InSinkErator SST-FLTR 2/3-Gallon Stainless Tank and Filtration System
by InSinkErator
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of InSinkErator SST-FLTR 2/3-Gallon Stainless Tank and Filtration System
Customer Review: Not the best
Summary: 3 Stars
A little over four years ago I had a house built and knew I wanted a hot water dispenser in it because I have had one in every house I've owned for the last several decades. I wouldn't be without one. I have installed the InSinkErator HOT-1 in several houses and a business, with generally good results. They used to be around $100 and since they were a self-contained unit, were very easy to install and replace, I continued to use them. My new house with a little higher quality so I wanted a hot water dispenser that looked better than the HOT-1, but I decided to stay with the same manufacturer.
The kitchen faucets we chose were brushed nickel and at the time, InSinkErator didn't make a faucet that we liked so we picked a black faucet that blended with our dark granite even though it was mostly plastic and looked kind of cheap. The first unit had something wrong with it so the contractor installed a new tank which corrected the problem. Fast forward to now. The unit started hissing and growling, and when you pushed the lever, no water would come out for approximately 15 seconds and when it did, it would spurt, and spray hot water all over the place. I also noticed that the tank was leaking and apparently had been doing so for some time. Fortunately, it didn't do any serious damage to the cabinets. I called InSinkErator and they were less than sympathetic and simply reminded me that it had a three year warranty, so adios.
As usual, I went to Amazon.com to do my research and see what the state-of-the-art was in hot water dispensers. After reading all the negative reviews on this unit which reflected my own experience, I looked at the Waste King H710-U-SN Coronado. After reading the mostly positive reviews, I ordered one, installed it, and boy am I glad I did. Very high quality, beautiful faucet that matches our kitchen faucet, and less expensive. Looks and works great. See my review of it. I highly recommend it.
Customer Review: Worked perfectly until.....
Summary: 4 Stars
So I purchased an apartment that had this unit in it. I lived with it in perfect harmony for about a year and a half until the unit started "sputtering" when being used. I thought it was just some air in the lines so I held the lever down for 2-3 minutes to get the air out and it continued. Then I noticed that the floor was wet, it was just leaking out of the bottom of the tank.
So I cleaned up and the next day decided to take a better look, it indeed looked like the tank and indeed the bottom and not the plumbing. I turned off the water, pulled the unit out, looked at it and didn't see anything. Went online to amazon to see how much a new one of these was. I thought the price was crazy so I decided to read the comments, thank god I did! Other comments suggested I call to see if I can get a replacement.
I called and told them my story. At first the lady said she couldn't replace it since I didn't purchase the item (I told her it came with the apartment I bought) but she finally caved in. If you are in my position I would suggest telling the white lie that you purchased it but forget when. Anyway, she said in 3-5 days I'll get another unit that will have a 90 day warranty.
I didn't check the other reviews to see if this was mentioned but just out of curiosity and the fact they didn't ask for the old one back I opened the unit. It's just a screw in the bottom to remove the outer casing and then a few pieces of styrofoam. Right there in front of me was this yellowed and broken in half piece of 50 cent tubing! I looked at the tank and the heating unit and everything else looked perfectly. Went and got a new tube at Lowes and waalaa, now I have two units. So if for some reason you have it leaking out of the bottom and aren't able to get a replacement 5 minutes worth of maintenance and $1 is all that stands between you and a fully functional unit.
Customer Review: Planned Obsolecence
Summary: 2 Stars
This thing is a design masterpiece for selling new ones yearly. I am on my third in less than 4 years and they all do the same thing, leak. I got ISE to replace the tank once and they told me then that would be the only replacement. The third I had to buy again and now assume I can get another free one when this leaks. I would never leave on vacation with water to this thing. Took apart one of the old ones to see what leaks and found a plastic tube running right next to the hot tank. The plastic gets brittle from the heat, cracks and presto a leak. They seem to be perfectly happy with the design, it sells a lot of tanks.
