Reliance & Enercare Rental Water Heaters

[Admin]

Has anyone heard of these companies telling clients that their house is too small and they won't replace the existing gas water heater unless they switch to electric?

Someone I know had their chimney liner tagged and Reliance refuses to replace the water heater with a power vent model and says their 5000 sq ft house is too small for a gas water heater, and they would only install an electric water heater.  They are also lying to the clients stating this is a new TSSA requirement.

It sounds to me like these companies are getting kickbacks to start switching people from gas to electric.

I will gladly sell any of their clients a gas water heater and install it.

[tenletters]

Odd. When I worked at reliance we were told to lie to seniors and single mothers about how their furnace was going to kill whatever was close to them (baby or pet). This seems like a much different lie. But nothing would surprise me about them.

[samihabib]

It seems savings on overhead cost and maintenance cost..installing an electric is easier and cheaper..no venting ..no code requirements ...also, maintenance is minimal ..no gas valve issues or flame sensors ..etc... that's going to destroy their customer base once they find out it was just to save a few service calls for the company ..