Rheem and Ruud are, for repair purposes, the same equipment wearing two badges. Ruud's line is built by Rheem on identical platforms — the same compressors, coils, control boards, and diagnostic flash codes — so parts and procedures cross over completely. If a tech can service a Rheem, they can service a Ruud. Rheem is a mainstream, widely installed brand across Bay Area homes, so common wear parts are easy to stock, and we keep them on the truck so most repairs are a single visit. Triton repairs both across the East Bay, Tri-Valley, and Peninsula, from basic single-stage furnaces to variable-speed and EcoNet-enabled communicating systems.
This page covers the Rheem and Ruud equipment we service, the flash codes and problems we see most, and what a repair typically costs in the Bay Area.
Systems we repair
- Gas furnaces — 80% standard-efficiency and 90%+ condensing models, in single-stage, two-stage, and variable-speed (modulating) versions.
- Central air conditioners — condensers and matched indoor coils, single-stage through variable-capacity.
- Heat pumps — for the growing number of Bay Area homes going all-electric, heating and cooling from one system.
- EcoNet-enabled systems — Rheem's smart, communicating platform where the equipment reports status and faults to an EcoNet thermostat or the app. These need a tech who understands the communication side, not just line-voltage parts.
Common Rheem problems we fix
- 1-flash ignition lockout. After repeated failed tries the board locks out the burners — usually a dirty flame sensor, a weak hot-surface igniter, or a gas-supply problem. No heat until it's cleared and reset.
- 2- and 4-flash pressure-switch faults. The pressure switch won't prove draft (stuck open, or closed when it should be open), so the burners never light — a blocked flue or intake, a weak draft inducer, or a clogged condensate line on high-efficiency models.
- 3-flash limit / airflow trip. The furnace overheated and the high-limit opened, almost always from restricted airflow — a dirty filter, a blocked return, or a tired blower. The most DIY-friendly of the group: start with the filter.
- Igniter & flame-sensor failures. A fouled flame sensor or a weak igniter causes the burner to light and then drop out — the classic "lights, runs a few seconds, shuts off" pattern behind many ignition lockouts.
- AC won't cool — capacitor or contactor. A failed run capacitor (the outdoor fan hums but won't spin) or a pitted contactor is the most common summer no-cool on a Rheem condenser.
- EcoNet high- and low-pressure alerts. On communicating systems, a low charge or a leak trips a low-pressure lockout, while a dirty condenser coil, a failed fan, or an overcharge trips a high-pressure lockout — both stop the system to protect the compressor.
- Blower/ECM motor failures, refrigerant leaks, and worn control boards round out the list.
Rheem error & fault codes
Rheem and Ruud furnaces flash a diagnostic LED on the integrated control board that blinks a repeating count — you count the flashes between pauses, then match the number to the legend printed inside the blower door. Because both brands share boards, the same chart applies to each. As a general guide on these boards:
- 1 flash — ignition failure lockout (flame sensor, igniter, or gas).
- 2 or 4 flashes — pressure-switch fault (venting, inducer, or condensate).
- 3 flashes — open high limit / over-temp (usually restricted airflow or a dirty filter).
On EcoNet communicating AC and heat-pump systems, faults appear as high- and low-pressure alerts on the EcoNet thermostat or app rather than as furnace blinks. For the full blink-count chart and DIY-safe airflow checks, see our Rheem code guide:
- Rheem Furnace Error Codes — reading the flash count and what the common codes mean.
Flash-code meanings can vary by control-board generation and model year, so always confirm the count against the diagnostic label inside your own unit before replacing a part.
What it costs in the Bay Area
Rheem repairs come down to the failed part. On the furnace side, a flame sensor runs about $90–$250 and a hot-surface igniter $120–$350 — the common ignition fixes behind a 1-flash lockout — while a blower motor is roughly $400–$700 and a control board $200–$600; most furnace repairs land in the $129–$800 range. On the AC side, a capacitor is about $120–$350 and a contactor $120–$320 (the cheap, common fixes), a refrigerant leak repair and recharge runs $180–$650, and a compressor is the high end at $900–$1,600, with most AC repairs in the $129–$1,200 range. We charge a diagnostic fee that's credited toward the repair when you approve the work, and you always get a firm, flat price before anything is installed.
Book Rheem & Ruud service
Triton services Rheem and Ruud furnaces, AC, and heat pumps — plus every other major brand — across the East Bay, Tri-Valley, and Peninsula, including Redwood City, Dublin, San Mateo, Pleasanton, and San Ramon. Same-week and often same-day appointments, licensed techs, and upfront pricing.
Book online or call (888) 993-5699.
Related pages
- HVAC Repair in the SF Bay Area — our full heating & cooling hub
- Rheem Furnace Error Codes — reading the flash-count diagnostics
- Furnace Not Heating / No Heat — the symptom behind most flash codes
- AC Not Cooling / Blowing Warm Air — the summer no-cool, including EcoNet pressure alerts
- HVAC & AC Repair in Redwood City — Peninsula service area
- HVAC & AC Repair in Dublin — Tri-Valley service area
Frequently asked questions
Are Rheem and Ruud the same? For repair purposes, yes. Ruud's heating and cooling line is built by Rheem on identical platforms, with the same compressors, coils, control boards, and diagnostic flash codes. Parts and procedures cross over completely, so a tech who services one services the other. We treat them as one brand family.
What do the flashing lights on my Rheem furnace mean? The integrated control board has a diagnostic LED that blinks a repeating count. You count the flashes and match the number to the legend inside the blower door — as a guide, 1 flash is an ignition lockout, 2 or 4 flashes a pressure-switch fault, and 3 flashes an open high-limit (an airflow/over-temp trip). Because meanings vary by board, confirm the count against your unit's own label.
What does an EcoNet high- or low-pressure alert mean? On Rheem and Ruud EcoNet communicating systems, a low-pressure alert usually points to a low refrigerant charge or a leak, and a high-pressure alert to a dirty condenser coil, a failed condenser fan, or an overcharge. Both lock the system out to protect the compressor and should be diagnosed by a licensed tech.
Why does my Rheem furnace light and then shut off? That short-cycle-on-ignition pattern is usually a dirty flame sensor or a weak igniter: the burner lights but the board can't confirm steady flame, so it shuts the gas off and may lock out on a 1-flash after a few tries. Cleaning or replacing the flame sensor fixes most of these.
How much does Rheem furnace or AC repair cost in the Bay Area? It depends on the part. A flame sensor is about $90–$250 and an igniter $120–$350; a blower motor runs $400–$700 and a furnace control board $200–$600. On the AC side a capacitor is $120–$350, a refrigerant leak repair and recharge $180–$650, and a compressor $900–$1,600. The diagnostic fee is credited toward the repair when you approve the work.
Do you service Rheem in my city? We cover the East Bay, Tri-Valley, and Peninsula — including Redwood City, Dublin, San Mateo, Pleasanton, and San Ramon — with same-week and often same-day appointments. Call (888) 993-5699 to book.