Furrion Tankless Water Heater E1 Code
On this page (5 sections)
The Short Answer: On Furrion RV tankless heaters, E1 is listed by Lippert, Furrion’s parent company, as a flame-sense problem during ignition, with insufficient fuel supply as the likely cause. Make sure the propane cylinders are open and not empty and that the regulator is working, then turn the heater’s power switch off for five seconds and back on. If E1 returns, have the propane system and heater checked.
What E1 means on a Furrion
Lippert’s troubleshooting guide (opens in a new tab) covers the Furrion tankless models FWH09AFA, FWH09A-AM, FWH09AFA-AM, and FWH09AFA-AB. It lists E1 as “flame sense during ignition,” with insufficient fuel supply as the cause. Its recommended fixes are to confirm all gas valves are open, confirm there is fuel in the tanks, and check the regulator and replace it if needed.
Furrion’s code list is not the same as Girard’s, even though the heaters look alike from outside. On a Furrion, E2 is a false flame signal and E5 is an air-pressure (exhaust) problem. Use the Furrion list, not a Girard chart.
Common reasons for E1
| Situation | Why it causes E1 |
|---|---|
| A cylinder ran empty or the valve is closed | No gas reaches the burner during the ignition attempt |
| Cylinders just changed | Air in the line can delay the first ignitions |
| Cold weather, cylinder nearly empty | Pressure drops and the regulator may ice over |
| Failing regulator | Gas pressure too low for a stable flame |
| Wind or rain at the exterior door | Can disturb the flame at light-off; owners commonly report E1 in wet, windy weather |
| Weak flow at the tap | The heater may start and stop, repeatedly retrying ignition |
What you can check safely
- Try another propane appliance. If the stove burner is weak or won’t light, the problem is the supply, not the water heater.
- Check the cylinders. The valves should be fully open and the cylinders not empty. On an auto-changeover regulator, check that the indicator isn’t showing an empty supply cylinder.
- Check the exterior vent door for nests, snow, or a cover, without opening the heater cabinet.
- Run a strong hot-water flow. Open a hot tap fully rather than a trickle.
- Reset once. Turn the power switch on the water heater off, wait five seconds, and turn it back on, as Lippert’s guide describes. Then open a hot tap.
If you smell propane at any point, don’t reset anything. Close the cylinder valves, get everyone out of the RV, and call for service from a safe distance.
What a technician will check
An RV technician measures propane pressure at the regulator and at the appliance under load, replaces a regulator that can’t hold pressure, and inspects the heater’s igniter, flame sensor, and burner for corrosion, debris, or insect nests. Repeated E1 after the supply checks out points to those ignition parts or the gas valve, which are not owner repairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why does E1 come back every time it rains? A: Owners commonly report this, often linked to water or gusts reaching the exhaust and burner area. An RV technician can check the vent door, its seal, and the burner for corrosion. Contact Lippert support before adding aftermarket vent covers, so you don’t restrict the exhaust.
Q: Can I keep resetting E1 until it lights? A: No. Each failed attempt releases a small amount of unburned propane. One reset after you’ve fixed an obvious supply issue is reasonable; after that, stop and arrange service.
Q: Does the same E1 advice apply to a Girard heater? A: Girard’s GSWH-2 also uses E1 for ignition failure, but its reset and other codes differ. See Girard tankless troubleshooting.
Q: Where do I find the rest of the Furrion codes? A: See Furrion tankless water heater troubleshooting for the full E0 to E7 list and the non-code problems.
Manuals and supporting references
These links distinguish general safety information from model-specific documentation. A manual directory helps you locate your unit’s instructions; it does not establish that every model uses the same parts, codes, or test values.
- Lippert: RV water heater troubleshooting guide (Furrion tankless error codes) (opens in a new tab)Furrion tankless models FWH09AFA, FWH09A-AM, FWH09AFA-AM and FWH09AFA-AB.
- PG&E: recognizing and responding to a gas leak (opens in a new tab)Emergency actions for suspected fuel-gas leaks.
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