Plumber said we had a bad heat module on our water heater. After installed, said that turned out not to be the problem, was a bad gas gauge. Do we pay for the module (approx $600) or should he put back our old one?

Hi DK_Taylor

I'm afraid much of the jargon you are throwing out at us doesn't make sense to me... ;)

What is a "heat module", and what is this bad "gas gauge"? Water heaters have heating elements and thermostats (if electric heater) or combustion chambers and gas valves (if gas water heaters)... can also have fan units and control modules if if we are talking about power or direct vented water heaters. I'd need proper terminology here if I was to make any kind of reasonable suggestions here, so please post back with more info. OK?

Definitely seems that if the wrong piece was replaced and it wasn't the defective part that the plumber should be trying to reach a major compromise with you... such as giving you the piece at his wholesale cost, for example. He may even need to "eat this one"...

Like I said, I need more info. for sure!

Back to you...

Mark

Thanks, he furnished and installed new gas control valve and flame rod and ignitor. The part that they say now is the problem is the "MAXITROL. He said he was following the protocol and could not have foreseen that the gas control valve and flame rod and ignitor was not the problem.

Hi DK

What I can tell you is to call the TECHNICAL SUPPORT number of the manufacturer of the water heater... they have a protocol that they suggest we follow in cases like this (have model and serial numbers of the water heater available).

In most cases, we can use testers to determine defective parts without having to replace parts needlessly like it seems happened here.

If tech. support tells you that there was no reason to replace parts and the plumber should have worked through the steps as they outline to determine the defective part then you may be able to talk to the plumber and see if you can convince him that he didn't follow protocol and you aren't willing to pay him to learn on your dime... ;)

Call tech. support... let me know what they say,OK?

Mark

Appropriate the help. Turns out they took out and cleaned the burner assembly, two guys for 3 hours. In the end they charged me for the gas control valve and flame rod and ignitor. But not for anything else including all the troubleshooting.