Rheem Solar Loline (Electric Boost)

Soul destroyer product- Do not buy – The system came with the house package from MacDonald Jones Homes. Installed in near perfect conditions, no scaly water, not a corrosive area, 2 person water load but failed just after 5 years with solar controller green LED off, and red LED blinking. Electric booster was running and bills went through the roof. System is a Loline with panels on… Read more

the roof, and tank on the ground. Suspect pump failure as I checked the thermal overload and power supply and all seems fine. Called Rheem call centre and absolute waste of time. They offered a technician to visit and assess the problem which will take 5 minutes on site, and 10 minutes drive each way, so a mere 30 minutes at a cost of $270. The best solar technicians in town have a callout fee (which includes 1 hr on site) for $100 and these guys charge $270 for 30 minutes without even fixing the issue. What audacity after selling me and countless others an absolute LEMON. The call centre then went on to say that after paying $270 for a quick 5 minute assessment of the problem, I will then be given a quote for the actual fix which I expect to cost 2.5 x market rate if they charge people 2.5 x market rate for a basic call out fee. So I told her that I will use the no.1 solar technician in town who charges $100 call out fee including 1 hour of work on site and any basic fixes (this is the standard nationwide anyway). I will not spend 2.5 x market cost on these soul destroying thieves who sell LEMONS that last only a few years in perfect service conditions that other products would last 20 years. At least have the decency to charge market rates for your call out fee rather than RIP OFF $270 for half the time/value compared to others. Thieves is an understatement. Once I fix through a local solar expert, I will gather full details on LEMON products DODGY parts and file a claim through the legal avenues, and also take this further through their complaints team and ombudsman. A product like this deserves a CLASS ACTION.

DON’T GO NEAR IT – Greatest failure , if you like to give money regularly please feel free to buy RHEEM Poor service , extreme noise and always out of order, so choice is yours , think before you buy Show details

Great if it's installed in the right conditions – This solar hot water system was put on our newly built house as part of the builders package. It worked extremely well and kept our electric hot water costs down for almost a year. This was until the 11 month when the solar panels burst in a bad frost and nearly flooded our house. The panels were under warranty and there was no problem replacing… Read more ·  1

them with Rheem. Only problem was that under further investigation on Rheems own website it states that this particular unit is not suitable for frost prone areas and is only suitable for warmer climates. The area that we live in in Victoria has a lot of frosts in the Winter. If Rheem replaced our solar panels as they were covered under the warranty they would only burst again. Moral of the story is if you get a hot water solar system installed make sure that it is a model that is suitable for the environment you live in. We are now attempting to get the unit switched over to a more suitable unit for our weather conditions. If you live in an area that is warm all year and not prone to frosts this unit works very well. Just make sure Rheem is installing the correct unit for the conditions. Research their website prior to installation. If we hadn't been home the day the panels burst to turn off our water supply I have no doubt we would have come home to a brand new flooded house. The product is very good if it is the right model for the conditions. Don't be fooled into thinking this particular unit can tolerate frosts no matter what they might try to tell you. Also it runs your electricity all night to stop the solar panels freezing. Not much of a saving in that.

Friendly and helpful technician – I had the red attention light on my Solar hot water service on and called rheem. They sent out a technician the next day. I was very concerned from reading some of these posts and the expensive call out fee and additional 15 min charges. Gavin came out and was extremely friendly and informative. When he arrived the light was no longer on and he… Read more

explained why the light was on and checked for any other faults. I would definately recommend rheem for this great service and turning my opinion of their company around.

Flashing Red light – The attention red light on my pump begins a constant steady flash that seems to get worse as the day heats up. The green light seems to work as it should and I can hear the pump working. I live fairly isolated and getting service is expensive. Does anyone know the problem and is it a plumber or an electrician I need. The unit is about 5 years and I would have expected it ti give longer service than that.  Show 2 replies

More problems after thousands spent on repairs – Constant fault codes, poor quality repairs, ripped off by plumbers who don't know how to fix this garbage system. Save yourself money and DO NOT BUY RHEEM SOLAR. The solar component has failed often leaving me with an expensive electric system. No electricity savings at all. Even more expensive to run than a cheaper electric system. Cost $4,600 to… Read more

install Dec 2012. Repair 1, $1,186.52 Repair 2, $473.00. Total repair cost $1,659.52 in 2017. Less than 5 years old and repairs 36% of the original installation cost. Total cost so far excluding repairs needed now $6,259.52. Electricity savings $0.00. Now what do I do, repair again, or dump the system and go back to a more efficient and cheaper electric Water Heater. This system is a total failure in the market, 52 reviews, showing 1 star (because we cant give negative stars). RHEEM, time to face up to the fact that this system is not fit for purpose and is well below a marketable quality, refunding customers is your only course of action.

