Repair or replace my undercounter hot water dispenser archived
Mar 3, 2009 at 3:45am Edited
I don't know the answer to your question, but a third alternative is to do neither. The advantage would be cost savings, plus you'd be reducing your contribution to green house gases. Heating elements generally draw at least 1000 watts. I don't know how often the heating element turns on on these puppies, but I bet the cost to run it is considerable.
Tom - if we didn't have one, I would be letting the water run in our kitchen sink forever to get hot water, or heating water on the stove continually.
I bet you don't use the hot water when you're sleeping or out of the house. It definitely costs more to have it on tap than to heat it when you need it. The only question is whether the convenience is worth your extra cost. There is no question as to whether it costs more. It does.
njguy99,
This seems to be pretty common. My folks have replaced the tank on their Insinkerator 3 times. It is simply the "Achilles Heel" in the design that the tank goes first. They seem to just rust out. I would definitely take the free replacement tank (how would they repair a tank with a hole in it?) for now and when it fails again in 3 years you can decide whether it is worth the expense to replace out of pocket.
I can't tell you whether the repair guy would call it a manufacturing defect though...he might just blame it on the local water supply or something. How long have you had it?
This seems to be pretty common. My folks have replaced the tank on their Insinkerator 3 times. It is simply the "Achilles Heel" in the design that the tank goes first. They seem to just rust out. I would definitely take the free replacement tank (how would they repair a tank with a hole in it?) for now and when it fails again in 3 years you can decide whether it is worth the expense to replace out of pocket.
I can't tell you whether the repair guy would call it a manufacturing defect though...he might just blame it on the local water supply or something. How long have you had it?
FWIW, I couldn't face life without ours. Certain vices are worth paying for.
We replaced ours last year. The new, larger capacity stainless steel tanks are a big improvement over the old ones.
We replaced ours last year. The new, larger capacity stainless steel tanks are a big improvement over the old ones.
Thanks KMK - my parents had theirs die several times over the years too. It seems like they're designed to fail just as the warranty is running out.
We've had this one for just under 3 years. The warranty, of course, is 3 years. Perfect timing!
And Tom, it's worth it to us to have it, thank you very much. In fact, we use it not only for tea and other hot drinks, but to make rice and pasta. That saves on the gas we would normally use to heat cold water on the stove. I think I remember reading that it uses less than 1/2kWh a day, less than the typical light bulb.
We've had this one for just under 3 years. The warranty, of course, is 3 years. Perfect timing!
And Tom, it's worth it to us to have it, thank you very much. In fact, we use it not only for tea and other hot drinks, but to make rice and pasta. That saves on the gas we would normally use to heat cold water on the stove. I think I remember reading that it uses less than 1/2kWh a day, less than the typical light bulb.
It's 750 watts, but it's well-insulated so it runs infrequently.
http://tinyurl.com/d7mx5j
http://www.insinkerator.com/pdfs/spec_SST-FLTR.pdf
http://tinyurl.com/d7mx5j
http://www.insinkerator.com/pdfs/spec_SST-FLTR.pdf
Metaphysician is right. The new units are improved and have a SS tank and an external temp. adjustment and a non metalic housing.
The only complaint we have gotten is that the water tastes weird at first and requires some flushing out after installation.
The only complaint we have gotten is that the water tastes weird at first and requires some flushing out after installation.
Funny enough ours broke this week . . . but it was the spring mechanism in the handle. One year warranty! When you google it, a whole lot of people have the same problem . . . sounds like "Planned Obsolescence"! Insinkerator's only recommendation was to buy a new handle (they didn't know the cost!). It sounds like it might be best to get an entirely new unit.
I think I'm gonna wait and see what the repair guy says. Knowing I'll probably have to buy a new one is not a pleasant thought, but hopefully I'll be able to talk him out of charging me (if it comes to that) for the service call.
Well...the repair guy came by today, replacement tank in hand. I don't know if he called ISE to get the repair ticket # or what, but I led him to the kitchen and he did his thing. Didn't even ask for a copy of the purchase receipt! All in all, it took about 15 minutes, and now I have steaming hot water again.
One side note: apparently, you don't get a new 3 year warranty with the new tank, so if this one dies we're out of luck.
One side note: apparently, you don't get a new 3 year warranty with the new tank, so if this one dies we're out of luck.
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I have an Insinkerator Instant Hot Water Dispenser under my sink. Just last night it started dripping from the tank, telling me the tank probably ruptured. It still has a month left on the warranty, so the manufacturer is willing to repair it - assuming it's a "manufacturing defect" and not just a result of the hard water or water pressure or space demons or anything else.
My question: is it worth it to repair it, or should I just shell out the $200 on a new tank?
My instinct is to let the repair guy take a look at it first, but the telephone warranty rep said I'd be responsible for the cost of the service call if it's not a manufacturing defect, and I'm sure they do everything possible to not have it be one.
Thoughts?