Normal or not: Drilling holes through a water heater's casing

[leftrighter]

I recently had a Thai electrician (whom I found through this forum) rewire much a house we're in.  New grounds, new electrical box, new RCBOs, new circuits.  There was an issue with a circuit tripping the RCBO and I had them back onsite to look at that, and while they were here I asked if they could install a new 6000W Haier water heater in my master bedroom.  "Dai kap!"  The electrician sets one of his minions to the task and I depart to another room.  Come back a while later after the drilling stops - the job is done!  I thought the placement of the device was a bit odd, but didn't think too much of it.

 

First time using the shower the unit clicks off after about 60 seconds.  On/off - our water pump is cycling.  After much troubleshooting involving two plumbers: one declares that our pump is too small and the other thinks there is too much back pressure from the haier itself (water flows strong and continuously through the tap when not hooked to a unit).  Great.  I decide to take the unit back to the store and swap it out for a Hitachi, which is what we had before and exhibited no pressure issues.

Here is my <deleted> moment: I cut power to the circuit and pop the cover to the Haier to remove.  Much to my surprise, all of the mounting holes inside of the unit are devoid of screws.  (me, puzzled: ????) The installer drilled holes through the unit into the old mounting holes, thus voiding the warranty and return policy of the device.  Pictures attached.  I was, to borrow a phrase: <deleted> livid.  Had the Thai Mrs call the electrician after sending photos through on LINE to ask: "Would you install it like this in your house?  Would you let your daughter knowing it is installed like this?"

The discussion didn't last long; he bought the unit from us and sent someone over to collect it.

So, TV - is this normal?  We had a handyman over painting some stuff on the exterior of the house and we inquired with him if this is normal to which he said something to the effect of: "Yes.  Okay."

[kwonitoy]

The answer is in your OP.

You say the electrician sent one of his minions, who knows nothing, and has probably been taught nothing. The electrician didn't check because why would he.

The fact that the electrician bought it off you shows that he knows that it was done wrong. I'm actually amazed he did that.

The minion still knows nothing and probably never will.

Normal here in Thailand, definitely, like water it's follow the course of least resistance/work/effort.

I always check what a tradesman has done before I pay and he leaves.

[leftrighter]

The electrician was on site, actually.  Just in another room much of the time.  He's in a back brace now because he fell off a ladder a few weeks ago.  

 

You're probably right in that he knew it was wrong and was quick to buy it back.

 

The saying "ผักชีโรยหน้า" really applies to so much.

[bamboozled]

Was it a question of whether to drill new holes in your wall or to drill new holes through the heater back to re-use the old holes in the wall. Is that not the case? If so, I guess the installer thought it was the lesser of two evils to drill through the back of the unit. I certainly agree the work done here is more often than not deficient. In this particular case, if it is as above, at least you can see some logic perhaps being applied. One can understand the reasoning. Depending on the wall (was it tiled?), it might have made more sense to damage a little plastic than the ceramic.

 

Or did the old holes line up with the new heater holes without drilling new ones?

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, leftrighter said:

So, TV - is this normal?  We had a handyman over painting some stuff on the exterior of the house and we inquired with him if this is normal to which he said something to the effect of: "Yes.  Okay."

It's the lessor of two evils.

The guy that insisted on replacing my shower heater (I was gonna DIY it) drilled the tiles (wrong drill bit) and cracked em all. I'd have preferred him to drill the back of the heater.

Edited October 5, 2021 by BritManToo

[leftrighter]

2 hours ago, bamboozled said:

One can understand the reasoning. Depending on the wall (was it tiled?), it might have made more sense to damage a little plastic than the ceramic.

It doesn't make sense to me.  Tile or not, I'd rather see that the job is done correctly.  Drilling the back of the unit invalidates the warranty and circumvents the waterproofing in the built-in mount points.  The Thai wife was pretty upset, but that could just be that she's been around me too much and has skewed her expectations.

 

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

It's the lessor of two evils.

Disagree with that.  Would rather poke holes in the wall - we already did a ton of that already.  Easy enough to patch.

Welp, got my answers.  Thanks!