Can anyone answer our question regarding our water heater that just
broke down yesterday?

We just moved into our dc condo last september and the water heater is
dead now. We are the 2nd owners of this new building. The condos in
our building were built in 2003.

We can't believe that the water heater broke down in 3 years. The
warranty apparently expired in january. (just our luck).

Is there anything that we could do about this? It's definitely the
fan/engine that died. Even though the warranty expired 5 months ago,
isn't it a bit soon for our water heater to die? Does the
manufacturer, condo builder, or anyone else have some responsibility to
replace it? Or is it definitely on us to buy a whole new water heater?

Thanks so much for your help!

John

We can't believe that the water heater broke down in 3 years.

I can. Developers and builders are notorius for using the bare minimum
in quality for construction.

Is there anything that we could do about this?

You could try making a few phone calls, maybe you will get lucky.

wrote:
Can anyone answer our question regarding our water heater that just
broke down yesterday?

We just moved into our dc condo last september and the water heater is
dead now. We are the 2nd owners of this new building. The condos in
our building were built in 2003.

We can't believe that the water heater broke down in 3 years. The
warranty apparently expired in january. (just our luck).

Is there anything that we could do about this? It's definitely the
fan/engine that died. Even though the warranty expired 5 months ago,
isn't it a bit soon for our water heater to die? Does the
manufacturer, condo builder, or anyone else have some responsibility to
replace it? Or is it definitely on us to buy a whole new water heater?

Thanks so much for your help!

John


Yes, it's on you. Welcome to home ownership.

Since you *know* that the "fan/engine" is bad,
source a replacement and bolt it in.
A failed part on a water heater does not mean
wholesale replacement of the *entire* unit.
Gas heaters have an average life of 10 yrs.

Jim
P.S. I will be quite surprised if the "fan/engine"
is really at fault. There are numerous control
components in the circuit, any of which can
prevent the "fan/engine" from fanning.

i could try making a few phone calls, but who would we call?

wrote:
Can anyone answer our question regarding our water heater that just
broke down yesterday?

We just moved into our dc condo last september and the water heater is
dead now. We are the 2nd owners of this new building. The condos in
our building were built in 2003.

We can't believe that the water heater broke down in 3 years. The
warranty apparently expired in january. (just our luck).

Is there anything that we could do about this? It's definitely the
fan/engine that died. Even though the warranty expired 5 months ago,
isn't it a bit soon for our water heater to die? Does the
manufacturer, condo builder, or anyone else have some responsibility to
replace it? Or is it definitely on us to buy a whole new water heater?

Thanks so much for your help!

John

Hmm,
What kind heater, gas? electric? model? Without those basic info, your
post does not mean much.

"Tony Hwang" wrote in message
news:RZncg.181519$P01.97667@pd7tw3no...
wrote:

i could try making a few phone calls, but who would we call?

Hi,
Who manages your condo building? My condo where my daughter lives is
managed by management firm who takes care of all issues common to all
owners. They must have a list of original contractors who worked on the
construction of the building. It's also odd, every condo unit has their
own heater like you. Here water heater is a huge one for the whole
building located in the basement. I pay only phone and cable bill. Rest is
all covered by monthly condo fee.
There are many different kind of condos as far as I know.

Did you get a home warranty with your newly purchased home? It's SOP with
single family homes but I am not sure about condos.

Is this a tankless job with a powered vent? Most tanks have a 5, 7 or 10
year warranty. 3 years seems very short. Most tank WH don't last more than
a year past their warranty but the failure in those cases is usually rust
through which can be reasonably predictable.

On 22 May 2006 11:16:54 -0700, "RayV" wrote:

We can't believe that the water heater broke down in 3 years.

I can. Developers and builders are notorius for using the bare minimum
in quality for construction.

Builders here get run out of town by the dozens. I figure these
heaters last about 4 years a my location. Water hardness, with our
calcium kills them; because I had softener, one lasted 10 years... it
was above the norm for those that did not have a softener.

