Rinnai code LC: Scale build-up in the heat exchanger
Continuous flow hot water system (Australia), tankless water heater (United States)
Hard water scale has built up inside the heat exchanger and it needs flushing.
This needs a plumber. There are a few safe checks you can do first, marked below. Anything inside the unit is a job for a professional.
Only some models show this code. Check the list below.
What causes it
Australian models
-
Mineral scale from hard water inside the heat exchanger.
US models
-
Mineral scale from hard water inside the heat exchanger. It needs flushing, and hard water should be treated.
Run a Rinnai heater temporarily after an LC scale warningYou can do this
- Press the On/Off button on the temperature controller five times to let the heater run temporarily.
- On newer models it will run for about 70 hours, then lock out again with another LC code. This is a stop-gap, not a fix.
- Book a heat exchanger flush as soon as possible; the code count resets only after the flush and a reset on the control board. Running a scaled heat exchanger for long periods can damage it.
How to read this code on your unit
Booking a plumber
Have the heat exchanger flushed and descaledplumber
- Scale from hard water builds up inside the heat exchanger and restricts flow and heat transfer.
- Book a licensed plumber or the manufacturer's service agent to flush and descale the heat exchanger using the manufacturer's flushing procedure.
- Ask about water treatment if you have hard water, so the scale does not come back.
Models that show this code
57 models in 12 ranges
| Range | Models |
|---|---|
| Heavy Duty (commercial) | REU-AM3237WC (HD32e), REU-VCM2837FFC (HD28i), REU-VCM2837WC (HD28e), REU-NB3237WC-AK (Heavy Duty 32C), REU-NB3237FFC-AK, REU-NB3237WC-50-AK, REU-NB3237FFC-50-AK |
| Infinity | REU-AM3237W (Infinity 32), REU-AM2626WDL (Infinity 26 Touch), REU-AM2626WD (Infinity 26), REU-AM2024WD (Infinity 20), REU-AM1620WD (Infinity 16), REU-AM1220WD (Infinity 12), REU-A2626WB (B26), REU-A2024WB (B20), REU-A1620WB (B16) |
| Infinity B | REU-BM2626W (Infinity B26), REU-BM2024W (Infinity B20), REU-BM1620W (Infinity B16), REU-BM1220W (Infinity B12) |
| Infinity Enviro | REU-E2626W (Infinity Enviro 26), REU-E1620W (Infinity Enviro 16), REU-NB3237W-AK (Infinity Enviro 32), REU-NB3237W-50-AK |
| Infinity internal | REU-VCM2837FF (Infinity 28i) |
| Commercial (KB) | C199i (REU-KBD3237FFUDC-US), C199e (REU-KB3237WDC-US) |
| KB | RU80i (REU-KB2530FFUD-US), RU80e (REU-KB2530WD-US), RU90e (REU-KBD2934WD-US), RU98i (REU-KB3237FFUD-US), RU98e (REU-KB3237WD-US) |
| KBD | RUC80i (REU-KBD2530FFUD-US), RUC90i (REU-KBD2934FFUD-US), RUC98i (REU-KBD3237FFUD-US) |
| KBP | RUR98i (REU-KBP3237FFUD-US), RUR98e (REU-KBP3237WD-US) |
| KCM | RUCS65i (REU-KCM2025FFU-US), RUCS75i (REU-KCM2528FFU-US), RUS65e (REU-KCM2025W-US), RUS75e (REU-KCM2528W-US) |
| Luxury (VC) | RL75i (REU-VC2528FFUD-US), RL75i(A) (REU-VC2528FFUD-US(A)), RL75e (REU-VC2528WD-US), RL75e(A) (REU-VC2528WD-US(A)), RL94i (REU-VC2837FFUD-US), RLX94i (REU-VC2737FFUD-US), RL94e (REU-VC2837WD-US) |
| Value (VC) | V53e (REU-VAM1620W-US), V53De (REU-AM1620WD-US), V65i (REU-VC2025FFU-US), V65e (REU-VC2025W-US), V75i (REU-VC2528FFU-US), V75e (REU-VC2528W-US), V94i (REU-VC2837FFU-US), V94Xi (REU-VC2737FFU-US), V94e (REU-VC2837W-US) |
Where this comes from
- Error codes for gas continuous flow water heaters (HW Gas CF ERR) , page 5
- Infinity gas continuous flow operation and installation manual , page 12
- Infinity Enviro 32 / HDC32 operation and installation manual , page 12
- Troubleshooting tankless water heater diagnostic codes (100000652), non-SENSEI and SENSEI series , page 59
- Technical bulletin TB-075, condensing water heater error codes , page 2
Checked against the manufacturer's manual on 9 October 2026.
Other Rinnai tankless water heater codes
| Code | Meaning | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | Secondary heat exchanger overheat | Call a pro |
| 61 | Combustion fan failure | Call a pro |
| 63 | Recirculation low flow | Call a pro |
| 65 | Water flow control failure | Safe checks first, then a pro |
| 66 | Bypass flow control fault | Call a pro |
| 70 | Control board (PCB) failure | Safe checks first, then a pro |
| 71 | Gas solenoid valve failure | Call a pro |
| 72 | Flame rod circuit error | Call a pro |
| 73 | Burner thermocouple fault | Call a pro |
| 79 | Water leak detected | Safe checks first, then a pro |
| 92 | Neutraliser end of life | Call a pro |
| SE | Cascade connection failure | Call a pro |