Rheem Gladiator Water Heater - Service Needed

[Jed1154]

This morning, the water heater decided to start beeping and the red indicator says "Service needed". Havn't had a lick of trouble with this unit since I installed it. The light is blinking 4 flashes pause, 4 flashes, pause, etc.

Manual says:

1. Disconnection of wire(s) to upper or lower element or ECO. Call for service.
2. Upper element wire(s) and lower element wire(s) switched. Call for service.
3. ECO tripped and needs reset. Reset ECO or call for service.
4. Failure of one or both elements. Call for service.

Obviously, this is not overly helpful. How do I troubleshoot this and repair?

 

[Reach4]

Seems pretty helpful to me.

See drawing on page 12 of https://media.rheem.com/media/uploa...c-Residential-WH-with-e-control-HIGH-TIER.pdf about Reset ECO.

We can eliminate #2. #1 seems very unlikly.

So try reset of ECO. If not that, replace element.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Fitter30]

Elements won't be switched unless someone just changed them. Ohm meter to measure resistance of each element with wires removed. Have not found a service manual. Wifi connected and have the app to get more info.

 

[Jed1154]

OK. ECO inside is OK. Did not reset. Both elements tested out OK. Rheem says its the board. Wish there was a way to 'bypass' the error function so I could use this fancy thing.

Too bad there isn't a way to bypass the alarm so it heats. :/

Always a downside to fancy electronics.

 

[Jed1154]

Also, on the plus side, the unit still operates, regardless of what Rheem says on phone. On the negative side, its set to 125 degrees but heating to 150. The dishes are very clean. HAHAHAH

 

[Reach4]

Also, on the plus side, the unit still operates, regardless of what Rheem says on phone. On the negative side, its set to 125 degrees but heating to 150. The dishes are very clean. HAHAHAH

That seems make #4 less likely, but I guess still possible.

Sounds worth swapping the board, don't you think?