Connect Rheem Hybrid Water Heater to WIFI and ECONET APP & Troubleshooting steps

[@thomasopalka5410]

Hi Mike! Thanks for your video. After giving up on the Econet app after many attempts in 2019, I saw your video and decided to give it another go. Three things I did differently this time: 1) I used the app named "Rheem Econet" instead of the "Econet". They performed differently on my unit (gen 4). 2) Made sure the Rheem unit stayed connected to WiFi per your instructions. 3) Manually reconnected WiFi to my home router. The app took more than 10 minutes to finish connecting, but it now works. Many thanks!

[@raticus79]

When I started on the steps for this and saw both an "EcoNet" and "Rheem EcoNet" both from Rheem Manufacturing on the Google Play store, I had a bad feeling this was not going to go well. That's good to know about the 10+ minute connection time... wonder what the heck it's doing to take that long. Trying things with a different device (thermostat) but hopefully it's just a matter of needing the newer app.

[@IrixGuy]

Sub and Like added. I'm researching a tankless water heater with App and that steered me towards your video. Well done! Thank you!

[@deboraharroco3669]

Thank you. We had such a hard time to connect until we watched your video. I love the way you explain it in a simple way for others to understand. Very clear and precise. 👍👍

[@FamilyDIYtv]

Glad it was helpful! Consider subscribing !

[@jclmiller47]

Thank you very much. You made a complicated process understandable!

[@CarCrazyGhost]

Hey man, thank you so much for this video. The power cycling did the trick. I had a power cycle three times but that’s what it was. I didn’t have to reset networks or anything. It was just power cycle.

[@FamilyDIYtv]

Glad it helped!

[@darinhemric1212]

Thanks, you saved me from a major headache!

[@FamilyDIYtv]

Glad I could help!

[@bobsteckbeck6493]

I upgraded my home network to an ASUS Mesh system. I was unable to reconnect my Rheem Hybrid water heater to the new system, running into errors. After watching your video I'd say the single most useful message from you (although the entire video was excellent) was the advice to remove the EcoNet app and reinstall. Just be careful to get the correct app. Anyway, thereafter it was smooth sailing. Thanks so much for this video. Subscribed.

[@FamilyDIYtv]

Thanks for sharing ! Appreciate it !

[@mikenorris2346]

THank you! I purchased five of these and I am programming them all now and this was a huge help! In VT we have to put them in electric only for 4-5 months because of cold temps... Best, Mike

[@FamilyDIYtv]

NP mike ! i do the same thing in the winter. it is what it is. and you purchased FIVE ! how big is your house ! lol. thanks mike

[@mikenorris2346]

@@FamilyDIYtv I am a landlord and just added them to my townhouses. Changing out propane combi units for heat pumps and hybrid hot water heaters. Vt has a lot of incentives to do so and the combi units were a disaster.

[@FamilyDIYtv]

@@mikenorris2346 landlord, nice! i’ll hopefully be a landlord sometime next year. next chapter…

[@nickacuna7215]

I just had one installed and I live in CT where it is also cold. Should I take it off energy saver mode because of this? The person that installed never said to do this

[@FamilyDIYtv]

@@nickacuna7215 is it cooling down the area to much ?

[@Saint_Nicolo]

Hi, Thank You for your video. I moved back into my house after having tenants living here for awhile. I couldn't figure out why the econet app seemed to see the equipment but wouldn't respond to any of the commands. I deleted the app, redownloaded. Unplugged the router and the modem, unplugged the water heater just as you said. It worked. Once again I have a water heater that runs 30 minutes a day max and I am super pleased about that. It would burn me on the inside to brush my teeth before bedtime or brush in the morning and hear that darn thing running when nobody needs 120 water to brush their teeth and any excess heating was just wasted inside that tank.

[@DSun2Shine]

Thank you for this!! I will give it a try. Btw, the water heater is beeping with the service icon flashing...what does it mean? Time for service?

[@FamilyDIYtv]

i assume it needs service .... i'm not sure

[@davidecasassa8679]

Thanks for documenting a troublesome part of the app for which Rheem's own channel and my paper manual do a particularly shabby job: connecting the damn thing in the first place.