Update:
Well I found that the tank is not the only problem use caution with the filter also. We never leave this thing with water to it when on vacation as stated earlier but never worried day to day after we installed a water leak detector under it. Well we left for the day to see our grandchildren play ball and returned 12 hours later to screaming water detectors and water running out of the house. Upon inspection of the cause of the leak it was ISE's water filter cartridge. The bottom blew out at the seam and away we went with full water pressure pouring out all day long (12000 gallons by my water bill calculation). The insurance company was pretty good in helping with the mess and took the defective part to try to recover their loss. The latest is that ISE is claiming that the filter wasn't changed according to their specifications and it was my fault that it burst. Well the filter was changed but I don't know how you would go about proving that. Finally why would a plastic filter burst from not changing it in the first place, your plastic pipe don't burst without changing does it? My updated recommendation is no stars and if you have one of these things rip it out of your house now before your sorry and living in mold.
Customer Review: Be ready for a constant cash flow
Summary: 2 Stars
We got tired of the tea kettle scratching our glass top stove so purchased one of these when we remodeled our kitchen. The first one we bought had a 1 year warranty and leaked at 1 1/2 years. I purchased a replacement thinking I got a lemon. The second one leaked at 1 1/2 years also. These units were selling for $160 at the time. I tore the second one apart and cut the plastic tank in half with my bandsaw. The insides were crumbling because of the heat of the water. I then found a place online that had a stainless steel tank and sold for $200. Whoa, I thought, this is what I need. It came with a 3 year warranty to boot. Well, at 3 1/2 years the tank leaked spilling water all over our cabinets and onto the floor. I ordered my 4th one at $200 to replace it. Meanwhile I took my old one out to the shop and tore that apart. Solidly built, all stainless steel, but the rubber gasket that holds the heating element in place fell apart and leaked. I guess they never heard of high temp teflon gaskets or the like. Received my replacement and installed that and turned the water on and water poured out of it. I called in sink erator and they sent a replacement. I installed what is now my 5th tank in 6 1/2 years. This one worked. Since they didn't ask for thee old one back I again took it to my shop and tore it apart. Plastic fittings have replaced the stainless fittings!!! The drain plug was broke right off. Can't use my old drain plug that was stainless because they changed the hole size to a large hole. The upper tube is now made of plastic as is a couple of other fittings. I can see this one failing in the future also.
Unless you want to continue to shell out $200 every 3-4 years I might say stay clear of these units. I was told they were to last 7-10 years by In sink erator, but don't bet on it!
Customer Review: THIS THING WILL KILL SOMEONE-IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
Summary: 1 Stars
If you read the reviews for this unit you will find that the ratings tend to fall into two populations: great ones from people who have just installed one, and horrible ones that are from those who have owned one for a while. However, unlike most incompetently made/designed consumer items that just one day quit working, this thing fails by either damaging your kitchen cabinets or shorting out your wiring with the potential of a fire. I got one of these new with a new house in 2001, and it started leaking in 2 years. I bought another and it failed in 3. I was so sick of spending another two hours under my sink that I complained and was "allowed" to buy a stainless steel tank at cost in 2006. Yesterday the dishwasher quit working because the circuit breaker (serving the dispenser and the dishwasher) was being tripped by water leaking from my "corrosion-proof" ISE hot water dispenser tank. Customer service is sending me another unit because I mentioned things like "consumer product safety commission", "class action", "house fire" etc. I guess this is really my fault (fool me twice, shame on me), but the fact that ISE has FOR YEARS known about this dangerous device and continues to sell it is incredible to me. Bottom Line: a very convenient thing that works for a while, will eventually leak and wipe out the cabinet under the sink, and could burn your house down. Comes down to what your price is for convenience, I guess. Suggestions: put a bucket under it after it's installed, install it on a GCFI circuit, check that your circuit breaker works and practice an evacuation plan with your family. Also, recognize you're not actually buying one of these, you are just renting it. Enjoy your tea!