Rinnai Tankless water heater Code 61

The combustion fan motor is not working correctly.

There is no owner fix in Rinnai's guide. Every step involves the fan, wiring or circuit board. Call a pro.

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Full answer & models

Rinnai code 61 means: Combustion Fan Motor. There is no owner fix in Rinnai's guide. Every step involves the fan, wiring or circuit board. Call a pro.

Applies to: SENSEI™ SeriesNon-SENSEI™ Series
Also searched as: Rinnai code 61, Rinnai error 61, Rinnai error code 61

If you smell gas, leave the building and call your gas supplier from a neighbor's phone. Do not touch switches or use any phone inside.

Why

If you smell gas: do not try to light any appliance, do not touch any electrical switch, and do not use any phone in your building. Leave and call your gas supplier from a neighbor's phone; if you cannot reach them, call the fire department. Rinnai states that only trained and qualified professionals may follow its diagnostic-code service instructions, and that power, gas and water must be turned off before servicing. Never operate the heater with any vent pipe disconnected. Do not adjust the internal gas valve. Burn hazard (Rinnai): hot exhaust and vent may cause serious burns; keep small children and animals away, and hot water outlet pipes can be hot to touch.

What 61 means

The combustion fan motor is not working correctly.

More detail

Rinnai's diagnostic-code guide (page 45) titles code 61 "Combustion Fan Motor". Rinnai's guide is written for trained, qualified professionals, so this page lists only the owner-level checks and tells you when to stop.

5-minute checks

Write down the code and your model number for the technician.

Fix it step by step

Step 1 of 1

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- Decision
- None
- Pro decision
Stop here and book a qualified technician.
More detail
Call a licensed pro.
Rinnai's code 61 steps: check the fan wiring harness, remove the fan with power and gas off, check the blower wheel and housing, measure motor resistance, replace the motor. All are for qualified professionals.
Still showing 61?Need a pro → call a pro

Code cleared. Nice work.

Watch the display for a day to make sure it stays clear.

Fixed after any step? Watch the display for a day to make sure it stays clear. Still 61 after step 1? call a pro.

Call a pro if…

Code 61 appears.

FAQ

What does Rinnai code 61 mean?

A combustion fan motor fault, per Rinnai's diagnostic guide.

Source: Rinnai, Troubleshooting Tankless Water Heater Diagnostic Codes (100000652), page 45. Written by the DIY Error Codes team. Updated 2026-10-16. DIY Error Codes is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Rinnai.