[@PmntlAcvd]

Hi! My Rheem look like which one you have but it doesn’t have the option in settings to press WiFi set up, what can I do ?

[@Tanquen]

I have the water heater in the Wi-Fi setup mode. The EcoNet app sees it says it's going to add it and it just keeps failing at that point. Never gets to the point where it asks for a password or anything.

[@mikev109]

Did you find a solution yet. Having same problem.

[@Tanquen]

@@mikev109 I set it into pairing mode and then went upstairs and for some reason it connected. I have no idea why. My house is pretty small and it shouldn't matter.

[@PartyPaul80]

My touch screen on the water heater doesn't show connect to wifi option. But it does say "econet enabled" and there's a data port on the side of display. Does mine not actually have wifi?

[@tantun81]

that is very straight forward but do you have any fix for when you go to all this steps and the econet app does not find your wifi network even though there is a 2.4 wifi network, it just dont see it.

[@dougsewell7281]

This video does help me to reconnect to my new Cox panoramic moderm/wifi but I also running into the same issue as you had, so this is my add on steps: I also did the steps below because setup couldn't find my wifi network. from the Econet app, click on the menu bar (3 dash ) at the top left corner> General> Home Wifi Connection Enter your wifi name and Password, security type: WPA2 - Save then follow the video ....

[@dizzybroad6965]

Can you have a husband & wife with different iPhones numbers on this EcoNet??? To do adjustments ?? Or just 1 ..my husband is good ….me i can,t get on ..just shows temperature?? why

[@FamilyDIYtv]

Don’t see why not - set it up on one phone, then sign into the app with the same username and password on the other phone.

[@JohnSmith-ss5cy]

I’ve just installed by Heat Pump Water Heater. Unfortunately, my new unit has a completely different display than your presentation for future reference. Could you provide the model number and the app revision that you’re using? It might be helpful to those of us who have different equipment/models then your demonstration. Thank you.

[@calebwolfe1003]

Do the hot water heaters connect to 5 GHz Wi-Fi, or do they only connect to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi? I have the same SSID for both, and I have trouble connecting the heater to Wi-Fi.

[@FamilyDIYtv]

i believe it only works with 2.4. to troubleshoot i’d turn off the 5g and see if that fixes.

[@calebwolfe1003]

@@FamilyDIYtv Will do this evening.

[@thadcurtz5522]

@@calebwolfe1003 My new Proterra (2024/03) says it can only connect to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.

[@jban4457]

Great attention to detail 👍

[@FamilyDIYtv]

Thanks! I tried. Mike

[@jsparx]

how do i set temp higher that the 140? I have small heater with high usage

[@John_Ridley]

Check the user manual. On mine you have to hold both the up and down buttons for 5 seconds to enable it to go up to 150 degrees.

[@jsparx]

@@John_Ridley thank you. I gave it a try. However, when I hold it for 5 seconds, it shows up arrow and down arrow to unlock. Then I try to increase the temp, but it maxes at 140. If I hold it again, the message goes away. I tried a few different times and patterns and sequences. If you can, would you be able to tell me what you do. Either I can't figure something g super simple, or mine it's really maxxed out at 140. Thanks!

[@sandilo60]

Is there a different app? When I open the EcoNet app install, I get the message stating that the app is not available as it is made for an older version of android

[@FamilyDIYtv]

Make sure you have the most updated app installed. Maybe uninstall and reinstall

[@nomisage]

I found out why my wifi wasn't connecting. I have the Model # XE65T10H45U0 performance plat 65 gal. My Google Pixel 7 pro was having issues connecting. Good thing my wife has an apple iphone 14. Used hers to install the Rheem econet app (not the plain econet), sign in using my login, added the devices and connected. Then used my phone, logged into the app and the devices were there. Now I can control the how with either phones.

[@FamilyDIYtv]

awesome !

[@Saint_Nicolo]

And ps, I purchased that electric hybrid at a previous home and loved it. Dehumidification was a real bonus. It used little electricity. Wintertime in Wis it could not keep up on hybrid so I would schedule it in high demand. If its only on for a couple hours who really cares, your talking pennies.

