Rinnai 12

Rinnai code 12: flame failure

Short answer

Code 12 means the burner lit but the flame went out. Gas supply problems, a blocked vent and a dirty flame rod are the usual causes.

Where code 11 means the burner never lit, code 12 means it lit and then lost the flame. Many of the causes overlap.

Check the gas supply and the outside vent first, then reset the unit at the controller.

Common causes

Low gas pressure when several appliances run at once, wind blowing into a poorly placed vent, and buildup on the flame rod are the most common. If resets do not clear it, have the unit serviced.

When to call a technician

Call a licensed technician if code 12 returns after you have checked the gas supply and the outside vent and reset the unit. Testing gas pressure under load, checking vent placement and cleaning or replacing the flame rod are jobs for a professional.

Was this article helpful?

Other Rinnai codes

CodeMeaning
02 No burner operation during freeze protection
03 Power interruption during bath fill
05 Bypass flow control device fault
10 Air supply, exhaust blockage or condensate trap full
11 No ignition
12 Flame failure
14 Thermal fuse or overheat sensor tripped
15 Venturi control fault
16 Outgoing water temperature too high (safety shutdown)
17 Venturi blockage
19 Electrical grounding fault
21 Data transfer error after a control board replacement
25 Condensate drain clogged or condensate pump error
32 Outgoing water temperature sensor (thermistor) fault
33 Heat exchanger temperature sensor (thermistor) fault
34 Combustion air temperature sensor fault
38 Exhaust gas temperature sensor fault
41 Freeze protection sensor fault
51 Inlet water temperature sensor fault
52 Gas valve or modulating solenoid valve signal fault
54 High exhaust gas temperature
57 Burner overheat switch open
58 Secondary heat exchanger overheat
61 Combustion fan motor fault
63 Recirculation low flow
65 Water flow control device (servo) fault
70 Control board (PC board) fault
71 Gas solenoid valve circuit fault
72 Flame rod (flame sensing) fault
73 Burner thermocouple fault
79 Water leak detected inside the unit
LC Scale buildup in the heat exchanger
SS Service soon (maintenance reminder)
FF Maintenance has been performed (service history marker)

All Rinnai error codes