I've had my Woodmaster 4400 since the fall of 06 so this is the 4th heating sesason I've been using it. I've been very happy with it until about 3 weeks ago when I noticed the water supply was low. Thought it was strange but filled it up and thought that should be it. Nope low again the next day so looking underneath and I see a pretty fast steady dripping. Started out I was putting in about 4 - 6 gallons a day but it flucuates. One day I put in 15 gallons.
I called Woodmaster and they told me to call my dealer. The dealer said on all the units he has sold there has never been a problem before. He came out and opened up the unit and concluded that it had coroded through at the bottom. I opened the side back up to see for myself but hard to tell in the tight quarters but I did gob a bunch of plumbers putty in the area it was dripping the push several pieces of lath under it to keep the putty as tight as possible then pushed more putty into the area. This was yesterday and it does seem to have slowed the leak some. (only added 3 gallons today.)
Woodmaster supposedly told the dealer they will pay for the repair but not the transport. (I guess the unit has to be removed and taken to shop to weld. Not a good option this time of year with all this snow!) or he could trade it out for a new unit but that will be a lot more $$$ for the trade.
I realize every product probably has a few units with quality issues. My issue is this. The unit is only 3 1/2 years old. I live in the city limits and have treated city water , not rusty well water. Every season I have drained the tank, refilled and added 1/2 gallon of Woodmaster's liquid boiler treatment. How could 1/4" thick steel corrode through??? I don't think you could fill a 1/4" thick steel drum with salt water and have it corrode through that fast. Heck maybe not even acid! Another thing is I don't think I could be comfortable with a patch up job and if it will hold. How good of weld job would it be?? When could I expect the next leak??
My feeling is that it should be replaced with new at NO cost or at least just the cost of the dealer to swap them out. I spent a LOT of money on this unit and expected a LOT of years of service.
I'm in no way bashing Woodmaster! I think they have an excellent, proven product. I may have gotten the one lemon. I'm just waiting to see how they stand behind their product under what sound like a very rare or unheard of leak. I'll post again when things are resolved.
I called Woodmaster and they told me to call my dealer. The dealer said on all the units he has sold there has never been a problem before. He came out and opened up the unit and concluded that it had coroded through at the bottom. I opened the side back up to see for myself but hard to tell in the tight quarters but I did gob a bunch of plumbers putty in the area it was dripping the push several pieces of lath under it to keep the putty as tight as possible then pushed more putty into the area. This was yesterday and it does seem to have slowed the leak some. (only added 3 gallons today.)
Woodmaster supposedly told the dealer they will pay for the repair but not the transport. (I guess the unit has to be removed and taken to shop to weld. Not a good option this time of year with all this snow!) or he could trade it out for a new unit but that will be a lot more $$$ for the trade.
I realize every product probably has a few units with quality issues. My issue is this. The unit is only 3 1/2 years old. I live in the city limits and have treated city water , not rusty well water. Every season I have drained the tank, refilled and added 1/2 gallon of Woodmaster's liquid boiler treatment. How could 1/4" thick steel corrode through??? I don't think you could fill a 1/4" thick steel drum with salt water and have it corrode through that fast. Heck maybe not even acid! Another thing is I don't think I could be comfortable with a patch up job and if it will hold. How good of weld job would it be?? When could I expect the next leak??
My feeling is that it should be replaced with new at NO cost or at least just the cost of the dealer to swap them out. I spent a LOT of money on this unit and expected a LOT of years of service.
I'm in no way bashing Woodmaster! I think they have an excellent, proven product. I may have gotten the one lemon. I'm just waiting to see how they stand behind their product under what sound like a very rare or unheard of leak. I'll post again when things are resolved.