Hopeless – We have had the system for a while now, has never been a "hot" water system from the start, 'luke warm' is the best description. Rang Heem a couple of times, the person you need is not available and am assured they will call back. DOES NOT HAPPEN. Not happy Show details

Burst Tank Again – Built and installed a Rheem Solar Hot Water system in 2011. In 2013 the tank burst. I was told it was very unusual after I expressed my concerns and the tank was replaced under warranty. 2 weeks ago the tank has burst again and I have been informed by the plumber that the unit has a 7-year warranty and we are 3 months over the warranty, even… Read more

though the tank is only 5 years old. I am told it is from installation date regardless of the fact it is the same problem that was fixed only 5 years prior. I am also told the unit is not worth fixing so are now up for another unit, quotes starting at $4500. How ridiculous that these units are only lasting such a short amount of time. Had I thought I would have to factor in a hot water system every 5 - 7 years I would have started saving.

So bad will never buy Rheem again – Brougt a loline a fair while ago now andit worked well for 2 years then one of the panels leaked and it took over 6 months to get a new one under warranty. Appalling customer service virtually non responsive. So replaced the panel and still not working suspect pump was the issue and pushed for a replacement which we got after much argument.Then… Read more

the control board burnt out and replaced it. Fixed now? No way then the replaced panel failed!! And after it was replaced it still was not working and plumber found out from Rheem tech that this model came with a manufacturing fault so Rheem sent out a new tank (same model) gratis and you would think that would do it but no it still doesnt work! So after more than 2 odd years of trying we gave up as did our plumber. Waste of money and time for all (yes even Rheem) not to mention not doing what it was supposed to do and save some money.Note: Not certain of exact date first purchased.

pump and control board falures – had this system for about 3 years and have replaced two circulating pumps and control boards. now another pump and board are faulty. what can be done to fix this problem/lemon. Warranty agent blamed the tank running out of water for the first failure. which it has never done. Second time pump failure and no fuse to protect the control board so… Read more

it burnt out as well. Now the third time in three years who knows the cause. Pump open circuit and board burnt out.

Pump failed and solar panel burst – Noticed water leaking on roof, called local plumber, he said solar a panel has split open. He disconnected solar inlet and outlet on tank and switched pump off. {Heating up by electric backup only} He said as unit only 2 years old, will be under warranty!!! I called Rheem, they called plumber "A" to investigate, but he did not show up. I called… Read more

Rheem again, they organised plumber "B", he did not show up. I rang plumber "B" to ask why. He said Rheem don't pay their bills!! I called Rheem again, they organised plumber "C". He was helpful, he said the solar panel is split open and the pump isn't working. He said he would call Rheem to get a new pump and panel. After 2 weeks and no contact from Rheem, I rang them. They informed me that the pump was "out" of warranty, and the solar panel was "in" warranty. But the panel failed because the pump stopped working !!! So I have "NO WARRANTY". Very upset about this. Then I read all these other complaints. Are you listening Rheem Customer Relations???

No more Rheem hot water solar panel – 3 of our investment property. 8 months old, 1 years old and 3 years old. All the panel cracked and leaked. Rheem refused to replace it because they are not covered by frosted. Thank you, Simonds & Rheem. Every time when winter comes, we have to pull them apart or may have to put a blanket on those solar panels.  Show details

Avoid! – Absolute rubbish HWS. No point going solar when the circulation pump is regularly failing meaning that the unit requires boosting from (expensive) bottled gas. The pump first failed within a year of purchase which is ridiculous! And each time it seizes it costs money. Would've been better off in the long run getting a cheaper electric only… Read more

system as the solar hardly works anyway. Barely get enough hot water for 3 showers. So disappointed and quite frankly pretty peeved, you'd think with the well known name they'd at least have a reliable product.

Stay away from these hot water heater – My experience is like many for these model hot water heaters. It just never works for any length of time. The pump does not seem to be able to work for any length of time without freezing up or otherwise stop working. It flashes green and red pretty much all the time. The money I have spent using the electric boost to heat the water (like now), I… Read more

could have replaced this with a water heater that actually works. Contacted our local repairman again today.

