I have never installed a new water heater before. This is all new to me. Just pay attention to what's happening here to me. Once he was done he was gone! Explained diddly to me! Asked him what the green flashing light was. Told me not to worry about it. Really? It actually has a purpose when it flashes certain sequences. Wouldn't take my credit card...insisted on a check.
Emails were NEVER answered. ALL 5 OF THEM struggling repeatedly to resolve this. Ignored me all 5 times. Even told him if you're sending me emails, I'm not getting them. Text or call me PLEASE! I even offered to pay to have more work done if necessary. Even NOW he refuses my attempts to resolve this. This could have all been taken care of...he'd rather spend his time posting these missives. He has my text and phone. Told him what I was doing...that I would ABSOLUTELY pay him when the issues were addressed and resolved. How can you know right after a water heater is installed if there are issues? It needs to fill up and heat. If you have issues with your Bradford White, the contractor who installed it is the one who has to address it. So 6 yr warranty is useless, and I need to start all over and pay another plumber. His solution was ghost me and NOT COMMUNICATE WITH ME, instead put a Mechanic's Lien on my property. Those are intended for when someone refuses to pay you. Not for when your customer sends 5 EMAILS you ignore. Did not give me a legal Home Improvement Contract, statutory notices or pull a permit. He was WRONG about the P Trap. He even had it apart. I put in a new one myself and cleaned out all of the really smelly crap. Never needed an $85 part. I had genuine mfg pop-ups from the faucet Co. He didn't tell me he was putting in an aftermarket piece of whatever. I wanted a 40 gal tank. He warned me I won't be able to sell my house if I don't buy a 50 gal. I suggested a recirculating pump. He told me I didn't need one.
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His soiled mask was under his nose 90% of the time, repeatedly pulling it up contaminating his fingers and then touching every single faucet in my house, doors and door knobs! I am old. This was frightening for me.
Plodding through my ENTIRE house in dirty work boots. He seems to have done well welding pipes. I was not aware of adequate trouble shooting - i.e. contacting Bradford White Tech Support to perform a diagnostic. I would not recommend having a Bradford White water heater installed. Only a 6 year VERY LIMITED Warranty. Also this water heater is is labelled "Energy Saver," which is misleading. The required Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) which measures the efficiency of the water heater, in order to qualify for the SoCal Gas $115.00 Rebate, needs to be at least 0.68. This Bradford White is clocked at 0.63, which is BELOW the minimum! This information was not disclosed. Who wouldn't want a $115.00 rebate AND a more efficient water heater?
The water heater out of the box had a big dent. There was no damage to the box. It must have got past Quality Inspection. He was all ready to install it, but I did not want to pay $1500 for a brand new DENTED water heater. That added about another 90 minutes to go get a new one. Upsold me on the heater and under sink plumbing, which was installed crooked. Did not put my insulation back on the pipes per SoCal Gas, to keep the water going into the house warm - tossed it all. The temp was set too hot for me. Did not complete the bathroom sink plumbing as I requested. Instead of a $25 job he upsold for $85, and I provided one of the parts! Refused to respond to my 5 emails trying to resolve my issues. Refused to share with me the size of PVC I need to complete the job under the sink.
You NEED TO KNOW - the Plumber who installs any water heater for Warranty issues is the one you are required to contact. You CANNOT call Bradford White.
Any "Warranty" issues DO NOT INCLUDE LABOR, which can cost HUNDREDS! Lots of "Exclusions" that are not disclosed prior.
You will probably be saving yourself money and HUGE AGGRAVATION, INCONVENIENCE AND STRESS in the long run going to Home Depot or Lowes. It will cost you more money, but peace of mind is priceless! Honestly.
Oh how I am hating having to do this. I would much rather be writing a really great 5 Star review! read more