If a plumbing company does not advertise or post a state license number, they are not real plumbers. It is the state law to display or make evident a plumbing license number for all clients to see. If they fail to do so, it is because they are inexperienced, uninsured, or they are simply not real plumbers. They could also be “Craigslist” contractors that are in business one month, and gone the next. They most likely do not adhere to plumbing best practices and codes, nor file employee background checks, review employee criminal histories, and mandate employee drug testing. Hiring an illegitimate plumbing company can be like paying a criminal to rob you. They are taking your money without the capability of professionally backing their work. This can cost property owners more money in the long run. Always check for a license number for all plumbers and contractors before doing business with them.
Many brands of Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistant (FVIR) water heaters have a lint filter that MUST BE disassembled and cleaned by the owner quarterly (every three months) in order for it to be covered under warranty. If this is none done, the warranty is void! Several types of water heaters, softeners, and more are undergoing public and legal scrutiny because of poor design, warranties, and more. To read the long list of complaints in detail, click here. Whirlpool water heaters are basically “disposable” once they start to exhibit complications or issues of any sort. Whirlpool water heater parts are not easily available in order to have your unit repaired in a timely manner. It’s your decision how much time, money, and hindrance you want to experience before investing in a better brand. If they begin to act up, it is more lucrative to recycle them and purchase a better unit. Suggested brands include Rheem, Bradford White, Kenmore, American Standard, Koehler, and Bosch. Most warranties offer inadequate or limited labor agreements. This means after one year, or however long the warranty is in place, you will be obligated to pay out-of-pocket for all repairs unless you choose the DIY route.
Also, if your water heater unit blatantly states, “Do Not Call the Hardware Store Back for Water Heater Problems. Call this 1-800 Number for Help”, then you have been “hung out to dry” by your water heater provider. Give Weilhammer Plumbing Company a call at 317-784-1870 if this happens to you. First of all, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to install catch pan for your water heater. The combination of high water pressure and a closed-looped system should be accompanied with a T&P valve (Thermal Expansion Tank and Pressure Reducing Valve). Install a T&P valve if your home has this combination in plumbing. If you wish to pass on the service, simply tell the plumber “no thank you” and then sign off on the service. Sometimes, due to high water pressure or thermal expansion, T&P valves can open, causing a huge flood inside the home. If this has happened to you, and the pipe can be run to a drain, our Indianapolis Plumbers will do it for FREE! Call us at 317-784-1870 for more information.