[@elicastro5297]

My protesta has a different screen and doesn’t connect at all

[@FamilyDIYtv]

The steps should still work … might have to get fancy tho.

[@robbietherobot382]

Not a helpful response. My screens are different too. I am nothoing to try to Jerrytig a second temporary network on a hot spot that doesn't talk to my home wifi. At least I have hot water.

[@denisgritke5690]

I hooked up my phone works good now I want to hook up my wife’s phone what is the procedure now

[@FamilyDIYtv]

Denis should be the same process. I think. I’ve never tried to connect multiple phones - sorry. Honestly once you set it up and its good, you rarely use the app. I cant tell you the last time I was in the app.

[@paulknowles6101]

On vacation in a rental property with one of these smart heaters. After 8 hours The alarm went off in middle of the night . Nothing visibly wrong with it and everything seems to be working fine . Pressed the alarm off button and all fine . I just do not want the alarm to be activated again . Any information on why the heater alarm may have been activated will be greatly appreciated.

[@FamilyDIYtv]

What did the panel say ? There’s a water alarm ….

[@tgrigg11]

I just installed my new unit. The firmware and display on the unit are now different than the video shows. Also the app has changed, so as good as the video is, it no longer seems accurate, and not as helpful as it once was. Customer Service walked me thru the current process and all worked fine. Let me know if you would like further info on the new process. Oh, BTW, your advice on resetting unit/router/phone did help me get further than I had been getting in my connection efforts. Thank you.

[@cmak3383]

VPN! Have to shut it off to make the initial configuration of WI-FI. After that, you can turn it back on. Was getting frustrated until I shut it off … then setup went 1,2,3.

[@shaunacram1388]

My Rheem does not have settings, it has a different front panel.

[@wt9653]

Same here. I just bought mine in December 2022 from Homedepot. The instructions are joke.

[@thadcurtz5522]

If you can get it connected, then In my 2023 setup, you can get to the time settings from the screen with location at the top and a square section at the bottom with temp, mode, state and available hot water shown by tapping on that square section...

[@CheeseBae]

I hate systems that are set up this way, where you have to connect to the device like its a Wi-Fi hotspot. It's much easier to just type the password into the screen. I would have had this set up hours ago if they just did it this way.

[@FamilyDIYtv]

I agree 💯!!!!!!

[@wt9653]

My 2022 water heater doesn't have the same menu as yours. It just has wifi button. When pressed, it just blinks. The instructions are a joke.

[@robbietherobot382]

Yes, me too.

[@JoelGrant-ie4ly]

A buddy of mine installed my new Rheem Wtr Htr. It took2 days. Long story short too many steps to the WiFi going.

[@FamilyDIYtv]

Yeah. The install is definitely more involved with these things. But not to bad.

[@darinhawley2405]

Thank you for sharing this video. I was able to successfully connect my phone to my water heater and all is working fine. However, I downloaded the app to my tablet and when I try to login to the app I get a server unreachable message. The tablet is on the same wifi network as my water heater and phone. I am positive I am using the exact same credentials to login the tablet as I am with my phone. Any suggestions?

[@FamilyDIYtv]

- i would uninstall the app from tablet - then make sure tablet has latest software updates - restart tablet - then reinstall app

[@darinhawley2405]

@@FamilyDIYtv I did do that but I got the same message

[@AlexHunley]

Still doesn't work

[@robbiem3878]

Just bought a house that has one of these Eco Systems which I've never heard of. Now we have no hot water and the account belongs to the previous owner. Why would you want your water heater hooked up to Internert? Our Internet area is not that reliable-makes no sense why the previous owner did this. I'm furious.

[@FamilyDIYtv]

You should be able to use the physical panel on side of water heater to control …. Not having the account shouldn’t keep it from making hot water. Also could try CS - Call Rheem’s connectivity support team at 1-800-255-2388

[@tylerrohn6938]

Only it never connects to home wifi.

[@mq6tz4pl2d]

Wasn't helpful for my new Rheem Protera

[@FamilyDIYtv]

You’re welcome!

[@roberts6900]

I hate this app...Everything goes good, the phone connects to the water heater,then connects to the internet, then at the end my phone tells me "ERROR WHILE PROVISIONING NEW EQUIPMENT"...so frustrating.

