A 10-Step DIY Troubleshooting Guide For All Rheem Hot Water Systems

As Aussies, most of us are more than familiar with that iconic “Install a Rheem” jingle – a fitting testament to the brand’s longstanding reputation. It’s a brand that is well known for reliability, efficiency, and a wide range of products suitable for all sorts of needs – just like yours. But even the best systems run into problems eventually. Is your Rheem hot water system not working quite right? Well, you’ve found the right place!

In this helpful guide, we’ll help you easily troubleshoot – and hopefully completely resolve – all the most common issues with your Rheem hot water system, without needing any type of professional assistance at all.

Types of Rheem hot water systems

Rheem offers hot water systems that are fully tailored to different household needs:

• Gas systems, including both storage and continuous flow (instant) models, providing efficient, on-demand hot water.
• Electric systems, also available in storage and instantaneous types, which are ideal for homes with access to electricity but not gas.
• Solar systems, with an extra electric or gas boost for backup, reducing your energy bills and environmental impact.
• Heat pump systems, extracting heat from the air to heat water, making them highly energy-efficient and ideal for warmer climates like Brisbane.

No matter what you’ve got, and how old your Rheem is, we can help you with Rheem hot water systems troubleshooting. Ready to dive into the steps? Let’s do this!:

Rheem troubleshooting guide: An easy step-by-step

All you need to do is sit back, stop stressing about your Rheem hot water problem for a moment, and run through everything here from 1 to 10. Ready to go?:

1. What’s the problem?

Before we troubleshoot, take note of the symptoms of your Rheem system’s malfunction. Common signs of your Rheem hot water not working include:

• No hot water
• Fluctuating temperatures
• Unusual noises from the unit.

First, check for helpful error codes. Rheem systems, especially modern ones, usually display error codes on a digital display or with indicator lights. You’re going to have to refer to your Rheem water heater troubleshooting manual to identify what each code means.

2. Check the power supply (Electric)

Is your Rheem electric hot water system not working? It may be as simple as a power failure. So check your system is still plugged in, and also take a look at the circuit breaker or fuse in your electric box – because something may have tripped. Reset that breaker or replace the fuse if needed.

3. Check the power supply (Gas)

A Rheem gas hot water system not working as it should could be due to an interrupted gas supply and nothing more.

Is your gas supply still on? If you’re using a bottle, is it empty? To rule this one out, check that other gas appliances are working to rule out a wider gas supply issue.

4. Relight the pilot light (Gas)

If you have a Rheem hot water heater not working right, sometimes it’s as simple to fix as re-lighting an extinguished pilot light.

You’ll need to get your particular Rheem instruction manual out of the drawer, but relighting a gas pilot light is fairly easy to do. If it doesn’t stay lit after you do this, the thermocouple may need checking.

5. Check the thermostat settings

The thermostat controls the temperature of your hot water – although all across Australia, you usually can’t fiddle with your settings too much for regulatory reasons. But if you do have settings, and they’re not set right, that can result in your Rheem hot water system not heating up properly.

Adjust your Rheem thermostat to the recommended hot water temperature – about 50°C. If that doesn’t work, it could be faulty.

6. Flush the tank (Storage Systems)

If your Rheem hot water system has a tank, sediment build-up can lead to a Rheem water heater not heating up as you would expect.

Try draining the tank, otherwise known as flushing the system, to get rid of that pesky sediment. If that worked, never forget: regular maintenance can be the key to dodging issues like this in the future.

7. Inspect for leaks

If something’s leaking, that can most definitely lead to a Rheem hot water system not getting hot.

Look all around the tank and all the connections for any sign of a leak. Ignore the few drops from the release valves, but if anything is worse than that, turn off the system and contact a professional – because something is seriously wrong.

8. Examine the heating element (Electric)

A faulty heating element might be the reason your Rheem electric hot water system is not hot.

Turn off the power, and – if you can – inspect the heating element for signs of damage. If that sounds too hard, your instincts are almost certainly correct, because a professional is definitely required to replace a faulty element.

9. Check for blockages (Gas Instant)

Blockages are a real pain when it comes to proper combustion – leading to your Rheem instant hot water not working as it should.

Make sure all the vents and flues are completely clear of debris or obstructions – absolutely critical for safe and proper operation.

10. Reset the system

If all else fails, sometimes all your Rheem needed was a full and proper reset. This can resolve minor faults more often than you might think.

Find the reset button on your unit, press and hold it as instructed by your particular Rheem manual, and then stand back and see if this resolves the issue.

When to call a professional

Unfortunately, some issues with Rheem hot water systems cannot be safely or completely resolved without professional help. These include:

• Gas leaks
• Major component failures
• Persistent error codes.

Rheem hot water system not working still?

A bit of at-home troubleshooting of your Rheem hot water system can resolve many common issues – but there’s no doubt that some problems are best left to the professionals, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. If your Rheem hot water system is not working and you can’t resolve it on your own, don’t hesitate to contact the experienced team at S&J Hot Water Brisbane for fast, expert, affordable assistance.