Rheem gas water heater status light codes
Reviewed 2 primary sourcesSee sources
Seven blinks don’t mean the same thing on every Rheem gas water heater. On atmospheric models with a combination gas control it means the gas control has failed; on PowerVent ESII models it means the flammable vapor sensor has locked the heater out. Check which control your heater has before reading the table.
Applies to: Rheem residential gas FVIR atmospheric water heaters covered by Use & Care Manual AP23060 Rev 01 (29–60 gallon natural gas and LP models), Rheem PowerVent ESII water heaters with the Honeywell electronic control (Technical Service Bulletin 1627)
How to read the code
On atmospheric models the STATUS light is on the combination gas control and can only report codes while the pilot is lit. A red light that blinks more than once every three seconds is a code: count the blinks.[1]
Atmospheric gas models (combination gas control, manual AP23060)
| Code | What it means | What an owner can check |
|---|---|---|
| Off (no light) | The control is off or the pilot is out.[1] | Follow the lighting instructions on the heater’s label to relight the pilot, and check that the thermopile connector and wires are attached. If that doesn’t clear it, call a qualified technician. |
| Steady light | The pilot went out recently and the thermopile is cooling, or the knob was just turned to OFF.[1] | Wait for the light to go out before relighting, following the label instructions. |
| 1 blue blink | Normal operation.[1] | Nothing to do. |
| 2 red blinks | Thermopile voltage is low while the pilot is lit.[1] | Check that the thermopile connector and wires are attached. If that doesn’t clear it, call a qualified technician. |
| 4 red blinks | The high water temperature limit has tripped.[1] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
| 5 red blinks | The water temperature sensor has failed.[1] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
| 7 red blinks | The combination gas control (gas valve) has failed.[1] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
| 8 red blinks | False pilot flame signal (flame sensing error).[1] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
PowerVent ESII with Honeywell electronic control (bulletin 1627)
| Code | What it means | What an owner can check |
|---|---|---|
| 1 flash | Low flame signal (display code 12).[2] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
| 2 flashes | Pressure switch failed closed (code 44).[2] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
| 3 flashes | Pressure switch failed open (code 46).[2] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
| 4 flashes | Thermal cut-off limit lockout (code 31).[2] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
| 5 flashes | Flame out of sequence (code 14).[2] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
| 6 + 1 flashes | Failed trial for ignition (code 11).[2] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
| 6 + 2 flashes | Recycle limit: pressure switch or limit opened (code 45).[2] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
| 6 + 3 flashes | Recycle limit: flame lost (code 13).[2] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
| 6 + 5 flashes | Hard lockout that needs a manual reset (code 10).[2] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
| 7 flashes | Flammable vapor sensor lockout (code 47). The control shuts everything off.[2] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
| 8 + 1 flashes | Flammable vapor sensor fault (code 49).[2] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
| 8 + 2 flashes | Temperature sensor fault (code 89).[2] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
| 8 + 3 flashes | Electronics fault (code 15).[2] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
| 8 + 4 flashes | Gas valve fault (code 93).[2] | No owner check is given; call a qualified technician. |
Rheem’s PowerVent bulletin is written for service technicians; other Rheem gas models (ultra-low NOx, condensing and tankless) use their own code sets.[2]
Sources
Facts on this page are restated in our own words from the manufacturer and government documents below. Formats and codes change between product lines, so check the document for your exact model.
- Use & Care Manual: Residential Gas FVIR Certified Water HeatersRheem Manufacturing Company · AP23060 Rev 01 · Page 23 (caution), page 24 (Combination Gas Control status light troubleshooting) · retrieved
- Technical Service Bulletin 1627: PowerVent with Honeywell Electronic ControlRheem Manufacturing Company · TSB 1627 · Page 1 'Error Code Flash Display'; page 6 'Error 47' · retrieved
Primary publishers: Rheem Manufacturing Company. Spotted an error? Email the address in the footer with the model and the document you are using.