While Navien is one of the best companies that offers the world’s most innovative tankless water heaters, they too faces some error like every other electronic heaters. In Navien’s user information manual, you will find a chart with all the error codes and what those errors mean.
For Navien Error code 003, there’s a failure in the ignition, which means the water heater failed to turn on the gas to ignite the flame, so there will be no hot water. Whenever this technical issue occurs, it’s better to fix error code E003 in navient tankless heaters on your own, before calling tachnician.
In our article, we will learn more about what Navien error 003 is, what causes this error, and how to fix this error.
Without any further delay, let’s dive deeper into this topic and help you fix your navien waterheater.
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What Does Navien Error Code 003 Mean?
Navien user manual shows a chart of error codes, in there you will find Error 003 and what it indicates. If you see Navien Error Code 003, that indicates that there’s something wrong with your water heater’s ignition system.
To heat the water, Navien water heaters first need to turn on the gas and ignite the flame, but sometimes the heater fails to ignite the flames because of some technical error. In such situtuations, you will receive cold water instead of hot water, or the system might just shut down and display Error 003 in the dashboard panel.
Sometimes it also appears when there’s a leakage within the boil system or an issue with the pressure relief valve.
Although, fixing this error is quite easy if followed the steps properly, however, you may also need a technician when there is a critica error with your navien tankless heater.
What Cause Navien Error Code 003?
According to Navien’s user manual, the cause of error 003 is stated as “Ignition Failure” but that is one of the reasons why error 003 occurred.
Other reasons can cause this error too so it’s better to check thoroughly before taking some action.
It’s best to leave the diagnosing and fixing the problem to a professional technician who knows how to deal with these errors. Technicians can identify the problem and root cause of it, once that is found, they can start looking for better options to diagnose this issue.
We have listed down those reasons that can be responsible for this error 003 to appear. These are the most common scenarios that have been faced by people who use Navien tankless water heaters.
Here are the possible causes that can be responsible for this error 003 code:
Igniter Failure
We discussed earlier how Ignition failure is responsible for navien error code 003.
Navien tankless heaters have an ignition system that helps in heating the water. Their water heaters have electricity-powered igniters which are responsible for igniting the spark within the gas, and that produce flames that help in heating your water.
These igniters are an important part of their water heater’s ignition system.
This can happen because of a dirty or clogged igniter or a faulty ignition electrode can also cause this ignition failure.
An issue In The Gas Valve Assembly
Sometimes these gas valves face issues that can also cause failure in ignition inside the tankless water heater. This gas valve assembly consists of different parts that work together to control and maintain the gas flow safely.
If there’s a problem with the gas valve assembly, for example, if there’s a low gas supply or low gas pressure then this can also cause failure in the water heating system and display the Navien error code 003.
Flame Sensor Rod
In gas-powered water heaters, the Flame sensor rod also known as the Flame rod, is a crucial part as it is responsible for detecting the flames inside the burner.
It is a piece of metal rod that maintains a connection with the Navien’s water heater control board. But if this flame rod is dirty or damaged in any way, it will not be able to detect a flame, leading to the Navien Error code 003.
Blocked Exhaust
If there’s a problem with the exhaust vent, that can also to failure in the water heating system. It is better to replace the block vent with a new one. If the exhaust vent is blocked by dirt or something else, the water heating system with shut down to prevent the build-up of toxic gases.
These are the few common causes faced by the majority of Navien water heater users. These are the issues responsible for the error code 003. You should call a technician as fixing this error requires someone with technical skills in tankless water heaters. they can easily understand what the issue is, and correctly diagnose it.
How To Fix Navien Error Code 003?
There are a few things that you can look for until the technician arrives at your place. These fixes apply to NPE and NCB units such as Navien NPE 240, NCB 240, and other capacities. These are some quick fixes that you can use on your Navien water heater to reset the Error code 003:
When There Is No Gas In Gas Cylinder
No proper gas supply or no supply at all, can cause the Navien error code 003 to occur. Gas is needed to burn and heat the water. If the gas doesn’t flow properly inside the gas valve, there will be no ignition, which means no hot water.
