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Tankless Water Heater Issues

686 Views | 2 Replies | Last: 6 mo ago by GarlandAg2012
GarlandAg2012
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AG
I'm having some issues with my tankless that are very confusing. It's a Rheem RTG-64DVLN. It was installed before I moved into this home. Two years ago I got a code 11 - no ignition. I replaced the ignitor and all was good. Last year I got a code 11 and tried the ignitor again but it didn't help. I ended up disassembling the manifold and burner and cleaning them out, there was about 15 dead wasps plugging it up and preventing ignition.

This week I got a code 11 again. I tried the ignitor and the flame rods, no dice. I tried cleaning out the burner and gas manifold again, nothing. I just left it with the cover off one night and then it randomly started working again. Not sure why. I got home, went up and put the cover back on, and hopped into the shower to take my first hot shower of the week. Midway through, no more hot water. It now does not even try to ignite. No fan, no ignition, no error codes.

I have the troubleshooting guide and have followed it. I bought anl replacement control board and replaced it tonight, no change at all. The water flow sensor is working (verified by measuring voltage across the pins). I'm truly baffled at what could be wrong. Why would it just stop working in the middle of a shower? Why does it not even kick the blower on or try to ignite now? Any ideas?

Rheem technical support over the phone is actually pretty helpful so I'll be calling them in the morning but it's frustrating to be at a total loss about what could be wrong.
Absolute
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AG
Maybe replace the flow sensor anyway?
GarlandAg2012
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AG
I got passed to the advanced tech support this morning. The issue was a thermistor in the heat exchanger that was reading high even when the unit was off. Basically it thought the water was already too hot and would not allow the burner to start. Turns out I had pinched the wire to the thermistor when I reassembled the manifold and burner. I got the wire out, smoothed it out, checked the readout and everything is working normally now. Might replace the thermistor just because I know that wire is damaged now but hopefully I'm good to go. Hot shower this morning felt great.
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