To reignite a Rheem water heater, you first confirm it’s a gas model with a standing pilot, shut off the gas, wait for any unburned gas to clear, then follow the lighting sequence on the label. An infrared heater is a heater that warms objects and people directly rather than the air. If the pilot won’t stay lit, the thermocouple, gas control, or venting is usually the reason.
Say your basement is 900 square feet, the water heater sits in a closet with a louvered door, and the pilot went out after a power outage. In that case, the fix is usually a careful relight, not a new heater.
Rheem gas models vary by ignition system, so the right move depends on whether you have a standing pilot, spark ignition, or an electric unit with no pilot at all. The label on the tank tells you which one you’re dealing with.
How To Reignite A Rheem Water Heater
To reignite a Rheem water heater, confirm it’s a gas model with a standing pilot, then use the lighting instructions printed on the control or access panel. Turn the gas control to Off, wait for unburned gas to clear, set it to Pilot if instructed, press and light the pilot, hold the control until the sensor warms, and turn it to On.
In short
The pilot lights the main burner, while the thermocouple or flame sensor proves that a flame is present. An electric Rheem water heater has no pilot, so there’s nothing to relight.
1
Read the label first
Confirm that the heater uses gas and a standing pilot. The label identifies the correct control positions and whether to use the built-in igniter or another approved lighting method.
2
Turn the control off
Move the gas control to Off as directed. Wait the full time printed on the label or in the manual so any unburned gas can disperse.
3
Select Pilot
Set the control to Pilot only if the heater’s instructions call for that position. Press and hold the control while activating the igniter or lighting method specified on the label.
4
Warm the sensor
Keep holding the control for the time listed by Rheem. The thermocouple or flame sensor needs heat before the gas valve will allow the pilot and burner gas to continue.
5
Turn the heater on
Release the control and confirm that the pilot stays lit. If it does, turn the control to On and follow the label’s instructions for starting the main burner.
That sequence explains how to light a Rheem water heater pilot and how to turn on a Rheem gas water heater without bypassing its safety control. The pilot supplies the small flame that starts the main burner; the sensor acts as proof that combustion is still happening.
Smell gas? Stop
If you smell gas, don’t keep pressing the igniter or try a different lighting trick. Leave the area if needed, avoid switches and flames, and follow the manual’s gas-leak instructions and local gas-safety guidance.
For a model-specific version of these steps, see how to light a Rheem hot water heater in 7 steps. A Rheem electric water heater uses electric heating elements instead, so its problem is a power, control, or heating-element issue rather than a rheem hot water heater pilot.
Why The Pilot Goes Out
A Rheem pilot usually goes out because the thermocouple or flame sensor doesn’t detect enough heat, so the gas valve shuts off by design. Drafts, a dirty pilot opening, low gas supply, loose burner access, or venting that spills exhaust can also make the flame unstable.
Myth
A pilot that goes out just needs to be relit until it catches.
Fact
Repeated relighting wastes gas and can hide a venting or combustion problem. The safety sensor is doing its job by stopping gas when it can’t prove a stable flame.
What you notice
Possible cause to check
Pilot lights, then dies
Thermocouple or flame sensor not heating correctly; draft at the pilot; weak or dirty pilot flame
Pilot will not light
Gas control is not in the required position; pilot opening is dirty; gas supply is low or interrupted
Flame goes out after the access cover moves
Burner access is loose or the cover is not seated as the label requires
Soot, unusual flame, or exhaust smell
Venting or combustion problem that needs professional attention
Beeping or an alarm after relighting
The control has detected a condition; read the display or error code instead of treating the sound as a request for more flame
These checks help identify the direction of the problem; they don’t replace the manufacturer’s service procedure.
Rheem water heater beeping, a Rheem water heater beeping noise, or beeping after you hit Clear Alarm is an alarm signal on some units, not a “needs more flame” message. The display or control code matters, because clearing the alarm acknowledges it without necessarily fixing the condition.
Stop for venting signs
If exhaust appears to spill, the flame looks abnormal, or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, stop using the heater and leave the area if needed. Don’t keep relighting it; have the venting and combustion checked by a qualified professional.
If the pilot stays lit only while you hold the control, the sensor and pilot flame deserve attention first. If a Rheem water heater won’t stop beeping, use the displayed code and the manual’s fault procedure rather than repeatedly pressing Clear Alarm; the Rheem gas water heater fuse location guide may help only when the unit’s instructions point to a fuse issue.
What You Need Before You Start
Confirm that your Rheem heater is a gas model with a standing pilot before gathering anything for a relight.
Electric replacement option
Rheem 18kW Electric Tankless Heater
This electric Rheem won’t reignite a gas water heater, but it may fit a replacement plan when the gas control, thermocouple or venting needs major service. Its digital control and self-modulation help manage hot-water demand without a pilot flame.
