Water Heater Status Light Blinking 6 Times
On this page (6 sections)
The Short Answer: Six flashes means different things on different gas controls. On a Bradford White ICON atmospheric heater, it means an optional leak-detection accessory has sensed water. On Bradford White and Rheem power-vent heaters, six flashes is followed by a second, shorter count, and the pair identifies an ignition or vent fault. Watch the whole pattern, then use the table for your heater type.
Watch for a second count
On power-vent and fan-assisted controls, “six” is the first half of a two-part code. You will see six flashes, then a second group of one to five flashes, then a pause of about three seconds. Write down both numbers. On atmospheric ICON controls there is only one group.
Note the heater type too. A power-vent heater has a blower on top and needs a 120-volt outlet; an atmospheric heater has a metal draft hood and no blower.
Documented meanings of six flashes
| Heater and control | Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bradford White ICON, atmospheric vent | 6 | Water leak detected by the accessory module, if one is installed (guide 238-55948 (opens in a new tab)) |
| Bradford White ICON, power vent / power direct vent / fan assisted | 6 then 1 | Pilot failed to light |
| 6 then 2 | Pressure switch or temperature switch opened during operation | |
| 6 then 3 | Pilot flame went out | |
| 6 then 4 | False pilot flame sensed; pilot or gas valve may be stuck open (guide 238-55968 (opens in a new tab)) | |
| Rheem PowerVent ESII, Honeywell electronic control | 6 then 1 | Failed trial for ignition (display code 11) |
| 6 then 2 | Recycle limit: pressure switch or limit opened (code 45) | |
| 6 then 3 | Recycle limit: flame lost (code 13) | |
| 6 then 5 | Hard lockout; manual reset required (code 10) (Rheem TB 1627 (opens in a new tab)) |
Other brands and older controls use their own tables, and some do not use six flashes at all. If your heater is not listed, the label on the gas control or the manual for your model number is the reference.
Six flashes on an ICON atmospheric heater: look for water
Bradford White sells a leak-detection accessory that plugs into the ICON control. When its sensor gets wet, the control shows six flashes. If you have this code and no accessory was ever installed, the control itself needs to be checked.
What you can check safely: Look at the floor, drain pan and the area around the sensor puck for water. Note where it comes from: the relief-valve pipe, the drain valve, a fitting on top, or the tank itself. If water is coming from the tank body, the tank has failed and needs replacing. Leaking from the bottom explains how to tell a fitting leak from a tank leak. Turn the gas control to OFF if water is reaching the burner area.
Six-then-a-number on a power-vent heater
These codes mean the heater tried to light or run and a safety check failed, sometimes several times in a row.
- Pilot failed to light or flame lost (6-1, 6-3, Rheem 6-1 and 6-3): gas supply, a dirty or misaligned pilot, a flame sensor problem, or exhaust recirculating into the intake.
- Switch opened during operation (6-2): the vent or blower could not keep the draft proven. Look for a blocked or iced termination.
- False flame (BW 6-4): the control sees flame when the valve should be closed. This points to a valve or pilot fault and the heater should stay off.
- Hard lockout (Rheem 6-5): the control has stopped trying. It needs a manual reset after the cause is found.
What you can check safely: Confirm other gas appliances work and the gas shutoff to the heater is open. Clear snow or debris you can reach at the outdoor vent and intake. Turn the heater’s power off and on once. If the same code returns, leave it off. Do not hold, bypass or jumper any switch or sensor. If you smell gas, leave and call the gas utility from outside.
What the technician will check: inlet and manifold gas pressure, the pilot assembly and flame sensor, the vent for blockage or recirculation, blower speed and pressure-switch vacuum, and the gas valve. The Rheem bulletin also lets the technician read stored code history on display models.
Repair or replace
All of these are part-level repairs (pilot assembly, switch, blower, gas valve, vent correction) unless the six-flash leak alarm was triggered by a leaking tank. A leaking tank shell always means replacing the heater.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My ICON heater flashes six times but I don’t see water. What now? A: Check whether a leak-detection accessory was installed and whether its sensor is touching damp concrete or condensation. If there is no accessory and no water, the control is reporting a fault it should not, and a technician should check it.
Q: Is six flashes the same as seven flashes? A: No. On Bradford White power-vent controls, seven flashes is a flammable vapor sensor fault, and on Rheem PowerVent it is a flammable vapor sensor lockout. Six is ignition, vent, or leak-related as described above.
Q: Can I keep resetting a power-vent heater that shows 6-1? A: One restart is reasonable. Repeated attempts can let unburned gas build up and do not fix a supply, pilot, or vent problem. If it fails again, leave it off and arrange service.
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.
- Bradford White quick service guide 238-55948: ICON atmospheric vent (opens in a new tab)Bradford White ICON atmospheric-vent gas water heaters.
- Bradford White quick service guide 238-55968: ICON power vent, power direct vent and fan assisted (opens in a new tab)Bradford White ICON power vent, power direct vent and fan-assisted gas water heaters.
- Rheem technical service bulletin 1627: PowerVent with Honeywell electronic control (opens in a new tab)Rheem PowerVent ESII models with the Honeywell electronic control.
- Bradford White: find your water heater manual (opens in a new tab)Use the model and serial number to locate the correct documentation.
- Rheem: owner help and support (opens in a new tab)Identify the applicable model instructions or contact Rheem support.
- 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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