How to Reset Rheem Water Heater? – 4 Easy Techniques

Rheem makes high-efficiency electric water heaters and names them Performance Platinum.

According to the Rheem Performance Platinum troubleshooting guide, you only need four steps to reset ECO on Rheem water heater units. ECO is the Energy Cut Off and temperature limiting control (TLC).

Step 1. Turn off the heater and remove the access panel cover.

To reset a Rheem electric water heater, start by cutting all power to the Rheem water heater by turning off the circuit breaker.

Next, loosen the screws on the water heater access panel and remove the cover and any insulation. Rheem advises users not to remove the plastic thermostat cover.

Step 2. Press the reset button.

Look for the red reset button above the thermostat. Press and hold this button until you hear a click. The “clicking” sound is feedback, signaling the water heater is restarting.

Step 3. Put back the cover and turn on the heater.

Replace the insulation and access panel cover and re-establish power to the Rheem water heater.

Interestingly, pressing the red reset button will also reset Rheem water heater thermostat.

Rheem also makes high-performance, energy-efficient natural gas-powered water heaters. The Rheem water heater lockout reset is nearly identical to resetting an electric unit.

1. It requires opening the appliance’s access panel. Remove the panel cover and carefully pull out any insulating material.
2. Next, look for the red Rheem gas water heater reset button, which should be above the thermostat.
3. Press the red button and hold it steady until you hear a click telling you the unit is restarting.
4. You can return the insulating materials to their correct position before securing the access panel cover.

Note: Sometimes, all you must do is turn off the electricity at the isolating switch and restore power to the switch to reset the ignition light.

Rheem classifies its high-performance tankless water heaters as Classic Series models. Hence, we will describe how to reset Rheem Classic Series water heater units.

It is worth noting that these models reset differently, depending on whether they are electric or gas.

1. Resetting a gas-powered tankless unit is similar to restarting a storage tank type. You only need to remove the access panel cover and insulation to press the reset button.
2. Meanwhile, an electric tankless water heater from Rheem requires switching off the remote control and closing all hot water faucets and fixtures. The reset should complete after five minutes.

Rheem gas water heaters feature many safety mechanisms to prevent accidental fires and similar issues. The flammable vapor sensor is a vital safety device that many homeowners overlook.

This tiny component detects fumes within the water heater’s vicinity. If the technology senses fire-producing vapors, it automatically sends an electrical signal to the gas valve to turn off the supply.

Unfortunately, sensor errors can occur, requiring a reset of the water heater’s flammable vapor sensor.

1. Resetting this Rheem water heater component is as straightforward as unplugging the blower when starting the water heater. Wait about five to ten seconds before powering the blower back on.
2. Observe for six temperature fluctuations before the dial settles on a temperature level. This event signals the completion of the reset.

You might also want to reset the water heater gas valve by turning the dial to the OFF position for five seconds before returning it to the ON position.