Response from My Pool Xpert
When you originally contacted us your description of the issue was unclear so we arranged for our repair tech to diagnose your equipment when you could be there to speak with him. Based on his diagnostic testing, we determined the problem was a PC board inside the heater miscommunicating with the control system. After that initial meeting, you e-mailed us saying "Thank you for the great communication ... [the technician] did wait for me to get home and he was able to determine what the problems are and I will be waiting for his findings and the cost." We diagnosed the problem on a Friday and emailed you a repair quote the next business day, Monday. (For clarification, the quote was for multiple repairs; the heater repair being less than half of the $850 total.) You approved the new board, we installed it on August 22, and the heater worked. We tested the heater via the control system and your Jandy PDA remote. Using both methods the heater worked. Seven weeks later on October 10, you called to say the heater was not working again and suggested the control board was never the problem but the Jandy PDA was the real issue. We replied via e-mail that our tests showed the heater worked using the PDA and if it had been the issue, you would have had other problems controlling the pumps, lights, and cleaner. You also shared that you spoke with Jandy's tech support and they suggested the sensor in the heater may be the problem. Looking for clarification, we also called Jandy tech support and were told they do not advise on Raypak/Rheem heaters (which is what you have) so there may have been some confusion as to what piece of equipment they were trying to troubleshoot for you. In the seven weeks since we repaired the control board in the heater, it's possible another component failed. Your heater is older and parts fail. However, heaters operate in a linear sequence, that is, they work up to the point of a failed component. The sensor is the first component in the sequence. If it had failed when we first tested the heater on August 22 the heater would not have worked when our tech turned it on manually during diagnostic testing. But it did start manually. Additionally, if the sensor had failed, the heater would not have worked during the post repair testing with the new control board; but it did work. In short, we diagnosed a failed PC board inside the heater, you approved, we did the repair and the heater worked. If the heater stopped working seven weeks later it was likely a different issue, requiring another round of diagnostic testing. We said our repair tech could return to do that, but there would be a service call fee since the issue you paid to fix was resolved. You said you did not want to pay for another service call. We welcome and appreciate the opportunity to work with new customers. However, when a customer asks for multiple discounts, requests specific appointment times but isn't available when we arrive, wants to leave a cash payment outside unattended, and challenge our tech's competency seven weeks after a repair is done, it's hard to look at that experience as a positive one. We made special arrangements, returned phone calls, and wrote lengthy e-mails of explanation to you. We did our best to accommodate your requests, including the significant discounts you requested. You came to us through Angie's List and we wanted to honor that opportunity. It is unclear to us what more we could have done. The heater was repaired and functioning when we completed the job in August. To receive a negative review 9 months later, even on aspects you praised in your e-mails to us, is surprising.