Rheem Tankless Gas Code 71
Gas control valve: inlet solenoid malfunction. The inlet solenoid inside the gas control valve is not behaving. That solenoid is the first gate gas passes through on its way to the burner, so the unit will not run without it working correctly.
Call a proThe verdict
Call a licensed plumber
Gas train work with no owner-level step. The valve assembly is the expensive outcome; a wiring or connector fault at the same solenoid is the cheaper one, and only a technician can tell them apart.
Typical cost: $250–$1,100
US estimate for parts and labor. Prices vary by region and by who does the work — see how we estimate costs.
What the manual says
The meaning above is transcribed from the manufacturer's diagnostic documentation for the Tankless Gas — not averaged across the brand.
Source: Rheem Tankless Gas Troubleshooting Pocket Manual (SVC820) (p. 79), read Aug 2026 — the manufacturer's own documentation for this exact series.
What you can safely check
Before anything else: if you smell gas, stop here, leave, and call your gas utility.
- Turn the heater off and leave it off.
- If you smell gas, leave the building and call your gas utility from outside.
- Book a licensed professional.
Frequently asked questions
Rheem has several gas control valve codes. Why?
Because the valve is several devices in one housing — an inlet solenoid, a modulating valve, and the seats that close it. Codes 51, 52, 71 and 80 each report a different one misbehaving, which is what tells a technician where to start.
Don't confuse this with
5 other Rheem Tankless Gas codes point at a valve too. They are different components in different places, and ordering a part against the wrong one is the most common way this fault gets expensive: