The gas control valve in your Rheem water heater represents an error code. Depending on the valve that’s embedded into your water heater, the flashes could be blue or red. So, how to fix Rheem water heater 7 flashing?
If the gas control thermostat blinks red, it’s due to a bad gas control valve. You’ll have to test it and replace it to solve this issue. If the seven flashes are blue, it’s most likely due to issues with the flammable vapor sensor. I can tell these things because I’ve worked on many types of heaters over the years.
I’ll discuss how you can clear this error code no matter what type of gas control valve your heater has. So, let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
How To Fix Rheem Water Heater 7 Flashing [Red Light]
The Honeywell gas valves embedded in the gas water heaters have a status light. The status light will blink in certain patterns whenever there’s something wrong with your water heater. Here is the type of gas valve that flashes red to represent an error code:
The main reason behind your Rheem water heater red light flashing 7 times is having a bad gas control valve. Besides that, there are a few other signs that you have a bad gas control valve. Those common symptoms are:
- Temperature fluctuations of the hot water.
- The pilot won’t light up or stay lit.
- Water or gas leaks.
Even though the error code represents that you have a bad gas control valve, you should still test it. If you do that, you can be sure it’s truly faulty and move on to take corrective actions.
I have a dedicated guide on the Rheem gas control valve that you should check out. It’ll walk you through how to test and replace the gas control valve in detail. Hopefully, the error code will go away once you replace it.
Note: There are many other error codes that can pop up in your heater. Check out my Rheem red light flashing fixes guide to learn how you can solve those common issues in detail.
How To Fix Rheem Water Heater 7 Flashing [Blue Light]
There are other Honeywell gas valves in which the status light only blinks blue. Even when there’s an error code, the status light flashes blue instead of red. Here’s how those gas control valves look:
You’d see Rheem water heater 7 blue flashes usually when flammable vapor sensors are detected near your water heater. The FVS will be tripped when that happens and put the heater into lockout mode.
You should try to reset the gas control thermostat first. If you do that, you’ll be able to use the water heater again. If that doesn’t work, the FVS itself could be faulty. You’d have to replace it in that case. But first, let’s look at how you can reset the water heater when the FVS gets tripped.
How To Reset Rheem Water Heater 7 Blue Flashes?
Resetting your Honeywell gas valve is an easy process. You can follow these steps to do it:
- Turn off the gas control valve of the water heater. Then, unplug the water heater from its power source.
- Turn the gas control knob to the “Low” position while the heater is turned off and wait for a minute. Then, reconnect the power supply.
- Then rotate the gas control knob from “Low” to “Hot”. Then, go from “Hot” to “Low”. Keep going at it until you do it seven times. You have to complete the seven rotations within half a minute to reset the heater.
You should hear a click and the burner turns on when the reset goes successfully. But if that doesn’t work and the error code still remains, you should look into the flammable vapor sensor next.
How To Test Rheem Water Heater FVS?
Before getting into how to test the FVS, you should check its wiring first. Sometimes, the FVS can be loosely connected to its connector and cause this issue. Inspect the connector and make sure it’s connected firmly.
If any of the wiring is damaged, replace the faulty wiring and check if that fixes the issue. If the problem persists even after everything is okay with the wiring, you should check the FVS. Follow these steps to do it:
- Disconnect the Flammable Vapor Sensor from its bracket and remove its connection to the wiring harness.
- Grab a multimeter and set it to the Ohm settings. Connect the two probes of the multimeter to the terminals of the FVS.
- Note down the readings that appear in your multimeter.
If the reading is within 11k ohms to 45k ohms, that means your FVS is fine and the issue lies with something else. But if the reading is outside that range, you can conclude that you have a bad FVS. In that case, you need to replace it.
How To Replace Rheem Water Heater FVS?
It’s not difficult to replace the FVS if you’ve got the right replacement part. With that said, here are the steps to replace the FVS:
- Shut off the power and gas supply to the water heater.
- Pull the outer cover of the main burner to have access to the FVS.
- Use a flathead screwdriver to disconnect the FVS from its bracket.
- Remove the connection between the sensor and the wiring. If the connection is tight, use a pair of pliers to separate them.
- Put the new sensor in place of the old one and connect it to the wiring and the bracket. Put the outer main burner door and restore the gas and power supply to the heater.
That’s how easy it is to replace the FVS on your own. Anyone should be able to do it on their own. Reset the gas control valve after you replace the FVS to clear the error code. Hopefully, doing that will erase the code.
If the status light still flashes seven times, the main issue here is a faulty gas control thermostat. You’d have to replace it if it’s bad. You should already know how to do that if you follow the link to my Rheem gas control valve guide. The error code will go away after replacing the faulty gas control valve.
Note: If you have a different gas valve, the process for resetting it will be different when flammable vapors are detected. Check out my Rheem FVS reset guide to learn more about it. You’ll also know what to do if the FVS keeps on tripping multiple times.
FAQs:
Should you bypass the Rheem flammable vapor sensor?
The simple answer here is no. Remember that the FVS is there for a reason. It’s a safety mechanism that protects you from a potential fire accident. So, don’t think of bypassing it, and make sure it’s working properly.
What causes the 6 3 flashes error code in a Rheem water heater?
The main reasons behind the 6 3 flashes error code in a Rheem water heater are a restricted air supply or a damaged pilot tube. However, it could also be due to carbon deposits on the electrode or gas supply issues.
What does the 8 1 flashes error code mean on a Rheem gas water heater?
The 8 1 flashes error code is similar to the 7 flashes error code I’ve talked about so far. It’s due to issues with the FVS and you already know how to solve them if you see this error code.
What does Rheem’s water heater flashing blue light 3 times mean?
The most common reason behind this error code in a Rheem water heater is flue damper issues. The wiring could be loose and you’d have to tighten it. Otherwise, the switch will go bad and you’d have to replace it.
Conclusion
How to fix Rheem water heater 7 flashing? You should already know about it in detail after completing this guide. If the status light in your gas control valve blinks red, you can directly test and replace the gas control valve.
For the status light that blinks blue, you’d have to check the FVS issues first. If everything is okay there, then you can move on to the gas control valve. If you’re facing other issues with your water heater, check out my guide on Rheem water heater’s blue blinking codes.