Is Rheem code 61 expensive to fix?

If cleaning solves it, it is a modest service call. A new blower motor or control board costs considerably more.

Rheem Tankless Code 61 (Blower Motor): Causes and Fixes

The blower pulls in combustion air and pushes exhaust out. The control board varies its speed constantly to match the flame. Code 61 means the board could not get the speed it needed.

The meaning and service steps below come from Rheem's tankless gas troubleshooting manual, which covers both Rheem and Ruud tankless water heaters. Rheem technical support: (800) 432-8373.

Common causes

Dust, lint or debris built up on the blower wheel or in its housing
A loose connection at the blower motor
A worn blower motor
A control board that is not supplying the right voltage to the motor

What a technician does

Rheem's chart starts with cleaning: remove the blower, clean the motor and housing, reassemble and test. If the unit runs normally afterward, Rheem notes it likely had a loose connection. If code 61 returns, the technician measures the DC voltages the board sends to the motor. Wrong voltages mean a board replacement; correct voltages with a failing fan mean a new motor.

How to reset it

Close all hot water taps.
Turn the remote control off, wait about 10 seconds, then turn it back on.
Open a hot tap and watch whether the code returns.

Preventing it

Keep the area around the heater clean, especially in garages and laundry rooms where dust and lint collect. A related code, 79, warns that the fan motor is drawing abnormal current, often an early sign of the same problem.

Before you call

Have the model and serial number from the rating label ready, along with the exact code and when it appears: at startup, during use, or only at high demand. Mention any recent work on the gas, water or electrical supply and when the heater was last serviced. This helps the technician bring the right parts and often saves a second visit.

See every code on our Rheem error codes page.

Other Rheem codes

Code	Meaning
00	Continuous combustion for more than one hour
03	Communication failure between units, remote or manifold controller
05	Improper combustion detected by the flame rod (warning)
10	Air supply or exhaust blockage (hard lockout)
11	Ignition failure
12	Flame failure
13	Poor combustion detected by the flame rod (indoor units)
14	Overheat safety tripped
15	Heat exchanger or hot water temperature too high (boiling safety)
16	Outlet water temperature above the set point (over temperature warning)
21	Air intake filter switch fault (earlier models)
24	Remote control buttons held too long, or operational switch fault
29	Condensate not draining (condensing models) or heat exchanger temperature too low
31	Inlet water temperature sensor (thermistor) fault
32	Heat exchanger thermistor fault
33	Outlet (outgoing water) thermistor fault
34	Ambient or combustion air temperature sensor fault
35	Improper thermistor connection
51	Gas valve fault: flame detected after shutdown (current) / gas inlet solenoid valve fault (earlier)
52	Modulating gas valve (PGFR) fault
61	Blower (combustion fan) motor fault
65	Water volume control valve fault
66	Water bypass valve fault
71	Gas inlet solenoid valve fault
72	Flame rod fault: flame sensed before ignition
76	Remote control communication fault
79	Blower (fan) motor current fault
80	Gas cut-off failure: flame detected after the unit turned off
82	Control board program chip fault (current) / gas type data failure (earlier)
90	Vent blockage detected before ignition
92	Neutralizer needs replacing soon (warning, condensing models)
93	Neutralizer must be replaced; unit will not operate (condensing models)
1L	Lime (scale) buildup detected in the heat exchanger
99	Vent blockage detected after shutdown / blocked flue (hard lockout)
P1	Not enough water flow to fire the burner (warning)

Rheem code 61: blower motor fault