E17
Rheem
Emergency Heat Control Fault
Thermostat displays E17 and may indicate 'Emergency heat error' or 'E-heat control fault' on dual-fuel or heat pump systems.
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Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
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Possible Causes
Misconfigured emergency heat settings, Open circuit to emergency heat source (gas furnace or electric strips), Failed E-heat relay on indoor board, Incorrect wiring of W/E terminals
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Turn off power to all heating equipment before working on wiring.
Steps:
- Verify configuration: In the Rheem thermostat installer menu, confirm emergency heat is enabled only if your system supports it (dual-fuel or heat pump with backup heat).
- Check W/E wiring: Ensure the thermostat's W/E or E terminal is correctly wired to the indoor unit's emergency heat input.
- Test emergency heat: With power restored, switch the thermostat to 'Emergency Heat' mode. Check if the backup heat source runs. If not, measure 24VAC at the W/E terminal at the indoor board when E-heat is called.
- Inspect indoor board: If voltage is present but heat does not run, the emergency heat relay or associated components may be faulty.
- If thermostat does not send E-heat signal: The thermostat may be defective and require replacement.
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Repair Difficulty
Hard
4/5
Required Part
Emergency Heat Relay Circuit
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