Are all Companies and Water heaters crap these days.

  Our water heater went out.   It had a 6 year warranty.   It was 6 years and 10 days before it crapped out.    Doing the research it seems they all break down right on the 6 year mark.   Which means they are made to do that.   Because you can't tell me in this day and age they don't have the technology to to make something that lasts.   

   It reminds me of my old Zenith TV.   I had it for years.  It used to be my Mom's before we got it.   When after more then 20 years it bit the dust.   So we went out and bought another one.   In 6 months the picture tube went out.   What!    Took it to our TV repair guy and he says not to bother fixing it.   They are pieces of crap these days and the company won't stand behind them.   They took a great product and turned it to crap.

    So we knew the water heater was getting bad.  It's leaking.   Time to research what to put in.   Of course putting in a waterless tank sound wonderful.   If your building a new house I recommend it.   But to put it in an existing house would cost you a 1000 for the unit and close to a thousand for the labor.   Sorry,  don't want to spend that much.   Electric ones cost a fortune so don't want that.   Has to be a gas tank heater.   So you look at warranties next.


       All the experts said the 12 year warranty one was actually made much better then the 6 and the 9.   They showed them cut in 2 and you could see the difference in the thickness and material.   And on material we found for sure we didn't want the brand that uses aluminum as it could taint your water and make it sick.  And since there are 2 of us we only needed a 40 gallon tank but had decided on 50 because you never know when someone will move back in.   So armed with knowing what type we wanted it was time to look at brands.


        Here is where the huge problem comes in.   GE from Home Depot sounded great.   But the complaints we found on line about the GE and their lack of fixing any of your problems with the tank were pages long.   And it sounded like there are a ton of problems with the tank.   Their warranty it seems isn't worth the paper it's written on.   Course these are the people who are cramming those dangerous light bulbs down our throats keep in mind, which are being produced in China.   And Home Depot won't help you out either, but will offer you 150 store credit!  At least that is what the complaints that have been filed say.  Say what.  I spend close to a 1000 for the water heater and to have it installed,  because they hard plumb them in so you can't replace your own,  and that is all you can offer me.


      But it isn't just GE or Home Depot.   Seems like the inside of the tanks are made of glass.    You have to handle them very carefully.   We all know or have seen them unpacking things from trucks with forklifts.   Many of the heater crack and start to leak from the get go.   Many of them have been designed so you can't light the pilot yourself.   It is enclosed for your safety.   But it doesn't work.   And plumbers, design engineers, you name it can't seem to get it fixed. 


     There are really only 3 main companies that make them.  Different names but sames companies.   And they are all pretty much made the same.   Which is were the nightmare comes in.    I need a water heater.   Which piece of crap do I buy with my hard earned money?   Knowing full well that it will probably crap out way before its warranty implies and that the companies will probably not do squat about it.


     Even if every single person in the country complained and refused to buy their products the government would probably just bail them out again.   I really don't know what to do.   Buy the cheapest thing I can find and just be resigned to replacing it every 6 years.   And definitely don't buy the extended warranty.


      Rick was up all night researching them and when he finally fell asleep he had nightmares about this.   Why can't companies make good products anymore and why are we letting them get away with it?   Now more then ever in this terrible economy where your dollar goes less and less we have to demand better products.   Aren't there any companies anywhere anymore that cares about how well their product is made?