A cold shower may sound refreshing during a hot summer day, but not during the coldest days of the year. If your Rheem tankless water heater runs out of hot water due to an error code, it can make bathtime unpleasant. Luckily, Rheem error codes are completely fixable despite how troublesome they are.
Rheem tankless water heaters are commonly seen at homes throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, and we’ve spent the last 15-plus years servicing these units. At Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Air, we’ve seen and repaired over 20 different Rheem error codes. Despite the long list, some error codes are more common than others, and all codes have different solutions available.
In this article, we’ll review the following commonly seen Rheem error codes with steps to fix them.
- Rheem error code 11
- Rheem error code 12
- Rheem error code 14
Regardless of your error code, we highly recommend contacting a certified technician to help diagnose the error code and apply whatever fix is required to clear the Rheem error code. By the end of this article, you’ll gain insider knowledge of what the error codes mean and what possible solutions a technician can complete.
Let’s dive right in!
What Are the Most Common Rheem Tankless Water Heater Error Codes?
Rheem Error Code 11
A Rheem tankless water heater with error code 11 means that there is no ignition detected or there’s a possible ignition failure. Error code 11 may have appeared due to faulty parts within the tankless water heater’s ignition system, lack of gas supplying the ignition system, or the tankless water heater’s obstructed venting. There’s a possibility that Rheem error code 11 may have appeared due to other issues within the tankless water heater.
The tankless water heater’s ignition system is a key part of the water heating process by igniting the burner assembly. A malfunctioning ignition system will not be able to help produce hot water.
The assembly making up the ignition system is located inside the unit, and it is recommended that a professional technician inspect it. Once they diagnose the cause of Rheem error code 11, they can proceed with the next step in the repair process.
How to Address Rheem Error Code 11
Once your Rheem tankless water heater is inspected for error code 11, a technician will address the cause with different solutions. For example, if a mechanical failure caused Rheem error code 11, the part or parts responsible for the ignition failure will be replaced. Other possible repairs for Rheem error code 11 include cleaning or repairing the ventilation or checking the gas line connection for the tankless water heater.
If the tankless water heater is still under warranty, any parts that caused Rheem error code 11 may be covered under Rheem’s warranty. If any other error codes appear on your Rheem tankless water heater, such as error code 12, there’s a possibility it can be covered under warranty.
Rheem Error Code 12
Rheem tankless water heater error code 12 indicates that there is a flame failure, which prevents any incoming water from being heated. A lack of flame within the Rheem tankless water heater may have been caused by old or defective parts responsible for producing a flame, such as the following.
- Flame sensor
- Burner
- Igniter
- Thermocouple
It is recommended to have these parts inspected by a technician to ensure the root cause of Rheem error code 12.
How to Address Rheem Error Code 12
A certified technician can help fix Rheem error code 12 by properly diagnosing the tankless water heater. Rheem error code 12 may be cleared by repairing any malfunctioning part that produces a flame.
Depending on the age of the tankless water heater, the parts that create and control a flame within the unit can corrode over years of use. If the Rheem tankless water heater hasn’t been maintained, more repairs may be needed to help clear error code 12.
The repair can take one to two hours, depending on factors like part availability. Some error codes can appear due to a lack of heat detected, but Rheem error code 14 may appear on your tankless water heater if it’s overheating.
Rheem Error Code 14
Rheem error code 14 appears if the tankless water heater is overheating. All Rheem tankless water heaters come with customizable preset temperatures for hot water so that any overheating may trigger error code 14.
Continued overheating can damage the internal parts of a Rheem tankless water heater and may make water scalding hot, which is dangerous. Usually, tankless water heaters have built-in sensors that monitor the temperature of the hot water and shut off in case the temperature exceeds safety limits.
If you see Rheem error code 14 appear on your tankless water heater, then contacting an experienced technician is highly recommended.
How to Address Rheem Error Code 14
Depending on a technician’s diagnosis, a Rheem tankless water heater may have overheated due to faulty electrical wiring, broken or defective temperature sensor, or other reasons. A repair for Rheem error code 14 may involve replacing a part such as the temperature sensor or any other component that caused error code 14.
Depending on the damage caused by overheating, a new heat exchanger may be required to fix Rheem error code 14. Sometimes, a tankless water heater may have overheated because of limescale buildup. An annual tankless water heater flush can help remove and prevent a buildup of limescale, which can accumulate on the heat exchanger and cause it to work harder to heat and may potentially overheat.
Rheem error codes can have numerous causes, but annual tankless water heater maintenance can help ensure error codes are less likely to appear.
Moving On from Rheem Tankless Water Heater Error Codes
There are over 20 Rheem error codes, but we’ve reviewed the ones that appear the most throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. Now you have a better idea of what to do if you see Rheem error codes 11, 12, or 14 appear. Other codes exist, so if it appears, it’s best to contact a technician immediately.
Since 2007, we’ve helped hundreds of homeowners deal with error codes on their Rheem tankless water heaters. It helps to know what caused the error codes, but it’s just as important to know who to call if these codes appear.
If you see a Rheem error code, contact us using one of the buttons below. Book an appointment with any of our technicians through our tankless repair online scheduler.
To help you prepare for your technician appointment, learn how much it may cost to repair a tankless water heater. A simple repair may clear a Rheem error code, but an older water heater will eventually need to be replaced. Learn more about how much a Rheem tankless water heater costs to prepare you for a possible investment.
