Jenny O.
10/08/2021 12:00:00 SA
Home Warranty Companies are funny creatures. When you need the service, what you end up with varies. Think of it like blindly sticking your hand into a bag filled with scorpions and candy. You may get a sweet treat, or you may get stung. Or you could get a candy coated scorpion, which kinda sums up my experience.
We were without water for 3 days; hot water for 7 days.
First of all, you may think you are prepared for a water heater to go down. You realize that it is original to the house and been going for double digit years. You have a home warranty; you have made sure that the area around the tank is clear of anything you would not want to get wet. But, until the moment some wonderful neighbors knock on your door at 10:30 PM on a Friday night to let you know that water is pouring out from under your garage door at a torrent, you don't really realize how under prepared your are.
After we shut off the water, I contacted my home warranty who informed me that the ONLY service dates for the plumber, Affordable Leak, they contract with are Monday and the following Friday. I tried contacting Affordable Leak directly, and they do not take ANY. WEEKEND. CALLS. AT. ALL.
Finally, on Monday, after 2 PM some one shows up from Affordable Leak, and informs us that the Water Heater Tank is, in fact, broken. And that the next available time to fully address the issue is on Thursday. We had to beg to get him to fix the water shut off valve, which diverts the cold water from the tank to the rest of the house. He made a few comments about how the valves and sinks were hooked up backwards, and then proceeded to install the shut off valve above the Water Heater Tank, you guessed it BACKWARDS.
Anyway, the Tank was covered under warranty, but all the code upgrades, and I am not sure if we even needed half of them, were not covered. At this point, we are just desperate for a shower, or a way to wash dishes and clothes. I agree to the price and am informed that I must pay their credit card processing fee, which is 6% of the total. At this time, we just need if fixed and they know we are over a barrel.
Finally, the day comes on Thursday, the hot water tank will be replaced. At 2 pm, a very nice tech shows up. And it is debatable if he or the tank weighs more. I am informed that another tech will show up to help set the tank. The tech begins working in the garage on removing the old tank, and bringing everything up to code. It is hot, as the first few weeks of September typically are, and the tech did not have any water with him. I supplied several cold bottles of water. About an hour into the process, I hear a knock on the door from the garage. The tech, sheepishly asks if I can help him set the hot water tank.
Let me say that again, I AM PAYING FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO SET MY OWN HOT WATER TANK.
It turns out either the other tech was too busy, or it was too hot, or he just didn't want to. Who knows. So, I helped pick up the tank and guided it into the tray. WTF.
I then go back in the house. I get a knock on the garage door again. The tech has cut himself on the hand and is bleeding all over the place. I tend to the wound. I flushed it with HP, applied dressing and gave him a rubber glove to protect the wound.
Finally, after 3 hours, my help, 5 or 6 bottles of water and a wound dressing later, the job is completed and we finally have hot water.
A few days later, a random guy inspects and passes the job.
A month later, I'm irritated that I had to help set my own tank after paying as much as I did.
I call to inform Affordable Leak that I had to set my own tank. I inquire as to if this is standard practice. I was told no, followed by, but, it passed inspection, right? Yes, but that is clearly not the point. I was told management would, or might reach out.
It will come as no surprise that I'm still waiting on that call. I'm tempted to send a bill for my hourly rate.
Affordable Leak
Pro:
It is fixed
It passed
Cons:
Little to no communication between company and client
Little to no communication between company and their employees/techs
You may have to set your own water tank, provide water and wound care
You will pay the credit card processing fee
You will wait
A tech may install a valve backwards