Whirlpool Water Heaters & Lowe's Hardware

I bought a Whirlpool water heater for one of my rental properties. Later the therm cupal went bad and I called Whirlpool Corporation to fine a store that carried the part to replace the bad part. I was told Lowe's Hardware is the only store that carries Whirlpool water heater. The part is a $15.00 item. Lowe's claim they need to order it from Whirlpool and that would have it in 1 week. Whirlpool Corporation claim I can special order it and have it in 4 days. My tenant would have no hot water for 4 days for a $15 item that nobody carries including Lowe's Hardware. I instructed the repairman to replace the water now and never buy a Whirlpool water heater. Whirlpool use to make products of quality. I think they own Maytag. My wife told me they are outsource their work in China, I don't know. It is not the cost of part, but being able to get the part within a reasonable distance away and time to get it. I feel like I have been taken from Lowe's, Whirlpool, etc.

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Water Heater problem. First mistake: I purchased a Whirlpool Water heater from Lowes. I paid an electrician to install it. It did not work. We placed it back in the to return it to Lowes. When I returned it to Lowes, Lowes asked me to call a 1-877 number (customer service in India). I was told I was not allowed to return this water heater to Lowes. This item was faulty from the factory. No where on the box does it say "Do Not Return To Lowes." There is a sticker on the tank, but I bought this item in the box, and I was not able to buy this item fully informed. My second mistake was trusting Whirlpool and Lowes. I started reading about Whirlpool Water heaters and I have read complaints a mile long back from 2004.

Why is Whirlpool still making this inferior product? Why is Lowes still selling it?

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mY BROTHER HAD PURCHASED a Whirlpool water heater from lowes, and had the same problem. He had replaced thermal coupler at least 3 times and had serious problems with both Lowes and Whirlpool. Finaaly last night it had built up pressure in the tank that it popped off the relief valve causing extensive floor damage and time lost from work to repair this

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Similar problem I am having with Whirlpool Water Heater "FlameLock" from Lowe's. Purchased and had installed in June 2005 not knowing history of product. Stopped working May of 2007 , two years into it's 6 year warranty. American Water Heater Co that makes the product sent new "door" parts for installation. Parts didn't work, so I bought a new thermocoupler from Lowe's and got it working to 10/2007, that's 5 months if you're counting and now thermocoupler failed AGAIN and Lowe's no longer has the part. "Recalled by manufacture", they said this Sunday morning as I was trying to get hot bathes for the family.

I'm again working on how to get Lowe's and Whirlpool to honor a warranty. Think I'll WIN !