Rinnai fault code 11
No ignition on gas continuous flow.
What 11 actually means
No ignition on a gas continuous flow unit. The unit tried to light, did not, and locked out rather than keep pumping gas.
What causes it
- Gas isolation valve turned off, and yes this is genuinely the most common cause
- LPG bottle empty or the changeover valve not switched
- Gas supply interrupted, sometimes a network issue after works in the street
- Igniter or flame rod dirty
- Gas pressure too low at the appliance
Most likely first. That order is from what we actually find on site, not from the manual.
Safe to check yourself
No tools, no covers off, nothing to do with gas, refrigerant or wiring.
- Check the gas isolation valve at the unit is open, the handle should be in line with the pipe
- If you are on LPG, check the bottle and the changeover valve
- Check other gas appliances in the house still work, which tells you whether it is the unit or the supply
- Turn the unit off at the power point for a minute and back on
What we check on site
So you know what you’re paying for.
- Gas pressure test at the appliance, working and standing
- Igniter and flame rod inspection and clean
- Combustion analysis
- Check the gas line is sized correctly, which catches a surprising number of these on units added later
Can you keep using it?
There is nothing to keep running; it is locked out and that is the unit behaving correctly. It is safe to leave connected.
What the fix usually involves
Half of these are a valve or a bottle and cost you a phone call. Where it is real, it is an igniter, a flame rod clean or a gas pressure problem, all fixed on the first visit.
Is it worth fixing?
That depends almost entirely on how old the unit is. Past about ten years on hot water and gas heating, and twelve on aircon, a significant repair usually costs more per remaining year than a replacement does — and it’s the same point at which the VEU rebate is worth the most, because old inefficient appliances are exactly what the scheme pays to remove. If yours is young and the fault is a component, we’ll fix it and say so.
Repair or replace? The 10-year rule, and what the rebate is worth →