The short answer
A Rheem hybrid (heat pump) water heater in Northern Virginia shows alarms that start with A and alerts that start with T, and it beeps for alarms. The compressor codes, A004 through A006, usually don’t leave you without hot water: the heater falls back to its electric elements. The ones that do stop it are A008 (it sensed no water), A200 (the high limit tripped) and the element and board codes.
How to read the code
Press NEXT until the screen says Current Alarm, then press DOWN to scroll through what’s active. Alarms beep and show an exclamation mark. If the heater is on Wi-Fi, the EcoNet app lists every alert and keeps a history.
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The codes
Swipe to see all columns →
Swipe to see all columns →
| Code | What it means | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| A004 | Compressor protection trip | Elements take over |
| A005 / T005 | Compressor discharge too hot | Elements take over; T is usually low airflow |
| A006 / T006 | Suction temperature too low | Same checks |
| A008 | Dry fire: not enough water in the tank | Stops heating |
| A009 | Compressor wiring | Technician |
| A101 to A106 | A temperature sensor failed | Elements take over, or the heater stops |
| A107 | Water in the drain pan | Look for the leak |
| A108 | Condensate line blocked | Clear the line |
| A120 to A123 | Shutoff valve problem | No valve installed? Set that option to NO. Otherwise call. |
| A125 to A129 | Element or relay problem | Technician |
| A130 | Heater off and the air near freezing | Turn it back on |
| T131 | Clean the air filter | You can do this one |
| T132 | Can’t keep up with demand | Mode, a leak or a heater too small |
| A200 | High limit tripped | Stops heating |
| T300 | Leak sensor not installed | Check the sensor |
| A900 and up | Control board | Technician |
A004 to A006: the compressor
The heat pump half pulls heat out of the air around the tank. When it can’t, it shuts down and the elements carry the load, which works but costs more to run. Check that the fan on top is spinning and the filter is clean. Rheem’s manual says the sealed refrigerant system isn’t repaired in the field, so if the compressor itself failed, that’s a warranty and replacement conversation, not a part swap.
T131: cleaning the filter
- Set the mode to Electric or Off.
- Take the filter off the top of the heater.
- Wash it with mild detergent and water, and let it dry.
- Put it back and set the mode back.
A basement full of dust or laundry lint clogs it faster. A dirty filter is also behind a lot of T005 alerts.
A107 and A108: water
A107 means the sensor in the drain pan got wet. Look for a leak from the tank or its fittings, and make sure the condensate line is draining. Holding the Clear Alarm button for five seconds overrides the leak alarm for 24 hours, which buys you time to find the cause, not a fix. A108 means the condensate line is blocked: clear it, or call. Our leaking water heater guide helps tell a drip from a tank failure.
T132: running out of hot water
The modes change how fast it recovers:
- Heat Pump Only: the compressor alone, lowest power, slowest.
- Energy Saver: the factory setting, mostly compressor.
- High Demand: compressor and elements together, for a full house or a big tub.
- Electric Only: elements only.
- Vacation: 2 to 28 days, holds the tank near 82F.
If T132 shows up in Energy Saver, try High Demand for a week. If it still can’t keep up, look for a running faucet or leak, or the heater is smaller than the house needs.
A200: the high limit
The same red reset button an electric tank has. Turn the power off at the breaker, take off the upper cover, press the red RESET button, put it back together and turn the power on. Rheem says a technician has to find out why it tripped, because it only trips when something overheated. Our Rheem electric water heater guide has more on it.
What not to do
Don’t keep overriding the leak alarm, don’t run it without its filter, and don’t open the panels with the power on: there are 240 volts inside. Don’t leave it in Electric Only to dodge a compressor code, either. It works, but the bill shows it.
What a technician does
We read the alarm history, test the sensors against Rheem’s chart, check the elements and wiring, and check the fan, filter and condensate line. You get the price before we fix anything. While we’re there, the water heater flush is $99 (normally $199): we drain and flush the tank, check the anode rod and test the relief valve. If you’re replacing a hybrid or thinking about one, our heat pump water heater guide covers the Dominion rebate, and the water heater estimator shows the installed price of a new tank, and $500 comes off it.
Related: Rheem electric not heating, Rheem gas blinking light, how old is my Rheem, Rheem water heater troubleshooting, no hot water and our error codes guide.
Every code meaning here comes from Rheem’s own documents: hybrid water heater Use and Care manual.
Call or book
A plumbing diagnosis visit is $49, or $250 after hours, and you get the price of the fix before we start. Call (703) 997-9757, day or night, and tell us the code, or book the water heater flush from goswiftpro.com/cookiesoffer by November 30 and a box of warm MOLTN cookies comes with it. Every current deal is on our offers page. Rated 5.0 stars across 1,138 reviews on Google, Angi, Yelp, the BBB and Facebook, Virginia Class A license 2705192276.
Questions people ask
What does A004 mean on a Rheem hybrid water heater?
The compressor shut down on a protection trip. The heater switches to its electric elements, so you still have hot water. Check the fan and the filter; if it comes back, call for service.
Why is my Rheem hybrid water heater beeping?
It beeps for an alarm. Press NEXT until Current Alarm shows, then DOWN to see the code.
How do I clean the filter on a Rheem hybrid water heater?
Set the mode to Electric or Off, take the filter off the top, wash it with mild detergent, let it dry, put it back and set the mode back.
What does T132 mean on a Rheem water heater?
The heater can’t keep up with demand. Try High Demand mode, check for a running faucet or leak, and if it keeps happening, the heater may be too small for the house.