Recent ones I bought have a 6 year warranty. I would not spend the
extra money for one with a warranty longer, say 12 years.

Is there anything that we could do about this?

You could try making a few phone calls, maybe you will get lucky.

His fish, he cleans 'em.


Oren
"My doctor says I have a malformed public-duty gland
and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore
excused from saving Universes."

wrote in message
ups.com...
Can anyone answer our question regarding our water heater that just
broke down yesterday?

We just moved into our dc condo last september and the water heater is
dead now. We are the 2nd owners of this new building. The condos in
our building were built in 2003.

We can't believe that the water heater broke down in 3 years. The
warranty apparently expired in january. (just our luck).

Is there anything that we could do about this? It's definitely the
fan/engine that died. Even though the warranty expired 5 months ago,
isn't it a bit soon for our water heater to die? Does the
manufacturer, condo builder, or anyone else have some responsibility to
replace it? Or is it definitely on us to buy a whole new water heater?

Thanks so much for your help!

John


I'd call the manufacturer. Tell them you're the building manager,
responsible for deciding what brands to purchase in the future. Tell them
you're ****ed off. Water heaters shouldn't die in 3 years.

I just had the thermocouple go on my Reliant WH, which was nothing
special. Bought it at HD maybe 5 years ago. With the serial number, I
called Reliant up and it was still under warranty. They sent me a new
one that was here in 3 days for free, including shipping.

Every WH I looked at had a warranty for longer than 3 years.

So the fan broke, if one broke on your car you would just fix it and not
consider it dead..

wrote in message
ups.com...
Can anyone answer our question regarding our water heater that just
broke down yesterday?

We just moved into our dc condo last september and the water heater is
dead now. We are the 2nd owners of this new building. The condos in
our building were built in 2003.

We can't believe that the water heater broke down in 3 years. The
warranty apparently expired in january. (just our luck).

Is there anything that we could do about this? It's definitely the
fan/engine that died. Even though the warranty expired 5 months ago,
isn't it a bit soon for our water heater to die? Does the
manufacturer, condo builder, or anyone else have some responsibility to
replace it? Or is it definitely on us to buy a whole new water heater?

Thanks so much for your help!

John


If it was me I would track down the manufacturer and get their response to
your problem. Sometimes they have known issues with their products and will
offer parts or replacement at no charge without an explanation from them.
The worst that could happen is that they tell you that they won't help.

I assume that you had a professional diagnose the problem?

"PipeDown" wrote in message k.net...

"Tony Hwang" wrote in message
news:RZncg.181519$P01.97667@pd7tw3no...
wrote:

i could try making a few phone calls, but who would we call?

Hi,
Who manages your condo building? My condo where my daughter lives is
managed by management firm who takes care of all issues common to all
owners. They must have a list of original contractors who worked on the
construction of the building. It's also odd, every condo unit has their
own heater like you. Here water heater is a huge one for the whole
building located in the basement. I pay only phone and cable bill. Rest is
all covered by monthly condo fee.
There are many different kind of condos as far as I know.

Did you get a home warranty with your newly purchased home? It's SOP with
single family homes but I am not sure about condos.

Is this a tankless job with a powered vent? Most tanks have a 5, 7 or 10
year warranty. 3 years seems very short. Most tank WH don't last more than
a year past their warranty but the failure in those cases is usually rust
through which can be reasonably predictable.

I understand that if you do regular maintainence - flushing, and anode replacement, they
last a lot longer than that. It would depend on your water, I'm sure.

Bob

wrote:
Can anyone answer our question regarding our water heater that just
broke down yesterday?
...........................................
Is there anything that we could do about this? It's definitely the
fan/engine that died.
John

Go to www.repair clinic.com. Terrific source of info, parts and advice.
Odds are they can get you back in business and save you a bundle.
Good luck.

Joe