A Rheem electric water heater has no pilot to relight, while a gas model may use either a standing pilot or electronic ignition. First identify the ignition system; the lighting steps only apply to a gas unit with a standing pilot.
Ignition type
What you see
Can you reignite it by hand?
Standing pilot
A small flame burns continuously near the burner.
Yes, but follow the lighting label exactly.
Electronic ignition
No permanent flame; the igniter sparks or glows only during a call for heat.
Usually no. Use the model instructions rather than holding a flame near the burner.
Electric-only
No burner, pilot flame, or gas control; electrical heating elements warm the tank.
No. Check power and controls instead.
A power outage can stop some electronic ignition systems until power returns.
For a Rheem electric water heater, beeping usually points to a power, sensor, or control-board condition rather than a pilot problem. Check the display and the manual before opening any panel. If you’re trying to start up a Rheem gas water heater, confirm the label calls for a standing pilot before using its lighting sequence; the answer to how to light a Rheem water heater pilot light depends on that control type.
Power matters
A gas heater with electronic ignition may still need electricity for the igniter or controls. After an outage, restore power and wait for the unit’s normal startup sequence; don’t improvise with a match unless the label specifically describes a standing-pilot procedure.
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When To Stop And Call For Service
Stop trying to relight the heater when the pilot won’t stay lit, the burner is damaged, the gas control valve fails, or the venting looks blocked or damaged; those faults belong with a licensed professional. Repeated attempts won’t repair a failed thermocouple, and opening gas controls can create a leak or combustion hazard.
Searches for a Rheem gas water heater fuse location guide often start with a simple control fault, but fuse locations vary by model and some heaters have no user-serviceable fuse. Use the model manual before opening anything, and leave gas connections, venting, and electrical controls to the appropriate licensed professional.
Stop immediately
Smell gas, see soot, hear unusual burner noise, or find a damaged flue? Turn the control to the position specified by the manual, leave the area if the odor is strong, and contact the gas utility or a qualified technician. Don’t relight the unit.
Rusted water is a separate clue: a leaking Rheem Professional tank or rusty hot water usually points toward tank corrosion or anode wear, not a pilot failure. The anode rod slows corrosion but cannot fix ignition trouble; its location is commonly at the top of the tank, though access and replacement instructions vary by model. Anode rod replacement is maintenance or repair work, especially when the tank is leaking.
A leak changes the plan
Water around the tank, a leaking temperature-and-pressure valve, or rusty water from multiple hot faucets deserves prompt service. Never cap or plug the T&P valve.
What To Do Next
To turn on a Rheem water heater—or reignite a Rheem gas hot water heater—identify the unit first, then make one careful attempt using its own label and manual.
1
Verify the model
Find the rating label and confirm the heater is gas with a standing pilot. Read the exact lighting sequence before touching the gas control; Rheem models don’t all use the same ignition setup.
2
Try the sequence once
Follow the label from start to finish, including the required wait after turning the gas off. Never repeat the attempt if you smell gas; leave the area and contact the gas utility or emergency service.
3
Check obvious conditions
Without removing covers, look for a strong draft near the heater and confirm the nearby gas shutoff hasn’t been closed. Don’t adjust the gas valve or venting.
4
Choose the next path
An electric Rheem has no pilot: skip relighting and check the breaker and temperature control. If a gas pilot goes out again or won’t hold, turn the control off and call a licensed technician.
In short
Find the exact manual before a second attempt. One failed, label-guided relight is the point to stop—not an invitation to keep clicking.
Questions People Ask
How do you light a Rheem hot water heater pilot?
Follow the lighting label on the gas control, using its built-in igniter if equipped. Keep your face and hands clear, and don’t remove an access panel or use a match unless Rheem’s instructions specifically tell you to. If the pilot goes out after the prescribed hold time, stop repeating the attempt.
How do you turn on a Rheem water heater after the gas was off?
Restore the gas supply only if it was shut off for routine work and you don’t smell gas. Then use the unit’s lighting label; a pilot may need relighting after the supply is restored. If the utility shut off gas because of a leak or service problem, leave the valve alone and call the gas company or a licensed technician.
Why is my Rheem water heater beeping?
Beeping usually signals an alert or fault, but the meaning depends on the Rheem model and its display code. Check for a code, leak indication, or temperature warning in the manual, then shut off the water and gas or power if you see leaking, scorching, or a burning smell.
What does it mean when a Rheem water heater keeps going out?
Repeated shutdown means the safety system is detecting a problem, commonly weak pilot heat, restricted airflow, a dirty burner, low gas supply, or a failing sensor. Don’t bypass the thermocouple or flame sensor; a technician should inspect the burner, gas pressure, and vent draft if the fault returns.
Do Rheem electric water heaters have a pilot light?
No. Rheem electric water heaters use electric heating elements and thermostats, so there is no pilot to reignite. If an electric unit stops heating, check its breaker and reset procedure, then have the electrical controls or elements diagnosed if power is present.
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