Rheem gas water heater 7 blinks: gas control failure

Short answer On Rheem, Ruud and Richmond status light models, seven red blinks every three seconds mean Combination Gas Control failure; the manual says to contact a qualified service technician. On power vent and powered damper gas valve LEDs, seven flashes mean something else. See what to check

Status light, gas valve LED or display

7 blinks

“Gas Control or Valve Failure”

Technician

Printed on 15 model series · 8 documents

Rheem Professional Classic Series Ultra Low NOx Skinny Models, Ruud Professional Achiever Series Ultra Low NOx Skinny Models, Rheem PERFORMANCE Ultra Low NOx High BTU Models with Installed Side Water Connections, Rheem Professional Classic Series Ultra Low NOx High BTU Models with Installed Side Water Connections, Ruud Professional Achiever Series Ultra Low NOx High BTU with Side Connections Models, Rheem Performance Ultra Low NOx Skinny, Rheem Performance Series: Ultra Low NOx, Rheem Professional Classic Series: Heavy Duty Ultra Low NOx, Rheem Professional Classic Plus Series: Heavy Duty Ultra Low NOx, Ruud Professional Achiever Series: Heavy Duty Ultra Low NOx, Richmond Essential Series: Atmospheric, Rheem Performance Plus Series: Atmospheric, Rheem Performance Plus Series: Ultra Low NOx, Rheem Performance Series: High Demand Ultra Low NOx Atmospheric, Rheem Performance Series: Atmospheric · AP23698 p. 24; AP22858 p. 23; AP23699 p. 24; AP19928 Rev 02 p. 24; AP16801-2 (08/14) p. 24; AP17110-1 (01/15) p. 24; AP20849 Rev 02 p. 24; AP23060 Rev 01 p. 24

Legend on the gas control label, as reproduced in the manual; printed in red, except in AP17110-1 (01/15), which prints no colors.

The lamp blinks 7 times, then pauses. It shows the count only, not the color; the timing on your board may differ.

What it means

Seven blinks point to the gas control itself. Rheem’s table is titled “Combination Gas Control, Status Light Troubleshooting”, and the code repeats as “Seven (7) blinks every three (3) seconds” (AP23060 Rev 01, p. 24). The label legend calls it “Gas Control or Valve Failure”. The table under it says “Combination Gas Control failure” in AP23060 Rev 01, AP16801-2 (08/14) and AP17110-1 (01/15), and “Combination Gas Control (Thermostat) failure.” in the Ultra Low NOx manuals AP23698, AP23699, AP22858, AP20849 Rev 02 and AP19928 Rev 02 (AP23060 Rev 01, p. 24; AP23699, p. 24; AP22858, p. 23).

The legend prints the code in red. The only blue entry is one blink, “Normal Operation”, so a blue light that blinks seven times is not in Rheem’s legend (AP23060 Rev 01, p. 24). AP17110-1 prints no colors at all (AP17110-1, p. 24).

A code shows only with the pilot lit. The NOTICE above the table says to light the pilot first if the light is neither blinking nor on, and then read the code (AP23060 Rev 01, p. 24).

Power vent, powered damper and induced draft tanks have a gas valve LED instead, and there seven flashes mean a flammable vapor sensor lockout. That code has its own page: 7 flashes.

Check these first

For seven blinks the manual gives the owner one action: “Contact a qualified service technician.” (AP23060 Rev 01, p. 24). Before the visit:

1. If you smell gas, stop and follow the steps at the top of this page.
2. Read the code with the pilot lit, as the NOTICE above the table says (AP23060 Rev 01, p. 24). If the pilot will not stay lit when you release the knob, the NOTICE says to repeat the lighting instructions and keep the knob depressed until the code can be fully read.
3. If the gas supply fails to shut off, the Safety Precautions say to turn off the manual gas shut-off valve (AP23060 Rev 01, p. 18).
4. Write down the model and serial number from the rating plate on the jacket. Rheem asks for them, with the installation date and a description of the problem (AP23060 Rev 01, p. 28).
5. Call your installer, plumbing contractor or service agency first. If the problem is not solved, the manual lists Rheem’s Manufacturer’s National Service Department at 1-866-279-4566 (AP23060 Rev 01, p. 28).

When to call a licensed technician

• Every status light manual gives seven blinks the same remedy: a qualified service technician (AP23060 Rev 01, p. 24; AP19928 Rev 02, p. 24).
• Rheem’s own chart sends a defective Combination Gas Control (Thermostat) to “a qualified service technician to replace” it (AP23060 Rev 01, p. 23). The CAUTION on the troubleshooting pages says not to attempt repair of gas piping, the gas control, burners, vent connectors or other safety devices (AP23060 Rev 01, p. 22). Gas control work is for a licensed technician.

The status light manuals print no cause or test for seven blinks beyond this row, so this page gives none.

Notes for different models

Seven means different things on Rheem’s indicators:

Indicator and manuals	What seven means
Status light: AP23060 Rev 01, AP16801-2 (08/14), AP17110-1 (01/15), p. 24	“Combination Gas Control failure”
Status light, Ultra Low NOx: AP23698, AP23699, AP20849 Rev 02, AP19928 Rev 02, p. 24; AP22858, p. 23	“Combination Gas Control (Thermostat) failure.”
Power vent gas valve LED: AP22511 Rev 02, AP23058 Rev 01, AP23057 Rev 01, p. 37	“System in lockout. Flammable vapor sensor.”
Powered damper gas valve LED: AP15756 (05/10), AP15873 (06/10), AP17115 (11/13), p. 25; AP16881-1 (03/17), AP19336 (12/17), p. 26	“System in Lockout/ Presence of Flammable Vapors detected”
Induced draft gas valve LED: AP15696-3 (03/17), p. 28	“Flammable vapour sensor lockout”
Induced draft gas valve LED: AP15696 (11/10), p. 28	“Flammable vapor sensor lockout”
Gas valve LED, AP19361 (12/17), posted for the Ruud Professional Achiever Ultra Low NOx and Ultra Low NOx Power Vent: p. 32	“Flammable vapor sensor lockout”

The six-LED panels of some power vent and power direct vent models and the Maximus display have no seven-count code. On the six-LED panel the flammable vapor lockout is the pattern ● ○ ○ ○ ○ ● (AP17505-1, p. 35).

The manuals for the Professional Classic Series: Atmospheric and the Professional Classic Plus Series: Atmospheric have no status light table (AP22543 Rev 04, pp. 21–22; AP23059 Rev 01, pp. 22–23), so Rheem’s documents do not describe seven blinks on those heaters. The Rheem gas tank guide lists the series by indicator.

Related Rheem gas tank water heaters codes

• 8-4 flashes “Combination gas control (thermostat) fault detected.”
• ● ○ ○ ○ ● ● “Problem in the gas valve driver circuit.”

See also

• Water heater size calculator
• 2029 water heater regulations: the DOE standard from May 6, 2029
• Furnace and HVAC tax credits for 2025 and 2026: 25C ended after 2025
• Form 5695 for 2025 and 2026: QMID, lines, carryforward
• Gas water heater pilot won't stay lit: thermocouple, thermopile and the status light
• Home maintenance schedule from the manuals: monthly to yearly
• Winter home maintenance checklist: furnace, boiler, water heater
• Water heater or furnace closet: clearance and air requirements

All Rheem gas tank water heaters codes

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