Expert: Dana Bostick - 11/4/2009

Question
Purchased a Whirlpool hot water heater in June 2004.  About 6 months later had to replace the thermo coupler.  Fixed the problem until this past summer.  Now, pilot light won't stay lit.  Contacted Whirlpool 5 times to take care of fixing it.  They said they had a new part that we needed to pick up at Lowe's which was a conversion kit.  Picked that up and that still didn't work.  My husband was so mad he threw the part in the trash.  He cleaned out the cache thing in the bottom of it and it started working again until recently.  The whole pilot thing is happening all over again.  Tight on money but don't want another problem heater.  Do you know anything about the brand Richmond or Premier?  These are our only two low cost choices in our area.  I won't buy a GE at all!!!  They have same problem as the Whirlpool.  I understand that Whirlpool has a big class action lawsuit against them for this problem.  Help!!!

Answer
Hi Beverly,
Bummer deal!  I would stay on Whirlpool's butt big time while looking for another brand. Contact the local TV station or Radio station and see if they have a consumer reporter.  Make a big stink.
Raise hell with the vendor where you bought it as well.  If you make enough noise, they will deal with you to shut you up.

Meanwhile back at the ranch.....
There are several major manufacturers of water heaters.  They re-brand and others sell them as their own. I've never heard of Richmond or Premier out here on the left coast but that is not unusual. They are probably made by one of the following:

These are the big boys in this game:

American Water Heater Group
500 Princeton Road
Johnson City, Tennessee 37601
615-283-8000

A. O. Smith Water Products Company
5605 N. MacArthur Boulevard Suite 360
Irving, Texas    75038
800-527-1953

Bradford White Corporation
323 Norristown Road
Ambler, Pennsylvania    19002-2758
800-523-2931

Rheem Manufacturing Corporation
P.O. Box 244020
Montgomery, Alabama   36124-4020
205-260-1500

State Industries
500 By Pass Road
Ashland City, Tennessee    37015-1299
800-365-0024

Good Luck,
Dana