11 Serious Moderate DIY

Rinnai Tankless Water Heater 11 — No Ignition

Rinnai Tankless Water Heater · Error code 11

What 11 Means

The unit attempted to ignite but failed to detect a flame within the trial-for-ignition period. Most common Rinnai fault code.

Symptoms

  • No hot water
  • Click or fan but no burner
  • Code 11 immediately on hot water demand

Common Causes

1
Gas supply off or low

Closed valve, empty propane tank, or undersized gas line.

2
Air in gas line

Common after new installation or tank refill.

3
Wrong gas pressure

Inlet pressure outside spec (NG ~7" WC, LP ~11" WC static).

4
Failed igniter or flame rod

Cracked ceramic igniter or carbon-fouled flame sensor.

5
Bad gas solenoid valve

Valve not opening on command.

6
PCB fault

Board not commanding ignition sequence.

How to Fix It

  1. Verify gas valve to unit is fully open and other gas appliances work.
  2. For propane, confirm tank has fuel and regulator isn't iced.
  3. Purge air: run a stove burner or other gas appliance for a few minutes.
  4. Power-cycle the unit and try a hot tap.
  5. Remove front cover and inspect the igniter and flame rod — clean flame rod with fine sandpaper.
  6. Have a tech measure inlet gas pressure at the unit, static and dynamic.
  7. Replace igniter, flame rod, or gas solenoid based on findings.

Parts You May Need

If diagnosis points to a failed part, these are the common replacements. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

More Rinnai Tankless Water Heater Codes

All Rinnai codes → All tankless water heater codes →

Verified against manufacturer documentation: rinnai.us

Always unplug an appliance before servicing it. This guide is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for a qualified technician.