ALL WEWISHED FORWAS A TOP OF THE LINE REFRIGERATOR
We purchased a Whirlpool counter depth refrigerator on May 5, 2002 from Lowe's in West Hills along with a Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer, the cost was in excess of $5,000.00. We had always wished for top of the line appliances and finally we could manage to make the purchase thanks in part to Lowe's no interest and no payments for one year offer.
The delivery and installation was performed by Interstate arranged by Lowe'sand there were many problems with the delivery, the refrigerator was crashed into the wall going into the kitchen as well as the maple cabinet, causing damage to both as well as the refrigerator. The delivery men returned the refrigerator to Lowe's (damaged) and a new one was delivered shortly thereafter, I do not recall the new delivery date. The delivery men installed the refrigerator ice and water line and pushed the refrigerator back into the allotted space. The refrigerator had never been moved since the delivery and installation, the wallpaper in the kitchen was replaced due to the damage caused by the first delivery, but not behind the refrigerator as I did not want it moved as evidenced in the photographs.
Upon returning from a vacation in late August 2002 I noticed a faint unpleasant smell in our home and I contacted air conditioning duct cleaners and had all of the ducts cleaned. The smell continued and I began to experience headaches and severe asthma, and we contacted air conditioning specialist Warner Wells to inspect the air conditioning and heating units as well as the attic to check for mold. He reported that there was no mold in the attic or in the ducting but he advised us to install a new air conditioning unit for the upstairs to help reduce my asthma symptoms.
My condition continued to worsen and I sought medical help with Dr. John Sherman who referred me to an allergist. The allergist performed allergy testing and I was found to be allergic to mold. I have been unable to perform the duties I previously had for my husband handling bookkeeping for several of his accounts. I have been unable to perform my household duties including but not limited to cooking, marketing and cleaning. We have had home food delivery since 2003. I am limited in all of my activities and unable to conduct any form of social life for the past few years due to blinding headaches, acute asthma, joint and muscle pain as well as a constant feeling of weakness and malaise.
On January 2, 2007 I noticed a small discoloration in front of the refrigerator about one inch by one inch, the next day it had spread and I immediately called Edgar's Plumbing. Edgar and his crew arrived on January 4, 2007 and Edgar remarked when he entered our home that he smelled a moldy scent. He viewed the kitchen floor and then moved the refrigerator out and went behind it to discover that the floor was wet as well as the back of the refrigerator and the wall, he examined the water line to the refrigerator and he informed me that "the installer's never properly tightened the connection and it is dripping" he told me he believed that it had been dripping since it was installed because of the amount of water and the water damage he could see. He sent two of his workers to check under the house and they saw standing water under the house below where the refrigerator is. Edgar shut off the water to the refrigerator and there was no longer any water dripping.
I immediately called Lowe's West Hills manager Mario Gaska and the district manager Ben Camerie and told them of the situation. They both arrived at my home the following day January 5, 2007 at 12:00pm. They inspected the damage and advised me that they were going to make arrangements for an inspector to come out and check for mold and water damage and they offered to pay for the repairs to the wood floor. They explained that they would pay for the damage directly from the store and they would deduct what they paid for the repairs from an Interstate invoice. They expressed that they had a limit of about $3,000.00 that they could pay from the store and I told them I would get an estimate from Fuhrmann floors. Later that day Warren from Fuhrmann floors arrived to give me an estimate on the repairs and while he was here I called Ben Camerie and Warren and Ben had a discussion on the phone regarding the damage to the floor.
On Monday January 8, 2007 Mario Gasca returned to my home with two Lowe's employees that he advised me were flooring specialists, they all inspected the floor and Mario took pictures of the damage as well as a photograph of my family room. The Lowe's flooring specialists agreed that the refrigerator was the cause of the damage and they also agreed with Warren that the best way to repair the damaged floor was to replace it because the original floor is no longer made and was originally sealed at the factory with an oil base sealant. The only way for there to be uniformity is to replace the entire wood floor in the entry, family room, kitchen and pantry as all of these rooms are open to each other and connected.
On Wednesday January 10, 2007 Mario Gasca once again came to my home to meet with a representative of Mold Inspection Services, Inc. Mario had set up the appointment and paid for the inspection on the advice of Ben Camerie. Air samples were taken in the kitchen and pictures were taken of the damage in the kitchen and under the house. The report came back positive for mold in the kitchen and mold was seen under the house and sub floor. I then contacted Doug Waters of American Technologies Inc. on January 12, 2007 and he arrived later that afternoon and after inspecting the damage he arranged to have the area sealed off and machines brought in to clean the air and dry out the wet floor and wall. On January 15, 2007 American Environmental came to take more detailed samples of the air and the surfaces and their report is expected shortly. The kitchen has been sealed off since January 13, 2007 and I continue to smell mold in the downstairs.
Now we are faced with mold remediation, removal of the entire downstairs wood floor and replacement and no use of the kicthen until all of the work is completed. We are forced to deal with Lowe's insurance (they are self insured) and although we have received a letter of apology and assurances from Lowe's corporate offices, we have not been notified by the insurance adjuster that they are accepting responsibility and willing to authorize that the repairsshould begin.
Be careful what you wish for, who would have thought that a new refrigerator could cause so much upheaval, ill healthand unhappiness.
Keri Ligerman
Woodland Hills, CA