sound. I was able to quiet the popping by flushing the unit. Since the two units sit in a walk-in attic above my master bedroom, I'm going to proactively replace the units. I am researching units but could very well go with American once again.

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Date created: 2013-02-21 Name: Hurt Gutlei
Location: philadelphia PA

Satisfaction Rating:
Review:
"50 glns natural gas"
As a plumber contractor, I do not recommend anyone to buy or install these American water heaters. The water heater was installed about six months ago and it failed. So we called the customer support center and we did troubleshooting for two hours they finally decided to get the part from Lowes. Lowes had asked me to bring in the old part in exchange for the new part, the installation did not work. Called again, back to the home depot. Got the new part drained the water heater and installed the new part light it up the water heater exploded at the bottom. Called again they asked to do more trouble shooting I refused to light it up again after the explosion, customer said to make an appointment with the technician to look at the problem I had to pay them, I’m tired of trouble shooting, trips to lowest, phone calls, bullshit. I finally replaced the water heater for a Bradfor white water heater because I know that this is a good quality product. Not crap like American water heater.

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Date created: 2013-01-31 Name: Imjesayin
Location: Tustin, CA

Satisfaction Rating:
Review:
"AMH DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS"
I bought a home 2 years ago in 2011. The previous homeowner bought an American Water Heater in 2004 with a 12 year warranty. The warranty has a clause stating that the warranty only applies to the original purchaser. Now I had had several problems in the last year with keeping the pilot lit. I've had thermal couplers replaced (twice), and replaced a valve, and it is still routinely malfunctioning. I called up and (stupidly) told them I wasn't the original purchaser. They just told me to try a couple of things and nothing worked. They recommended a new gas valve. I said I want repair work done under warranty. They said, "Sorry, we won't honor the warranty because you weren't the original purchaser". I told them that this is just a greedy money-saving slimy business practice. Even if the homeowner sold the house a week after installing the water heater, they won't honor their warranty to the new purchaser. What purpose does it serve to conduct your business that way? It’s only purpose is to save money, and because they can do it. Their mindset is, "Well, the original purchaser isn't going to care about this and not buy the water heater, because it only screws over the next guy. It doesn't affect the person who bought it, so let's cut off the warranty on the product as quickly as possible." They think they can make some cost- cutting measure like this without consequences because they got nothing from me directly. But I bought this house and everything in it, and paid for it, including a water heater that came with a warranty. I spoke to 3 customer service people and a supervisor and the supervisor just says, "That’s what the warranty says." He even says he understands how I feel and it recently happened to him on something he bought! Yet he says they "Can’t" do anything. I said, no, you can, but you won’t. I told them that they are forgetting that when I have to buy a new water heater some day, it won't be from American Water Heater. They don't stand behind their products. They made their choice and that's the consequences. Don't buy American water heaters!

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Date created: 2012-05-21 Location: Minneapolis, Mn

Satisfaction Rating:
Review:
"Home water heater review"
The Mor-Flo model water heater, by the American Water Heater Group as described above, came with my house when I purchased the house over nine years ago. At the time, the water heater was less than five years old. In that time I have not had to do any repairs or maintenance. The one thing I don't like about it is that it is not as efficient as the newer models on the market today, but that is no fault of the product, rather the technology at the time. We keep the water temp very high in our house, and have never had a problem running out when showering, doing laundry or the dishes. I would absolutely buy this same brand again, if a new model was up to current efficiency standards. I have also recommended this brand to friends and family in the past, and will continue to do so in the future.

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Date created: 2012-04-24 Location: Valley Village, CA

Satisfaction Rating:
Review:
"Dissatisfied With My Pro Line Flame Guard Water Heater"
I purchase this water heater in January of 2005. Frankly, I really do not know what to look for in a water heater and so I requested this one be chosen and installed by my plumber. The one thing I do like about it is that it has an electric starter rather than a constant flame. However, it seems that just a couple of months into ownership I received a notice that a part had been recalled the heater was not safe until I had the part replaced. I had to make numerous telephone calls to get an individual on the phone who understood what the recall was about, and who could instruct me on how to order the new part and have the installation paid for. To my mind this was a sign that the heater design was released on the market before it was ready, and that the company did not well-train their customer support staff. Since the repair, I have had to turn up the temperature to get enough hot water to fill a 25 gal. tub; this is a 40 or 50 gal. water heater tank. So, I've soured on the purchase, and when it finally breaks down, I won't be purchasing another water heater from American Water Heater Company.

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Date created: 2011-11-22 Location: Butte, MT

Satisfaction Rating:
Review:
"American Water Heater"
I have owned this water heater for a few months. I like it because it has a nice temperature stat on it which makes it easy to set it to the perfect temperature. I am only somewhat satisfied with it because even though the heater is only 15 feet from the kitchen, I must wait for the water to warm up for almost 20 seconds each time I use it. I've never had any repairs needed on this heater. I would recommend this heater is a friend were to ask for my recommendations! Its a large water heater, so I can take very long showers with no problem.

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Date created: 2010-09-25 Name: phil stacy
Location: jacksonville, fl 32217

Satisfaction Rating:
Review:
"old, inefficient"
Only 40 gallon capacity; takes a long time to heat water; not energy efficient. Good points; quiet.

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Date created: 2010-09-21 Name: GABLE NEVES
Location: LAFAYETTE, CA

Satisfaction Rating:
Review:
"I'm in hot water and loving it"
I like my water heater quite a lot It never delivers cold water when I want hot. My water heater saves me plenty of dough Using fewer therms makes the meter run slow. Concern about accidents is never on my mind Built-in safety valves are just the right kind. So here's to my water heater, a shining tower There's nothing like taking a nice hot shower.

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Date created: 2010-09-18 Name: M. Burton
Location: Raleigh, NC

Satisfaction Rating:
Review:
"Red, White, & Blue is "Ready, When, Bought": American Water Heater a Winner"
After my old water heater catastrophically failed in 2007, I faced a plethora of choices for replacement. Just as there are over thirty brand names listed in this review's selection, I had to choose between brand name, price, local availability, and greatest reviews. Fortunately, my plumbing company, who I have used for over a decade, made the decision with and for me, and brought an American 50-gallon water heater into my home. I am no expert on the design, inner workings, or functionality of water heaters, but I know when something works or doesn't work, or when something makes a difference in my life, and my American water heater surely did. After installation, the water was heated and ready to use within 8 hours. It was quiet, did not make any odd or alarming noises, and unlike my previous heater, I could tell an immediate difference in efficiency, as the thermostat shut off and cycled appropriately, and did not run constantly. I could also tell a difference in the clarity and consistency of my water. It seemed cleaner, smelled better, and the temperature was controlled and consistent, with no wild swings depending on the amount of usage. After I received my next electric bill, and compared with the next several months of bills, I could tell a difference, that would no doubt assist me in paying for it over time. My electric company even gave me a credit for the efficiency rating of this heater. The instructions were easy to read, the warranty was one of the best offered on the market, and most certainly was a helpful selling point as I put my house on the market. In short, it gave me peace of mind, and in this day and age of enough things to worry about, that is priceless to me. The label of buying American might be red, white, and blue, but for an American water heater, their selling point should be "ready, when, bought."

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