Plumbing, Water Heaters

Troubleshooting EcoSmart Tankless Water Heater Error Codes

ecosmart water heater error codes lg

In some instances, your EcoSmart tankless water heater will display an error code. For example, you will notice an ‘E’ with a digit next to it.

Standard EcoSmart tankless water heater error codes include:

  • E1 error code – an error on the inlet thermistor.
  • E2 error code – an error on the outlet thermistor.
  • E3 error code – an error on both thermistors.
  • E4 error code – an error due to high temperature.
  • E5 error code – an error due to high flow rate.
  • S103 error code – an error on low voltage.
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Begin By Power Cycling Your Unit

Whenever you get any of these errors, you can troubleshoot or reset them by following this step by step guide:

  1. Shut off all the hot water faucets present in your home.
  1. Switch off your EcoSmart tankless water heater. You can use a remote control to turn it off if the EcoSmart unit comes with it. If it does not have a remote control, just switch it off by pressing the temperature control knob.
  1. Turn off the circuit breakers. While doing this, make sure that there is no electrical current running in the EcoSmart tankless unit.
  1. Leave your EcoSmart tankless water heater unit in an off state for 5 minutes.
  1. Switch your EcoSmart tankless water heater on after those 5 minutes.

This article will help you understand how to troubleshoot each of the EcoSmart tankless water tank error codes. Sounds good? Keep reading to discover more information.

Resolving EcoSmart Water Heater Error Codes

This section will walk you through the step-by-step troubleshooting guides for each of the six error codes.

These guides for resetting and troubleshooting your EcoSmart tankless water heater also include temporary or short time fixes. The quick fixes allow you to keep using the hot water until you find the time to fix your EcoSmart tankless unit permanently.

However, it is essential to note that some of these fixes are not guaranteed to work. Therefore, it is vital to contact a professional technician to solve the issue for you.

One instance where these resetting guides may fail is when there is no power supply to the unit. For example, this could be due to a power surge or power malfunction. Besides, it may be due to the fuse in the power board being blown out. It is advisable to seek or contact a professional technician to fix the error in such a situation.

However, you can fix it yourself if you have knowledge and skills about circuitry and wiring. For such cases, you need to remove the EcoSmart power board housing and change the fuse. You can order the specific blown-out fuse from amazon.

E1 Error Code

This is an error on the thermistor. For instance, if your EcoSmart tankless water heater unit is displaying this E1 error code, it shows that you are being notified of the EcoSmart inlet thermistor that is not reading the proper temperature. Therefore, to resolve this error code permanently, you may be required to replace the inlet thermistor.

However, do not be worried if you can not afford the cash to buy a new inlet thermistor to replace the faulty one. This is because there is a temporary troubleshoot that you can perform. It is just a short fix for this error code.

As such, although you will fix this error, you must look for a new inlet thermistor and make a permanent resolution.

If you want to resolve an E1 error, follow this step by step guide:

  1. Turn on the water. As such, the LED display is turned ON, and it displays an E1 error.
  1. Press down the round knob for 3 seconds or 5 seconds.
  1. Release the round knob. On releasing the knob, the LED display shows or reads CE1.
  1. Maintain water running or flowing for 2 minutes or 3 minutes.
  1. Check if you can receive hot water.

If you follow these steps, you are guaranteed to receive hot water from your EcoSmart tankless water heater even as you wait to purchase the replacement part.

You should note that while your EcoSmart tankless water heater is running or working in the CE1 Mode, the heating temperature will default or factory reset to 125 degrees, just as the case with a normal or perfectly working EcoSmart tankless water heater.

It is also vital to note that in this CE1 Mode, it will not be possible for you to control the outlet temperature. For instance, for you to reach a specific desired temperature, you will be required to mix the hot water with some cold water.

E2 Error Code

This is an EcoSmart tankless water heater error on the outlet thermistor. For instance, if your EcoSmart tankless water heater unit is displaying this E2 error code, it shows that you are being notified of the EcoSmart inlet thermistor that is not reading the proper temperature. Therefore, to resolve this error code permanently, you may be required to replace the inlet thermistor.

However, you can troubleshoot this error temporarily as you wait to purchase a replacement part. Please note that this is only a short-term fix to this error.

Therefore, to temporarily troubleshoot or reset the EcoSmart tankless water heater or to bypass the E2 error code, follow these steps;

  1. Switch on the water. For instance, the LED display is turned On, and you will notice it reading E2 error.
  1. Press down the round knob for around 3 minutes or 5 minutes.
  1. Release the round knob. On releasing the knob, the LED display shows or reads CE2.
  1. Maintain water running or flowing for 2 minutes or 3 minutes.
  1. Check if you can receive hot water.

If you follow these steps, you are guaranteed to receive hot water from your EcoSmart tankless water heater even as you wait to purchase the replacement part.

You should note that while your EcoSmart tankless water heater is running or working in the CE2 Mode, the heating temperature will default or factory reset to 125 degrees, just as the case with a normal or perfectly working EcoSmart tankless water heater.

