[The 7 Raven]

Free circuit board

You can get a circuit board for free, :thumbsup: just go to Loews hot water heater section and tell them you are the original owner and your circuit board is bad...They'll give you a replacement FREE!!!!!!! Seems there is a factory defect they neglected to tell anyone about... Call before you go they may be out and direct you to a store that has them. I just got another one, think this one is defective too.

 

[Frustrated2]

Control Box Fire

I've had one of these for 5 years now. Yesterday the control box caught on fire. Good thing I happened to go into the garage for something or my house probably would have burned down. I've already replaced a heating element and the control box board in the past. India had me on hold for a long time yesterday, but they did overnight a new board via UPS for $20. Another problem: they forgot to send a new box as mine melted. I figured out the cause of the fire (I think). The main wires on the board are ALUMINUM! Major fire hazard to connect copper and aluminum. Be careful everyone!

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Multiple threads on the same problem have been merged

 

[jhowd]

energy saver

I bought a Whirlpool Energy Smart water heater two years ago, it has the electronic circuit board to control the heating elements. This unit worked fine until about a month ago. It quit heating the water and was giving a code for "False Start". Turning off the breaker, pressing the reset button got it started as the instructions said to do so. Another two weeks and it went out, completely. No indicator light for power to the unit, although there was. I called the 1-800-Whirlpool number as stated on the papers that came with it. No problem, bad circuit board, new boards are free to the original owner as long as the unit is in the original home it was installed in. A $20 shipping charge applied. Research on the Internet tells me that Whirlpool, actually American Water Heater, has had such a problem with these they now warrant the 6 yr., 9 yr., and lifetime units under a "lifetime" warranty with the above conditions. Would I buy another one-NO. This unit seems too fragile. Just thought I'd share. Thanks, David

Hey Thurman, friend of mine had same prob a year old Whirlpool heater, The wires on his unit were fried, melted together, I had no wire diagram or schematic, could not find anything on line about it or even where to find another one. Thanks for the post, I will pass it on. You would think there would be no shipping charge at all considering not everyone can do the repairs and would have to hire an electrcian to replace this faulty design. I agree Whirlpool folks wake up!!! C ya Thurman an thanks again james

 

[Fishwayguy]

I had the same problem. I got mine working again at least for now. I shut the power off at the breaker and then pushed the re-set button switch on the tank then turned the breaker back on and it seemed to fix the problem. When I turned the breaker back on you could hear the elements heating up. and so far so good.

 

[Pistol Pete]

I bought my Whirlpool Energy Smart Electric water heater in January of 2005. It has failed twice, in the fall of '06, and in Feb of '10. Both times they sent me a new board for free, with no shipping charge.

 

[bobelectric]

I guess it saves you energy by working ½ the time!

 

[emolatur]

Okay, now y'all have me curious.

If someone would like to send me a fried/broken board, I'd be quite interested to see what ails it.

If it's something I can fix, you get it back and have a spare - and if not, you've lost nothing.

 

[Fishwayguy]

Okay, now y'all have me curious.

If someone would like to send me a fried/broken board, I'd be quite interested to see what ails it.

If it's something I can fix, you get it back and have a spare - and if not, you've lost nothing.

It seems mine gave out after a couple days. Id be glad to send you the circuit board when my new one arrives. I called whirlpool and the gal on the other end was more then happy to help. since its the weekend I have to wait till Tuesday to get the new board.
the water heater works off and on as long as I push the reset button and turn the breaker off and on. I think the board is trying to run both elements at once, cause after a few minutes of running it kicks the breaker. hmmm . I did check the ohms on the elements and continuity and all is well on that end I was getting a High Temp warning flashes but now only get fail to start Flash. I hope Whirlpool has upgraded the circuit board. If it fails again after installing the new board I think Ill go back the old style water heater.

 

[earcuffs]

"Who" sent a free new control board w/ free shipping?

I bought my Whirlpool Energy Smart Electric water heater in January of 2005. It has failed twice, in the fall of '06, and in Feb of '10. Both times they sent me a new board for free, with no shipping charge.

"They" sent a free new control board w/ free shipping?
Who, Lowes or Whirlpool? I'll be searching the Lowes stores for a replacement as mine failed. Curious if the new policy is a free board + free shipping. Seems like I would need a backup control board if the replacement can be expected to fail as well. Horrible service history on the electronics for this unit.

 

[HVAC_NW]

There are two types of boards.
http://www.americanwaterheater.com/support/guides/es.pdf
Both types use four N.O. relays.



