So our 6-year-old Whirlpool electric water heater tank failed and dribbled water on the floor. Fortunately, I spotted the leak before it flooded the basement: I look at the heater just about every time I venture into the Basement Laboratory Electronics Wing. Judging from the mildew & fungus growing on the wooden base I built for it, though, I haven’t been doing a good job of walk-by inspecting. In my defense, the visible wooden edge is 3/8″ thick below the dark rim of the heater.
I turned off the inlet & outlet ball valves, flipped the breaker off, routed a garden hose out the door, laid the end in an old cake pan, and drained the tank. The pan collected a fair amount of rusty grit (and more washed down the driveway), which means the glass-lined tank was suffering from internal rust.
A call to the Warranty Hotline produced an Indian-subcontinent accented voice, who told me that I had to get a licensed plumber to tell them that it was, in fact, rusted out. “Any plumber in the phone book will do”, he said, “Just have them call this number and we will verify the situation with them.”
My back of the envelope, confirmed by friends, is that it’d cost about $150 for a plumber to drop in. Oh, and this was on a Saturday morning, which means it might be a while later and bit more expensive than that. Paying somebody $75/hour to wait on hold didn’t seem attractive.
A new heater of the same general nature is $400, give or take.
Soooo, in round numbers, I’d be spending half the cost of the “free” replacement just to find out if Whirlpool would honor the warranty.
I was ready to just cut my losses and buy another heater when my friend Aitch suggested two simple alternatives:
- Call the warranty line again, point out that this is the Internet Age, and offer to send them pictures of the problem, along with a statement that I was being truthful.
- Spend the $150 to ship the dead heater to the office of the Whirlpool CEO with a note describing the situation
I picked the first option and had a brief conversation along these general lines:
- paying nearly half the price of a new heater for an “evaluation” is absurd
- the leak was near the top; even the caps over the heating elements were rusted
- the grit shows that tank has internal rust, so it’s not external corrosion
- I’ll send pictures anywhere you want
Much to my astonishment, the pleasant voice gave me a replacement authorization! No pictures needed.
Knock me over with a feather…
So I hauled the corpse back to Lowe’s, swapped it out for a new one, and away I went.
Now, it’s worth noting that the new heater has a 12-year tank warranty, not the lifetime one that came with the original purchase. Given my experience with the first one, we’ll see what happens; I suppose they learned how expensive a lifetime warranty can be.
Overall, a pleasant surprise, although the initial presentation wasn’t encouraging in the least.
Memo to Self: Don’t ask, don’t get…
The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning 
I have a very similar possibly identical Whirlpool 50 gal electric heater from Lowes. I too have a lifetime warranty. Over the years I’ve replaced this unit a few times. No Mumbai runaround. Since they sell these retail at Lowes it is not actually possible for them to then add a ‘licensed plumber’ restriction to the warranty when you place a claim at least not where I live.
Most recently my heater was indeed replaced with a 12 year warranty unit. Whirlpool states the construction is identical to the lifetime model which Lowes no longer stocks. I was instructed to call Whirlpool back once I got the new unit, give them the serial number and they would change the warranty to lifetime on their records. I suggest you give that a try.
Thanks for the great info on anode rod maintenance!
I too have a lifetime warranty. Over the years I’ve replaced this unit a few times.
Now, isn’t that a disturbing fact of life?
I think we can figure out why the “lifetime” warranty doesn’t exist any more, although we might wonder why the construction would remain the same…
I just found out my 5o gal electric lifetime Whirlpool WH is leaking at 1:30 AM . I bought it at Lowes which is less than 2 miles away. I don’t know if I can find the receipt do I need it ? My plumber used the flex lines that came with it to hook up the water connections so I am hoping it can be done again without soldering. Is it OK to use till I can get help? It is leaking out the top but not a river if water but all the crap on the floor is wet. I cut the breaker off for the night hoping I can shower in AM. Do you think I can get it changed to lifetime like customer above ?
Without the receipt, I’d say you’re pretty much sunk. Nothing to be lost trying, but don’t get your hopes up.
It could be as simple as a loose joint between the flex tubing and the water heater. Try tightening those nuts and see if the situation improves.
However, given that it’s been running water into the insulation and over the electrical connections, I think you’re in line for a new water heater anyway.