Whirlpool Water Heater Error Codes

Look up what a blink or error code means on your Whirlpool water heater, and whether it is safe to check yourself.

This is a gas appliance. If you smell gas or hear hissing, leave the house and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. Repairs to gas lines or burners are a job for a licensed technician.

This table covers standing pilot gas water heaters only. We could not find an official code table for Whirlpool electric water heaters. That is an open gap, not a confirmed answer.

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Whirlpool-branded standing-pilot residential gas water heaters with Honeywell gas control valve and Flame Lock safety system (built by American Water Heater Company / AO Smith for sale at Lowe's)

Code	Severity	What it means	Safe checks
No status light	DIY OK	The status light is not lighting up at all. This usually means the pilot has not been lit yet, or there is still air in the gas line on a newly installed unit. A homeowner can retry the lighting procedure on the label, including waiting out air in the gas line on a new install. If the pilot still will not light after repeated attempts, call a professional.	3 safe checks Confirm the gas supply valve is turned ON Follow the lighting instructions on the water heater's label and press the igniter button for up to 90 seconds Look through the sight glass, with room lights off, for a small blue pilot flame
Continuous (solid) light	Normal	The water heater was recently running, but the gas control knob was just turned to OFF, so the thermopile is cooling down. No repair needed. Once the light goes out, relight the pilot by following the label instructions.	1 safe check Wait until the status light goes out before trying to relight the pilot; this can take several minutes
1 flash every 3 seconds	Normal	Normal. The pilot is lit and the gas valve is operating properly. No repair needed. This is normal operation.	2 safe checks If there is no hot water despite this normal signal, confirm the gas control knob is turned to Hot Check other faucets and showers in the house, since a faulty single-handle faucet or shower valve can look like a water heater problem
2 flashes every 3 seconds	Pro required	The pilot is lit, but the gas valve is not detecting enough millivolts from the thermopile (the small pilot-powered generator that keeps the valve open). If reseating the connectors does not fix it, a technician needs to measure the thermopile's millivolt output and replace the thermopile or pilot assembly if needed.	2 safe checks Confirm the black connector on the gas control valve and the connectors on the thermal switch are pushed on fully and firmly Relight the pilot following the label instructions
4 flashes every 3 seconds	Safety hazard	The pilot is lit, but the gas valve has detected an over-temperature condition and shut the burner down. This is an overheat safety shutdown. Do not attempt to reset or continue using the water heater. Call a professional.	2 safe checks Turn the gas control knob to OFF Turn the gas supply valve to OFF
5 flashes every 3 seconds	Pro required	An internal sensor failure was detected inside the gas valve. This requires professional replacement of the gas control valve. Do not attempt to continue using the water heater.	2 safe checks Turn the gas control knob to OFF Turn the gas supply valve to OFF
7 flashes every 3 seconds	Pro required	The gas control valve itself has failed. The gas control valve needs professional replacement.	2 safe checks Turn the gas control knob to OFF Turn the gas supply valve to OFF
8 flashes every 3 seconds	Safety hazard	The gas control knob was turned to OFF, but the thermopile is still producing voltage. This usually means the thermopile has not cooled yet, or the pilot valve is stuck open. If a flame is still visible with the knob OFF, the pilot valve is stuck open, a gas safety hazard: turn off the gas supply valve at the source and call a professional immediately. If no flame is visible, wait 10 minutes for the thermopile to cool, then relight per the label. If the code returns, the valve needs professional replacement.	2 safe checks Confirm the knob is set to OFF and wait about one minute Look through the sight glass, with room lights off, to check whether a pilot flame is still burning

Sources

Whirlpool Water Heaters - Pilot Lights, Status Light Flashes (support hub page) (accessed 2026-07-03)
Whirlpool Water Heaters - No Status Light (accessed 2026-07-03)
Whirlpool Water Heaters - 1 Flash (accessed 2026-07-03)
Whirlpool Water Heaters - 2 Flash (accessed 2026-07-03)
Whirlpool Water Heaters - 4 Flash (accessed 2026-07-03)
Whirlpool Water Heaters - 5 Flash (accessed 2026-07-03)
Whirlpool Water Heaters - 7 Flash (Control Valve Failure) (accessed 2026-07-03)
Whirlpool Water Heaters - 8 Flash (accessed 2026-07-03)
Whirlpool Water Heaters - Continuous Light (accessed 2026-07-03)

Last updated 2026-07-03.