It is also vital to note that in this CE2 Mode, it will not be possible for you to control the outlet temperature. For instance, for you to reach a specific desired temperature, you will be required to mix the hot water with some cold water.

E3 Error Code

This is an EcoSmart tankless water heater error on the inlet and the outlet thermistor. For instance, if your EcoSmart tankless water heater unit displays this E3 error code, the EcoSmart inlet thermistor is not reading the proper temperature. Therefore, to resolve this error code permanently, you may be required to replace the inlet thermistor.

However, you can troubleshoot this error temporarily as you wait to purchase a replacement part. Please note that this is only a short-term fix to this error.

Therefore, to temporarily troubleshoot or reset the EcoSmart tankless water heater or to bypass the E3 error code, follow these steps;

  1. Switch on the water. For instance, the LED display is turned On, and you will notice it reading E3 error.
  1. Press down the round knob for around 3 minutes or 5 minutes.
  1. Release the round knob. On releasing the knob, the LED display shows or reads CE3.
  1. Maintain water running or flowing for 2 minutes or 3 minutes.
  1. Check if you can receive hot water.

If you follow these steps, you are guaranteed to receive hot water from your EcoSmart tankless water heater even as you wait to purchase the replacement part.

You should note that while your EcoSmart tankless water heater is running or working in the CE3 Mode, the heating temperature will default or factory reset to 125 degrees, just as the case with a normal or perfectly working EcoSmart tankless water heater.

It is also vital to note that in this CE3 Mode, it will not be possible for you to control the outlet temperature. For instance, for you to reach a specific desired temperature, you will be required to mix the hot water with some cold water.

E4 Error Code

For an E4 Error Code, it isn’t necessarily a reset that you will be performing. It is an error on the High Temperature. Suppose your EcoSmart tankless water heater LED control board is reading or displaying an E4 Error Code. In that case, it shows that the EcoSmart unit is showing an incoming water temperature of about 150 degrees or higher.

The EcoSmart tankless water heater is acquitted with 2-4 thermostats. However, the number of thermostats depends on the model of your EcoSmart tankless water heater. All the thermostats are rated at 140 degrees.

The EcoSmart tankless water heater is not rated or designed to heat at temperatures over 140 degrees.

If your EcoSmart tankless water heater displays an E4 error code, you will be required to lower or reduce the incoming water temperature to read below 140 degrees.

When your EcoSmart tankless water heater is getting water below 150 degrees, the display LED will illuminate or light with the desired set home temperature.

E5 Error Code

E5 is an error due to the high flow rate. If the LED control board of your EcoSmart tankless water heater is displaying an E5 error code, it means that the desired water volume is too high. As such, you will be required to slow down the flow rate.

Every sink, shower, or bathtub has an aerator. The aerator helps control the water volume.

  • The sink has 1 gallon per minute to 2.5 gallons per minute.
  • The shower has a water volume of 1.5 gallons per minute to 3 gallons per minute.
  • The bathtub has a water volume of 3.5 gallons per minute to 8 gallons per minute.

If you wish to see the rate of flow that is currently running through your EcoSmart tankless water heater system, follow this step-by-step guide:

  1. Locate the On button on the EcoSmart display screen
  1. Press and hold the On button for about 10 minutes. This helps you get the diagnostic screen.
  1. Once the diagnostic menu opens, navigate through the three screens. You can do this by rotating the round knob in a counter-clockwise direction. The three screens are:
  • First display. It displays the inlet water temperature.
  • The first turn. It displays the outlet water temperature
  • The second turn. It shows the current flow rate. One feature of this screen is that it has a hidden decimal point.

Whenever the LED control board of your EcoSmart tankless water heater is showing an E5 error code, you will be required to slow down the water volume that is passing through the EcoSmart tankless system. Slow it down until the LED display starts to show the selected degrees of temperature.

To do this, I recommend that you install a flow restrictor. Besides, you can just close the outgoing and incoming water valves.

S103 Error Code

S103 is an error on low voltage. If your EcoSmart tankless water heater LED control board displays an S103 error code, it shows that the EcoSmart tankless unit is not receiving the correct amount of power to run it.

The EcoSmart tankless water heater needs 208 volts or higher to run correctly. Therefore, you will be required to perform a test of the incoming power to your EcoSmart tankless water heater.

Once the EcoSmart tankless water heater gets the correct amount of incoming power, your EcoSmart system LED will display the selected temperature. As a result, water will start to heat.

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Get FREE quotes from licensed Plumbers in your area today. Whether you need a new water heater, a sink repair, or a toilet fixed, We Can Help! All Plumbers are screened, licensed, and insured.

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Other Troubleshooting Tankless Water Heater Error Code Guides

Author

Hubert Miles | Licensed Home Inspector, CMI, CPI

Hubert Miles is a licensed home inspector (RBI# 2556) with more than two decades of experience in inspection and construction. Since 2008, he has been serving South Carolina through his company, Patriot Home Inspections LLC. As a Certified Master Inspector, Hubert is dedicated to providing his expertise in home inspections, repairs, maintenance, and DIY projects.