On the covered Rinnai tankless water heater, 17 means venturi blockage. First, reset the water heater's power once. Then: Rinnai directs making sure the venturi is not blocked and, if it is not, calling Rinnai's technical department. Rinnai says to make sure it is not blocked.
Differential
Likely causes of “Rinnai tankless water heater code 17”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A blocked venturi
What separates it Poor combustion and a stop
How to confirm Rinnai says to make sure it is not blocked
- 2
Dust or debris in the air path
What separates it A dirty location
How to confirm A technician cleans the air path
- 3
A blocked vent or intake
What separates it Air cannot reach the burner
How to confirm Clear the vent and the intake
- 4
Insects or nests in the unit
What separates it A seasonal fault
How to confirm Technician inspection
- 5
A fault in the venturi system
What separates it Nothing is blocked
How to confirm Call Rinnai's technical department
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the vent is clear
- The installation location
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleReset the water heater's power once.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleRinnai directs making sure the venturi is not blocked and, if it is not, calling Rinnai's technical department.
Check the vent and intake
ReversibleFor blockage from outside.
Keep the area clear
ReversibleOf dust and items.
Do not keep resetting
ReversibleIf it returns.
Note the model
ReversibleAnd any other codes.
Call Rinnai or a technician
ReversibleIf it persists.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The venturi
- The venturi draws air and gas together in the right ratio. A blockage upsets the mix, and the control stops the burner rather than burn badly.
- What owners can check
- From outside, check that the vent terminal and the air intake are clear of snow, leaves, nests and debris. Inside, keep the area around the heater clear.
- The rest is service
- Cleaning the venturi and testing the system needs a technician, who can open the unit safely.
- What blocks a venturi
- Dust, lint, insects and spider webs can settle in the small air passages of a venturi, especially in garages, utility closets and laundry rooms where lint circulates. A unit installed near a clothes dryer is more at risk. A restricted passage upsets the air and gas mix and the heater stops.
- Prevention
- Keep the area around the heater clean, do not store lint-producing items beside it and have the unit serviced yearly, when the technician can clean the air path. Check that the intake and vent terminals outside are free of nests and snow.
- When to call
- If the code returns after one reset, call a technician or Rinnai's technical department, as Rinnai directs. Cleaning a venturi means opening a gas appliance, which is not a homeowner task.
- A habit that prevents it
- Vacuum the area around the heater twice a year and keep the cabinet door closed if the unit sits in a closet. A yearly service by a technician includes cleaning the air path, which is where lint and webs collect, and costs far less than a repair after the heater has shut down in cold weather.
- What a technician can see
- On opening the unit the technician looks along the air path from the intake to the burner, checking for webbing, lint and dead insects, and the venturi's small openings for dust. A flashlight and a soft brush are usually enough, and the clean-out often takes less than half an hour. Ask them to show you what they found, which tells you how fast the area gets dirty.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Rinnai says to call its technical department if the venturi is not blocked
- !Keep the area around the unit clear
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does 17 mean on a Rinnai tankless water heater?+
Venturi blockage.
What is a venturi?+
The part that mixes air and gas.
Can I clear it myself?+
Only the vent from outside.