I attempted to contact Hendricks after discovering a leak in our ceiling. The plumber we hired…read moredetermined that the water heater exhaust vent had never been glued at the coupling, which allowed condensation to leak and damage our ceiling and drywall.
When I first called Hendricks, Travis told me they "don't do water heaters" and insisted it wasn't their work. After I explained that our plumber specifically identified Hendricks as the installer, he continued to deny responsibility and rudely responded, "Well, we don't do drywall, so I'm not sure what you want me to do about it."
To verify the facts, I contacted our plumber again. He confirmed that Hendricks was responsible and explained the situation:
During the rough-in of our home, Hendricks informed the plumbing contractor that the boiler they were installing for the in-floor heat would also provide domestic hot water. Based on that information, the plumber did not run a separate vent for a water heater because one wasn't supposed to be needed. During the finish stage, Hendricks realized they had made a mistake and determined the boiler they had specified would not provide domestic hot water after all. They then instructed the plumber to use the existing 3-inch pipe that had been connected to the furnace combustion air intake as the water heater vent, with the furnace instead pulling combustion air from the mechanical room. This decision was made because the drywall had already been completed, and there was no practical way to install another vent.
After learning this, I again attempted to contact Hendricks by phone, text, and email. I received no response. My calls have been ignored, screened, or disconnected. I would have much preferred to discuss this issue and give the company an opportunity to address it, but after repeated attempts to communicate, I was left with no response.
Unfortunately, this is not the only issue we've experienced with Hendricks. We have a 9-degree temperature difference in one bathroom, previously had an 11-degree variance in another zone, have dealt with water leaks, stuck dampers, insulation stuffed into ductwork, loose vent covers, and an improperly installed dryer vent.
Based on our experience, I cannot recommend Hendricks. Mistakes can happen on any project, but how a company responds afterward says a great deal about its professionalism. In our case, they chose not to communicate or take responsibility, and that has been the most disappointing part of this experience.