Each incoming line has its own relay. One of the relay switches common side.

Other side powers the switched side of heaters.


The two line side relays must be closed for heater to work.
Switched side of each heating element has its own relay.

Relay 1 & 2 are always closed.
Relay 1 connects one of the poles to common side of heating elements.
Relay 2 powers switched side.
Relay 3 controls upper
Relay 4 controls lower

So, for proper operation it's always 1,2 and 3 OR 1,2 and 4.
Each element must go through three relays in series so if a relay becomes stuck on, it won't go into run-away conditions.

If 3 or 4 welds closed and control calls for other element to activate, it should cause the board to see both elements energized and trip on error.

The line side relays serve no purpose other than safety redundancy.

The relays are electronically controlled by computerized circuits based on feedback from elements(which is how it detects failed element) and thermistors.

The electronics is covered, but not completely potted in epoxy so it won't be easy to replace parts even if you could locate problems at component level.

 

[Pistol Pete]

"They" sent a free new control board w/ free shipping?
Who, Lowes or Whirlpool? I'll be searching the Lowes stores for a replacement as mine failed. Curious if the new policy is a free board + free shipping. Seems like I would need a backup control board if the replacement can be expected to fail as well. Horrible service history on the electronics for this unit.

Whirlpool sent it to me. I called the 800 number in the book and spoke to a nice, Indian guy, and a few days later the new board came.

 

[hidden1]

I have one also.But the lights are all out yet i get hot water daily.Is this the circuit board or what?

 

[water2coldorHot]

Whirlpool Energy Smart Water Heater

My water heater worked well for several years (lifetime warranty) but now has begun to either produce lukewarm water or dangerously hot water! The control box on top the heater had wires that burned the paper wiring diagram off the inside of the cover and even partially melted the cover. Whirlpool quickly sent me a new control circuit board but it has been installed and is right now overheating and I am catching the scalding water in a 5-gallon bucket. (Actually, this is the 2nd one they sent me in a week but still no improvement). There doesn't seem to be anything wrong--it just continues to overheat and does the 2-flash high temperature warning. In its defense, it worked fine for about 10 years--still no leaky tank, but seems to be unfixable.:furious:

 

[slcullen]

We have the Energy Smart electric heater, lifetime warranty. The heater is nine years old and the control board is on the fritz. I called the 800 number, answered a few questions and they're overnighting a new board today. The tech was most helpful and couldn't have been more pleasant. And they comped the overnight charges. I'm a satisfied owner! Now to go heat some water on the stove to shave.

 

[Sy Tj]

Whirlpool 50 gl Energy Smart water heater

We have a Whirlpool 50 gallon Energy Smart water heater which is almost 12 years old. It has been working great until recently. We were getting 5 blinking lights on the controller box indicating a problem with the lower heating element. We called customer service and were connected to an American service tech immediately. She was extremely helpful and told us the parts we needed were under lifetime warranty. She shipped the control board, junction box cover and both heating elements and we received them in 2 days. Our only charge was $10 for shipping. We couldn't believe their excellent service after reading so many negative posts. I say without hesitation that they have wonderful service now and I would certainly not hesitate to buy another Whirlpool hot water heater.
Sy T.J.

 

[BobR7867]

Satified customer

I have the 80 gallon Energy smart electric water heater. The water one day became excessively hot. I reset the switch to no avail. First I replaced both elements. Two weeks later I experienced the same problem. I contacted the Whirlpool technical support line and they were polite and helpful. They told me I needed to replace the control board. Yes I had to replace both elements and a control board but they sent the board to me overnight for free. To replace the elements I had to take the old ones to Lowes and they gave me free replacements. I have a lifetime warranty so why would I change water heaters or complain. For the person who is not the original owner stop whining and pay the $75.00.

 

[Lpa42933]

I have a Whirlpool Energy Smart electric water heater. I received a 3 flash signal for the heating elements. I replaced both heating elements. After power was restored, the signal flash changed to 2 flashes immediately for high temperature. Impossible since it was just turned back on and filled with cold water. I replaced the board with a new one that was overnighted to me. Now it either flashed 2 or 3 times depending on its mood. Tech support has been very nice about giving me free parts. I have no money for a technician to look at it though. Any suggestions on what it could be now? Please help!

 

[agtnew7]

Just to add to this situation/I just called the # and the board is on the way. I spoke to a nice lady named Amanda. Thanks DIYers.

 

[oldbiker16]

ok I have this water heater. Mine keeps kicking the breaker. Is it still the board that is causing the problem?