[@FamilyDIYtv]

i’m sorry to hear that :(. i assume the steps laid out in the video didn’t work ? restarting everything and starting from the beginning usually helps. Mike

[@bisoninks]

I got a econet thermostat for a new furnace yesterday and kept getting the same error. It won't connect to my mesh wifi. My Nest thermostat was rock solid on 5g with it. Econet connected w/ a phone hotspot so I got an old router and plugged it into my existing router and set it up as an access point with its own 2.4ghz SSID and econet can now connect to it. No matter how many times I tried this, on dedicated 2.4, deleting the app, etc it just wouldn't connect to my mesh network. It setup the SSID as WPA3 incorrectly too. I'm still trying router settings to see what's incompatible. I've turned off firewall which didn't help. Now messing w/ UPnP but skeptical I'll find it. So if you're still stuck try setting up a hotspot thru a phone or pc temporarily if your main network doesn't connect, to rule out the radio on the rheem unit as being bad.

[@FamilyDIYtv]

@@bisoninks great idea !!! i’m pinning this comment ! Mike

[@roberts6900]

@@bisoninks Hey thanks. You really did some work. I had to reread what you did a few times. I'll try your way, but being old and less tech savvy, I know it's going to make my brain hurt, lol.

[@bisoninks]

@@roberts6900 don't stress too much if all the acronyms I used aren't familiar. Basically I got one of our cell phones, turned on wifi hotspot. Then when I was connecting the thermostat to "my" home network I chose the phone hotspot instead of my normal one. It worked. You do have to forget the econet network and maybe even clear the data from the app and re login if you can't get back to that step easily, but rheem tech support said you can click any of the 3 pictures, doesn't matter. The harder part is what to do if it connects to the phone hotspot and not your home network. A lot of variables there. I just so happened to have an old linksys router setup as an access point already so was able to just plug it in and go. I have friends who use econet w/ google wifi so the main router mesh brands should be ok. VPNs can mess it up, bad passwords obviously, and certain ports being blocked. If you have a windows pc connected to the internet, you can make that a hotspot easily too. I didn't try it but that might be easier than a phone if you don't have that as part of your data plan. I do not but it works. I expect a text from my cell provider scolding me soon :) Good luck!

[@Codeman785]

This is the error I get every time, no matter what I do: Module Connection Error, please ensure your wifi module is ready to connect.

[@dandcarter]

So. After we purchase a cold water heater from Rheem, we learn during econet setup that econet will NOT CONNECT TO THE WH if your home WiFi is provided by Starlink! For those of us who have been victimized by this bait-and-switch tactic, we can only connect if we purchase another WiFi product which will bypass the Starlink network? Please send me a free gizmo, or $25, to allow me to use this ECONET feature which I paid for with the understanding that I was purchasing this functionality - which has failed to be functional.

[@FamilyDIYtv]

that's very odd... sorry you're having that issue.... seems odd they would single out startlink. maybe a local cheap router would help ?

[@tylerrohn6938]

This is true, will not connect to starlink

[@jorgeguimaraes8129]

This app by Rheem is definitely not ready for prime. It just doesn’t work. Crappy system!

[@FamilyDIYtv]

AGREE - !00% still not ready. they should be embarrassed.. i still have issue from time to time. so annoying

[@snakeplissken128]

App is horrible

[@douglaslanners6221]

Love the water heater connecting it to my phone F*** that!

[@FamilyDIYtv]

How else you gonna know when the fries are done ? Ding fries are done !

[@stevenrice47]

Worthless video. I had to setup an old 2.4ghz router with only 802.11g enabled and WPA (not wpa2) enabled to get my water heater online.

[@FamilyDIYtv]

Thanks 😊

[@fingerprintsbyrobin]

I really don't want to have to play with my phone back and forth .Right now I fell like taking this water heater back to Home Depot! Is it some one who can come by and do this for me .I am old school and this is just too much for a water heater

[@FamilyDIYtv]

the water heater works completely fine without the app, just control it via the control panel on the unit.

[@curtispechacek1814]

WATER WATER, IT IS NOT WORTER

[@FamilyDIYtv]

its wooder