I’d be interested in hearing from anyone having problems with Franke Little Butler hot water dispensers leaking.
I’ve had two fail in less than four years. Same failure on both. The little plastic fitting cracks, causing a flood inside the cabinet where it is housed. Installed per instructions, making sure the copper tubing feeding the inlet is not causing undue pressure on the fitting. There are no service parts available for the heating tank. We have had three of the same failures at clients homes.
Anyone else aware of or have had similar problems?
Replies
I would complain to their customer service department. Even if parts are not normally available, they can get them. They may appreciate feedback on a problem.
Also, take the broken part to a good plumbing supply company. They can probably match the part that is broken, I'm assuming it's the plastic nut.
Complain
Mark, been there, done that on the first one. Units are made overseas, Franke buys them and puts their label on them. Talked to the importer in CA, no help, Franke will sell you a new unit at a reduced cost, still over $200. Tried two good hardware stores and a large plumbing supply house to no avail. They use a plastic,13mm at best guess, cap nut, bore a 1/4" hole for the tubing and use a silicone bushng as a reducer. Can't even find a brass cap nut to drill. My next step is an import equipment dealer to see if something off a hydraulics system may be adaptable.
Thanks for the reply.
HV
Complain
Mark, been there, done that on the first one. Units are made overseas, Franke buys them and puts their label on them. Talked to the importer in CA, no help, Franke will sell you a new unit at a reduced cost, still over $200. Tried two good hardware stores and a large plumbing supply house to no avail. They use a plastic,13mm at best guess, cap nut, bore a 1/4" hole for the tubing and use a silicone bushng as a reducer. Can't even find a brass cap nut to drill. My next step is an import equipment dealer to see if something off a hydraulics system may be adaptable.
Thanks for the reply.
HV
Try smallparts.com
They probably won't have the fitting you are looking for, (but if anyone would, they would).
But if you send them an annotated picture of the part you have, they will probably be able to set you up with something that will work.
Also, have you tried a 360-degree loop in the copper feed line?
You know, there are actually outfits that can make small parts like that relatively inexpensively with the new 3D printing technologies. You send the digital file, they send back the part.
Fittings
Thanks for the suggestions.