You can check this by ensuring that the gas valve is open completely, and check whether the gas source or cylinder has enough gas to supply or not. Make sure that the gas supply is not interrupted.
You can check the gas pressure inside the inlet by connecting the pressure port to the manometer. You can also try turning the gas valve off and then turn it back on, this will reset the gas pressure inside the inlet.
This might help in fixing the error code but if there’s no change then you can reach out to a technician who has more knowledge on these tankless water heaters.
If There Is a Blockage In The Air Intake Filter
The air filter from where the air flows inside the water heater is needed for the combustions in the heat exchanger so when it doesn’t happen properly, it can lead to error 003. The air intake pipe sometimes gets insects like flies, bugs, debris, or dust, stuck in it and that leads to the blockage in the pipe. It all gets collected near the air intake filter so they don’t enter the heater unit.
You can clean this air intake filter yourself, just turn off the heater and remove the front panel with the help of a screwdriver. You will find the air filter at the top left, just unscrew it and clean it using a toothbrush. After it’s cleaned, just put it back in its place.
If Flame rod/Ignitor Wiring Damaged
A flame rod or we can also call it a flame sensor rod, this piece of metal rod is a critical part of the gas heaters system. It is placed near the gas burners and helps in creating the spark to ignite the gas.
This flame rod is also responsible for sending whether the flame is on or not. Once it senses the flame, it sends the signal to the controller PCB through the wires.
But in some scenarios, if the wires are damaged or broken, the control PCB will not be able to sense the signal, then you will see the error code 003 display on the front panel.
To fix this issue, you can easily access the flame rod which is generally located at the front of the heat exchanger but in older models, you will find this on the side of the heater. If you have an older model then you can access it by removing the blower that is connected with three screws. Just twist the blower outwards and you can access the flame rod easily.
To fix this, look for the flame rod and inspect the wires carefully that connect the flame rod to the control board PCB. If the wires are damaged, change them to a new one. If there’s no damage, remove and connect them again.
If Flame Rod/Ignitor Is Damaged
Flame rods tend to get dirty or damaged after years of use, which is quite normal and you can easily replace them with a new one.
First, check the condition of the flame rod, and if it is damaged then you can purchase a new flame rod by checking the part number on the flame rod or you can also look for the part number inside the heater manual.
To fix this flame rod, turn off the heater and close the supply of gas. Then remove the front panel of the heater, and you will find the flame rod that’s connected with three wires.
Mark those wires so that it will be easy to identify when you put them back on the new flame rod. Make sure to cover them with electric tape or rubber insulating caps. And you are done with the replacement of the new flame rod.
Call A Technician
If you have tried all of these methods and yet the error 003 is still on the display of your Navien water heater front panel, it is time to call the professional in.
A technician who has knowledge of these tankless water heaters and knows how to solve these error issues can definitely help you with your error code 003.
When the error 003 is still there even after you have attempted all of these methods, it’s best to call your technician and let them diagnose the problem. And if you are thinking that it will resolve on its own, then you are wrong about this.
When it comes to electrical devices, it is better to solve the issues as soon as possible to avoid any big incident from occurring. There are multiple causes why your Navien water heater is showing Error code 003, and no other person but a professional technician can identify the root cause of this error and diagnose it correctly.
Conclusion
Navien Error Code 003 is surely a frustrating issue as we can’t pinpoint the exact cause of it. We learned many different reasons that can cause the error code 003 to appear.
In those times, what we can do until the technician arrives, is that try to look for the root cause. As we discussed in our article, you can try looking for the issue and see where the main problem lies.
It can be in the ignitor wiring or the ignitor itself is damaged, there can be a blockage in the air filter, or there’s a problem in the gas valve. These are the possible reasons behind the appearance of Navien Error code 003.
If these methods can help in fixing the issue then you are good but if the problem persists then it’s best to wait for the technician to arrive, they will find the root cause of it and diagnose the problem properly.