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Rinnai code 61 (combustion fan): what to check

By How House Works EditorialBased on Rinnai manualsChecked against sources Updated

Rinnai display

61

“Combustion Fan”

RU/RUR/RSC, RX, RE/REP, V, RL/VC · SENSEI RU Installation and Operation Manual, p. 74; SENSEI RUR Installation and Operation Manual, p. 73; SENSEI RSC Installation and Operation Manual, p. 73; SENSEI RX/CX Tech Sheet, p. 1; RE Series Installation and Operation Manual, p. 51; REP Series Installation and Operation Manual, p. 50; Value Series Installation and Operation Manual, p. 35; V53De Installation and Operation Manual, p. 29; VC Series Installation and Operation Manual, p. 38; Troubleshooting Tankless Water Heater Diagnostic Codes, p. 52
Technician

What it means

Code 61 is a fault in the combustion fan; the troubleshooting guide titles it “Combustion Fan Motor” p. 52. The fan is inside the cabinet: Rinnai’s instructions for cleaning dust from the fan blades begin with removing the front panel RU manual, p. 76.

The remedies in the tables are checking the motor’s wire harness for loose or damaged connections, measuring resistance, and making sure the fan turns freely RU manual, p. 74; RE manual, p. 51. The Value, V53De and VC tables mark all of them “licensed professional only” Value manual, p. 35; V53De manual, p. 29; VC manual, p. 38. The RU, RX, RE and REP tables do not split remedies between owner and professional; in our reading, these are technician work there too, since the fan is inside the cabinet.

Check these first

The Value, V53De and VC tables give owners no steps for code 61. If you smell gas, the Value and V53De manuals put one step before those in the box above: leave the premises Value manual, p. 28; V53De manual, p. 22. What an owner can do:

  1. To see how often 61 has appeared, view the code history. Turn the heater off with On/Off, hold On/Off for 2 seconds, then press Up; the last nine codes flash one after another RU manual, p. 73; Value manual, p. 33.
  2. Leave the front panel on. Rinnai says not to operate the heater without it, and that it comes off only for service, maintenance or replacing internal parts RU manual, p. 8.
  3. If the heater will not operate, turn off the gas to the appliance as the operating instructions describe, then call a service technician or the gas supplier RU manual, p. 68; Value manual, p. 29.

When to call a licensed technician

Call for code 61 itself. The checks in the tables and the troubleshooting guide:

  • The fan motor’s wiring harness and its connections back to the PC board RU manual, p. 74; troubleshooting guide, p. 52.
  • The resistance of the motor winding RE manual, p. 51; Value manual, p. 35.
  • Whether the blower wheel turns freely, and debris in the fan housing troubleshooting guide, p. 52.
  • On SENSEI and RX models, the check valve behind the fan motor, which must not stick closed p. 52.
  • The PC board, if the motor windings and fan voltage are within specification and the fan turns freely p. 52.

The guide has the technician turn off power and gas before servicing the fan motor, and never plug or unplug the motor while the heater has power p. 52. Rinnai also asks for the fan and motor to be kept free of dust and dirt by cleaning annually RU manual, p. 76, as part of the maintenance it assigns to a trained and qualified professional p. 76.

Notes for different models

Fan items show up under other codes as well. On SENSEI models, the code 10 remedies include fan debris and the check valve, and the code 16 remedies include the fan motor RU manual, pp. 73–74.

Related Rinnai codes

  • 10 “Air Supply or Exhaust Blockage/ Condensate Trap is Full”
  • 16 “High Outgoing Temperature (safety shutdown because water heater is too hot)”

All Rinnai codes

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Sources

  1. Rinnai America Corporation. Troubleshooting Tankless Water Heater Diagnostic Codes. 100000652(03), 5/2024; for trained and qualified professionals. Accessed Oct 12, 2026.
  2. Rinnai America Corporation. SENSEI RU Installation and Operation Manual. 100000467(07), 1/2021; cover title: Tankless Water Heater (Residential) Installation and Operation Manual; listed on rinnai.us as N Series Residential Condensing Installation and Operation Manual. Accessed Oct 12, 2026.
  3. Rinnai America Corporation. SENSEI RUR Installation and Operation Manual. 100000508(07), 1/2021; cover title: Tankless Water Heater (With Pump) Installation and Operation Manual. Accessed Oct 12, 2026.
  4. Rinnai America Corporation. SENSEI RSC Installation and Operation Manual. 100000773(01), 1/2023. Accessed Oct 12, 2026.
  5. Rinnai America Corporation. SENSEI RX/CX Tech Sheet. 100000849, U362-0875(00); no printed date or page numbers (p. 1 is the PDF page). Accessed Oct 12, 2026.
  6. Rinnai America Corporation. RE Series Installation and Operation Manual. 100000722(03), 6/2022; cover title: Tankless Water Heater Installation and Operation Manual. Accessed Oct 12, 2026.
  7. Rinnai America Corporation. REP Series Installation and Operation Manual. 100000726(03), 3/2022; cover title: Tankless Water Heater (With Pump) Installation and Operation Manual. Accessed Oct 12, 2026.
  8. Rinnai America Corporation. Value Series Installation and Operation Manual. 100000258(10), 4/2021; cover title: Direct Vent Tankless Water Heater Installation and Operation Manual. Accessed Oct 12, 2026.
  9. Rinnai America Corporation. V53De Installation and Operation Manual. 100000561(05) (from the file name; no printed revision or date). Accessed Oct 12, 2026.
  10. Rinnai America Corporation. VC Series Installation and Operation Manual. 100000244(12), 8/2019; cover title: Direct Vent Tankless Water Heater Installation and Operation Manual. Accessed Oct 12, 2026.