Do NOT purchase one of these systems!

Falls apart as soon as warranty is up – Barely a year out of warranty and the top around the anode is completely rusted. Water leaking from the top. Also the solar monitor lights aren't even on any more, so I assume the solar side of things isn't even working anymore. Definitely wont be buying a Rheem again. Very disappointed.  Show details

Don't buy this Product – Had a solar hot water system for about 8 years . Tank failed in 2011.Completely rusted through on the top. Stupid me replaced it with a similar tank manufactured 3 August 2011. Today doing a routine maintenance check found small amount of rusty water coming out of top centre of tank. Removed top cover and found large amounts of wet flacky rust covered in water. Mopped it up and yes. Buggered Tank. Not happy. Will never by a Rheem product again  Show details

The continuing Saga with our Rheem lo Line Electric Boosted Solar Hot Water System – My last post concerned a substandard controller unit which cost some $850 to replace in 2014 but now(December 2016) we have discovered that our Rheem Lo Line Electric Boosted Solar Hot water tank has cracked and water is spewing forth through the Anode Inspection hole at the top center of the tank. We can go back to Rheem and get another poor… Read more

quality tank for some $1900 with another inadequate five year Warranty and repeat the same mistake or we can install an Australian Made(Cheltenham, East Victoria) Edson Brand Stainless 315 litre tank for some $200 more with a 20 year Warranty.

Clear choice. I think we'll take the Australian Option from a company that has been in business in Australia for 50 years.

We are telling anyone and everyone about our experiences and the exorbitantly high priced Rheem Solar Hot Water System and what we believe to be the inferior quality of their overseas produced parts.

Don't Buy a Rheem ... it's not "the hottest hot hot water you've ever seen" based on our experiences.

The level of support provided to existing users is very poor – The hot water systems stopped working so we called the Service line. The technician arrived a day after we were told he'd arrive. He could not fix the circuit board so he said a colleague would be back in two days time. He never arrived and when we called the following day we began an ordeal of phone calls, repeated assurances that people would… Read more

call us back, advice that parts had been ordered, advice that parts had arrived, advice that parts were on order, assurances that the planning department would call (which they did not), advice that the technician is on holidays for ten days so we'd have to wait till he returned. The level of service we are receiving is inadequate and it appears to be indicative of a company that is understaffed and poorly managed. I will shortly be placing a commercial order for hot water systems for a block of 43 Units so I will be looking for suppliers that have nothing to do with Rheem.

Water not hot – We bought this house 6 years ago, water isn't hot usually have a shower with just the hot tap on and I wouldn't describe it as hot. Can't find paper work, would like to be able to read the book on the control panel. Tried to google to see if I can find a manual on the panel no luck. If I had my way I would rip it out and put in something else.  Show details

Don't buy Rheem Solar Loline – Hi guys i bought a brand new house which already had Rheem Solar hot water system but not working. Tried everything to get it going but no success. 2 days without hot water in Melbourne winter weather. After paying $300 to a plumber he turned the hot water system on. but hardly 2 hours later it stopped working again showing red pulse light keep… Read more

flashing . Called plumber again he told me if you want hot water just use the booster only & leave the solar system disconnected. Over the period of 2 years tried my best to get solar system going but same problem.

Every time we called the plumber it costing us $200 to $300. Called Rheem few times to fix the problem but no luck.

Top of water storage tank getting rusty looks like its 10 year old. Very frustrated please buy any hot water system but don't buy Rheem.

I can be contacted on 0403 580 236

Same terrible identical problem as above, just 6yrs old & water leaking out of top! – 6yrs & 2mths old & my tank is leaking badly with the identical issues as review above! Very disappointed at the short lifespan! If Rheem does not act on this, I won't b replacing this or any other products in my home or business with Rheem. We have no hot water as had to turn off water supply to tank.

Very Angry Dont buy a Rheem HERES WHY – Solar hot water failed pipe burst and flooded part of the house due to pump failure over heating the water OK i get that the Plumber comes out Authorized repairer fixes pipe & replaces pump. the next day no hot water plumber comes back day after replaces pump again .we have been using booster to get hot water then 2 days later no hot water hes… Read more

back again replace pump .Hes gone for half hour then we here Bang power goes off in half the house TV off etc go to the power box & beaker is off i unplug the solar lead from the power and turn power on all ok Plumber comes back again OH it needs a circuit board now been wait a week so i ring & there hard to find blah blah blah So i ring Rheem .spares WELL FORGET THAT HOPELESS they DON'T listen to you .now were stuck without solar hot water Rheem is a complete WASTE OF MONEY & time Don't put your self though it Don't get Reheem .just read the other reviews . Shame on you Rheem your A joke . im still waiting for spares to call me back guess i wont hold my breath .and its hard nearly 3 weeks no solar hot water ..

