As If I Needed Another Thing To Do

[crokett]

My wife was exercising at her studio yesterday and came home to say that the tankless water heater wasn't. I looked in the manual last night and all it says if the water is not hot enough, thermal overload may have tripped, non-serviceable and replace the unit. I called the company today. I got the unit on craigslist last year, in the box but open box and never used. Even though I have a receipt, since I didn't send in a warranty card (one was not in the box and I didn't think about it, since I got it used). I called the company, even with a receipt no warranty replacement, but I can do a couple things to troubleshoot it. They will also replace it for about 100 bucks less than new if I want.

[LCHIEN]

Heaters are very simple there's few reasons why the overtemp limit fuse goes out...
one because the heating element thermostat broke and the unit went on 100%
or two because the fuse failed open.

If the thermostat checkes out and the heater element checks out and the wiring is OK, then a replacement of the "non-servicable" thermal limit fuse may fix it for a couple of dollars.

Many of them are made by Microtemp. Look for the part number on the fuse (may looks like a little cylinder with wires coming out both end, about 0.1" dia x 1/2" long) then do a google search for Microtemp or "Microtemp TCO" and see what the temperature was, I'd guess around 150-160F for a water heater.

Good luck.

http://www.atconline.com/microtemp.htm

[os1kne]

I don't know if Loring's post will help you solve your problem or not - but I am constantly amazed by the depth and bredth of his knowledge.

[crokett]

Thanks Loring. There are some tests I can do on it to test it, I will do those tonight. After that I will look at attempting to replace the fuse although my wife needs this yesterday and is ready to go and buy a new one.

[jonmulzer]

I don't know if Loring's post will help you solve your problem or not - but I am constantly amazed by the depth and bredth of his knowledge.

Agreed. If this forum were a business that specialized in answering questions, and we were all employees, Loring would be able to build a good size home with all the "Employee of the Month" plaques.

[Tom Slick]

What is the lead time on parts?

[crokett]

Well it is looking like repair or replace. The company has offered to sell me a replacement for about 100 bucks less than new. I am not sure I have the time to diagnose the thing and repair it (my wife's clients need hot showers). I am going to call the company tomorrow to ask why it failed in the first place before I commit to buying another of their units.

[Tom Slick]

This is the issue that make me leery of tankless units. I like them but taking cold showers because parts are a couple days away is not good. They are expensive enough that the snap decision to replace is costly and still potentially still a couple days away. Last time I had an issue with my old tanked heater I found the parts at Ace Hardware and was back had hot water again in the same afternoon. Plumbers often have parts right on their truck.

[crokett]

Tank heater won't work in this application. Believe me I wanted to do it that way. Space is extremely constrained. The baby 4Gal tanks just don't have enough water to handle a shower. I called the company this morning to report that trying to fix it failed. They explained that it was a faulty part on the early runs of the model heater I have. I asked about possibly replacing the part but was told not possible. And it is some thermal limit thing but it is not an off the shelf part, and no they don't sell them. I tried to get them to replace the heater free, since it was a design flaw but no go. If I want to buy a new one discounted, I can and that one will have a lifetime warranty. It will still be a PITA to switch it out though.

[LCHIEN]

Tank heater won't work in this application. Believe me I wanted to do it that way. Space is extremely constrained. The baby 4Gal tanks just don't have enough water to handle a shower. I called the company this morning to report that trying to fix it failed. They explained that it was a faulty part on the early runs of the model heater I have. I asked about possibly replacing the part but was told not possible. And it is some thermal limit thing but it is not an off the shelf part, and no they don't sell them. I tried to get them to replace the heater free, since it was a design flaw but no go. If I want to buy a new one discounted, I can and that one will have a lifetime warranty. It will still be a PITA to switch it out though.

What Co. is it? Sound like really Chickensh*t if they had a run of faulty parts and then won't stand behind it.
$100 off how much?
Faulty parts should be replaced even if out of warranty and for no more cost that you shipping it one way if the parts aren't user serviceable.

[crokett]

The company is called American Heat. I've decided to with somebody else, after what happened this morning. I called back and said I wanted to get a new one, he said we will fax you an authorization form. I Said for what, he said to charge your CC. I said, just charge it and be done with it. He insisted on sending the form. I looked at it and there is a clause in it that says the old unit gets sent back within 10 days of receiving the new one and warranty seal is intact and it is 'not damaged beyond repair'. If any one of those is a no, they charge my card for twice the warranty cost. It is that last one that bothers me, since they could claim 'damage beyond repair' and throw it on the scrap heap and who would know differently?

[crokett]

Well the saga finally ends. After looking around on the web I discovered that the current heater we have is the best fit for the price point. Everything else that is the same price won't get the water hot enough at the GPM rate I want. So I decided to go ahead and just buy a new one, same model from a reseller. Not much more than the replacement from the company and no issues with them socking me for extra because of the 'unrepairable' clause in the replacement agreement. I also won't be rewiring or moving plumbing, etc. Anyhoo, ordered one online and they called today to say they no longer sell American Heat's products because of warranty replacmeent issues. They are sending a different one (more expensive) for the same price.

[ironhat]

Good to hear that you dodged the price increase due to company trying to make things right.

[BerniePA]

Anyhoo, ordered one online and they called today to say they no longer sell American Heat's products because of warranty replacmeent issues. They are sending a different one (more expensive) for the same price.

Did you tell them you had first hand knowledge of the issues???

[chopnhack]

Will that other companies product be a direct swap and will it give you the heat/gpm you are looking for?