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vaughn indirect

lchmb
lchmb Member Posts: 2,997
in THE MAIN WALL
Yes it is the st70 and yes the warranty is still active. My problem is I cannot tell if it is leaking at the gasket or below it under the plastic lid. Vaughn say's if I'm wrong I get to eat the cost of the tank which I would rather not do. The customer can't afford to switch to another brand so I'm sorta stuck in a bind. I'm trying to keep the cost down but taking the tank out to pressure test and disect it would not be cheap or easy.

Comments

  • lchmb
    lchmb Member Posts: 2,997
    leaking

    Curious as to what you guy's do. I have a customer who has a 8 year old vaughn 70 gallon indirect. It has a small leak someplace on top of the tank. The gasket is moved out from the plate but honestly look's like it's been there all these years. Problem being is I cannot see exactly where the water is coming from. I have tried drying out the top with the water off but once it's turned back on the area under the cover fill's right back up. I can't see where it's coming from. Vaughn tell's me if it's a bad gasket then I eat the cost of the tank. The customer can't afford for me to cut it lose to do a pressure test. I can't peel the top off to look further...What to do? any suggestions?
  • J.C.A._3
    J.C.A._3 Member Posts: 2,980
    lchmb....

    Is this tank still under warranty?

    It sees to make a lot of difference right now.(ask me how I know in a PM).PLEASE! Chris
  • Maine Ken
    Maine Ken Member Posts: 531


    Lchmb, Is this the Top Perofmer ST70? If it is it has a ten year warranty. If it is a gasket issue then you must buy an entire new coil and replace the old one. The new coil has an o-ring gasket instead of the flat one.

    I have a customer that will be getting an SSU instead of a new coil. Her first tank gave up after three years and of course the replacement tank has no warranty and is now leaking from the coil gasket.

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  • J.C.A._3
    J.C.A._3 Member Posts: 2,980
    Geee,

    How did I know that Maine Ken would kick in here?

    KISMET ? I have the answer...but would prefer you contact me off board.I need to be direct...and have already gotten the crap for it. (surprised?)JCA.
  • Maine Ken
    Maine Ken Member Posts: 531


    Chris, you were right on the money with the supply house. Wouldn't mind having them around here!

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  • Maine Ken
    Maine Ken Member Posts: 531


    Why does it matter where the leak is? Is it not a leaking tank no matter what part? There is a reason that Vaughn changed coil gasket designs!! I should think that you would be covered by the warranty either way. Labor on the other hand...

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  • Tim_41
    Tim_41 Member Posts: 153
    top performer

    99.9% of the the time it is the gasket. During installation, if the bolts or too tight, the gasket will be cut and in time you have a leak. Its not the best system. I've replaced a few. I yet to see any payment from Vaugn even after being told that they would "take care of everything" because they knew of the gasket problem and have since improved them.
  • lchmb
    lchmb Member Posts: 2,997
    I agree

    Although I agree with you Ken, vaughn doesn't. The other part that bother's me is the insulation on top of the tank is ruined, and the cover warped. I don't mind charging the labor and the customer doesn't mind paying it, but if I go with the coil and the tank's bad then it's more labor. If I go with the tank and the coil's bad, I lose. Seem's someone stand's a big chance on loosing with them..
  • Maine Ken
    Maine Ken Member Posts: 531


    A lot of supply houses around here "USED" to carry them. Not so many anymore. Sorry for your troubles. Rest assured you are not alone!

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  • robinStoryja
    robinStoryja Member Posts: 7
    I'll never buy another Top Preformer...

    I put one in for a customer, four years later it's leaking, small leak but no less a leak we can't fix (no surprise here). Customer says he's selling the house and the leak was picked up on the home inspection and needs it replace. I ordered a replacement tank then things got busy for us and we had to delay putting it in for a month. By the time we completed the job the house was sold and was being renovated (new basement floor & ect. and another month passed.

    We installed the new tank and returned the leaker for warranty credit. Warranty was refused because the house had changed ownership. The new owner had called Vaughn to get an extended warrantee on his new tank which he thought he was entitled to since it was new. The new owner was a lawyer... need I say more.

    I had to pay for new replacement tank due to a warrantee loop hole... Never again will I sell, work on or recommend a leaking Top Performer again.
    BTW: add lawyer to the list of: “Never work for or with again”
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