Very angry! – Our Rheem Solar Loline is 6 years old. It is the crappiest hot water system I've ever dealt with. Malfunctioned after immediate installation- thermostat. Same problem about 6 months later, repaired again 2 years ago. Now the whole unit has rusted out at the top and completely shut itself, and is leaking with a constant stream all over the top of… Read more

the tank, gone rampant on the water metre and no hot water for a week! I will be expecting miracles from you RHEEM!!!

Circulation pump failed 6 years and will cost $500 to $800 to replace – If this pump were to fail every 6 years it would probably negate any savings. Also when you consider the extra cost of the system you would have to ask why did you switch from an off-peak system in the first place. I was told that pump failure is frequent so why doesn't Rheem offer a superior replacement pump or indeed have such a troublesome pump in the first place.

Made on Friday or Monday – My sister in law (a working single parent) purchased two of these systems 7 years ago to reduce her overheads, one system she has never had a problem with the other is a totally different story one that was to take 4 months and still not repaired. In early sept 2014 she noticed a large amount of water coming of her roof and called Rheem who in… Read more

turn contacted a service representative who came to her property to inspect the system. Over the next 4 months the Rheem reps inept ability to diagnose the problem correctly saw her pay in call out fees, parts and labour nearly $1800.00 and $600 to continually run the booster for the time it was out of commission. On the 31/01/2015 she received 3 invoices for repairs carried out and parts replaced each time the previous part failed to fix the problem, Invoice 1 assessment ( panels badly leaking no water circulating through panels replaced all washers and connectors on panels) connector solar x1, connect solar loline x1, o ring 5x 32mm id x2, invoice 2 (water not circulating through panels pump not working all the time) replaced solar diff controller x1, pump solar loline x1, sensor loline x1, invoice 3 ( mixing valve found to be not suitable for solar ) supply and replace solar temperature mixing valve x1, fittings and connections. It would appear that the principal of repair by Rheem service is replace everything and you will eventually fix the problem damn the customer what choice do they have.

Now if that isn't enough on 20/10/15 water is once again pouring off the roof she rings the same Rheem representatives to look at it and is told that the 5 plugsx2 listed in invoice 1 will have to be replaced in the solar panels at a cost of $300 and when she queries the repairs previously done to the solar panels is told that " we didn't touch the solar panels we only carried out electrical repairs" This whole fiasco is an outrage, the manner in which she has been treated by people representing your company is disgusting. Be assured that I will bring this matter to the attention of the relevant licencing authority and consumer advocate.

Very frustrating – i had it installed 13/03/09 and the tank replaced in 2013. The electrics on the tank have failed with it continually pumping water through the panels even after the off peak has heated it up so no hot water in the morning. The tank is again rusting out again on the top. Never buy a Rheem product again

Another house using boost electricity alone – Wow buyer beware i wish i had read this review before we got one. At the moment we get a constant red led flash and cold water on a hot Brisbane day. Had our electrician look at it and he tells me its the circulation pump and tells me that this is a constant problem and has recommended using after market pump and was very sympathetic that these… Read more

pieces of junk are every where and no one has ever got real support from Rheem just the contact for their recommended repair,s that they wont you to use so they can put their original crap parts back in to keep profiting from the public. Stay away Please read these reviews don't be bullied from your builder i think stay away from Rheem all together. Or we could all get together and start a class action!

7 years in without a problem – We replaced our electric only hot water system with a Rheem Solar Loline (Electric Boost) around 7 years ago. It has continually preformed well after a small fix that was due to an error made by the installer. We have always had hot water and the use of the electric boost has minimal during that time. The only other issue we have had, which… Read more ·  1

we are experiencing now is that the base of the unit ha began to rust. This again seems to be a problem caused by the way it was installed - placed directly on (in) the ground.

In summary we would use a Rheem again, but not the installer.

