What LC means
Scale is building up in the heat exchanger and it needs to be flushed. These codes lock the heater out to prevent damage.
Also shown as: LC0, LC1, LC2, LC9, 00, depending on the model.
Likely causes
- Hard water
- Overdue flushing
Safe first checks
- To run temporarily, press the on/off button on the controller 5 times within 5 seconds. It runs about 70 hours before locking out again, and the number after LC counts the resets.
- Flush the heat exchanger following the owner's manual, or have a plumber do it. Hard water should be treated.
When to stop
Don't keep resetting without flushing; scale damage to the heat exchanger isn't covered.
Checked against: Rinnai: Troubleshooting Tankless Water Heater Diagnostic Codes (100000652). Codes can differ by model and year, so confirm with your owner's manual.