Disgruntled Rheem Electric Boosted Solar Powered Low Line hot water Service – I agree with all the "Buyer Beware" points raised above by other disgruntled Rheem electric boosted solar powered low line hot water service owners. In Consumer Law there is such a principle as a "Statutory Warranty" which is I believe determined by the cost of a product (exorbitant) in this case and the reasonable length of time that it should… Read more

last. I have had my system for some five years. Solar pump and controller went on the fritz over Xmas and it cost over $800 to replace it hardly a fair deal considering the cost and the fact that it was handed over with the new house in 2009.

Put the situation to Rheem who insisted that it was way outside the Manufacturers Warranty, blamed voltage surges and/or quality of the potable town water that we drink every day and disavowed any knowledge of a "Statutory Warranty" so said we are stuck with the cost. Took it to Fair Trading and they made a token concession of $143(refund of the Labour Charge) rather than see us take it further.

Bottom Line: Research research Research before you buy and do not really I what you had always looked upon as a trusted Australian Icon. RESULT: I would never buy another Rheem product even if my life depended on it.

Ref: Channel s Seven and Nine for details on the subject of "Statutory Warranties" and know that you do have Consumer rights as a matter of Public Record.

Only Just Installed Today And Does Not Work – I first had a Hills Installed 2 years ago, after the booster element died for the 4th time I thought stuff it, just replace it with something that has a good element and is simple. Plumber replaced it today with this system only to find that they do not supply the temp probes with controller kit! Nor do they tell you what type of probe you need so… Read more

I'm now without hot water for another week in winter!

I mean seriously! It's a freaking kit and it does not even include the parts to make it work!

I am furious as now I am being told I have to pay another $200 just for the part to be supplied! I accepted the outrageous quote for Rheem as I thought it was a reputable brand to supply my growing family with the hot water it needs. Turns out I may end up with another Hills System. At least the Solar side of hills NEVER had any issues, was only the boost.

I won't be making the same mistake again, guess I'm going to have to start budgeting for this to be replaced in 2 years time as well.

UPDATE: After a fair trading complaint and 3 months of waiting Rheem finally sent the part.

My Hills system only needed boosting a few times a year. My Rheem requires boosting for a large part of the year, it also for some reason turns the pump on and off throughout the night sending the hot water onto the cold panels when it is not freezing outside.

Very very poor design :( Will never buy Rheem again.

Why isn't the hot water that's in the solar panels being pumped into the storage tank? – Four years ago I built a brand new house (that came with a Rheem system). For three years no problems. Then for some unknown reason I only had hot water if I used the booster. After replacing the solar pump, both hot & cold sensors I STILL don't have solar heated hot water. If I turn on the solar bleed valve I can get all the hot water I need (so… Read more

the collectors are doing their job) but for some reason (I'm guessing the non return valve) the system isn't working as it should. I live in Port Stephens. The nearest Rheem service tech. is in Taree. Two of the three local plumbers don't know why I have this problem. I've only got this far by my own initiatives.

Spent $600 so far without fixing the problem.

Replacment pump – I am a plumber who is fixing solar hot water incl. Rheem .There are simple and in material component not special. More marketing then technology .Replace the existing pump to an Grundfos up 15 -14b when damaged .I have seen so many rusted shaft in the original pumps, that is a joke to produce that rubbish still .And hurrah the same pump is in… Read more

every Rheem system included head pump.If you use the Rheem Service you get the same stuff .Find a good plumber and he will do it for you.

Mick

This unit is rubbish – We have had the Rheem Loline for 5 years. Our plumber coupled it with Solar Edwards Australis 2 collectors. The seals between the collectors have failed twice and we now use aftermarket ones made by Ludowici as they seem more reliable. On a bright sunny spring day where the max temp reaches 29 degrees we still need to boost to shower a family… Read more

of 4.

We use more electricity than ever and have scheduled in Ergon to connect this dud to simply become an 'off peak' electric hot water service to try and save on our heating costs.

I could not and will never recommend these units.

Extremely poor – A rubbish design that will cost the owner a lot of money. Had the system for 8 years and now I have the 4th failure of the connectors between the panels. Originally the system came with plastic type sleeves between the panels which did not even last the warranty period with huge amounts of water being lost through the 1 inch holes when the… Read more

plastic failed. Only after the second set failed equally fast, Rheem supplied brass connectors to be installed at my own cost. Since this repair the new o-rings inside the sleeve lasted 4 years just to fail again.

It appears that the consumer is expected to test Rheem's choice of material. Like the other reviewers here, I can only recommend to stay well clear of these systems. Hot water when it works Poor design and poor material choice