Error code

A.O. Smith heat pump water heater error code 044

Snap a photo — see what it is, how urgent, who to call.

One photo of the problem. fixRAgent reads it and gives you a Triage Profile.

Triage a photo now

No sign-up.

Is 044 on a A.O. Smith heat pump water heater an emergency?

Usually not an emergency. If it smells like burning, sparks, or trips the breaker, switch it off at the breaker and leave it off until it is checked.

Take the photo. We’ll tell you what it is.

Managing this for someone else? Managers: set it up for your buildings →

Managing this for someone else? There is a version of this for whole portfolios.

Managers: set it up for your buildings →

What 044 means

“SAC anode depleted”

— A.O. Smith, A.O. Smith Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater Service Handbook. Codes vary by model: check your heat pump water heater’s own manual.

Where 044 fits

Next to 044 in A.O. Smith’s table: 031 (Water Leak) and 046 (Shut-off Valve).

What to try first

  • Turn off power and call a qualified technician about the anode.

Safety: If it smells like burning, sparks, or trips the breaker, switch it off at the breaker and leave it off until it is checked.

How urgent is it?

At least THIS WEEK. fixRAgent treats this code as a this-week repair: the appliance has reported a fault, but the code alone does not point at a safety hazard. This is fixRAgent’s reading, not the manufacturer’s. A photo can raise it — water near wiring, scorch marks, a gas smell — but a code never lowers what the photo shows.

Who to call

Plumber. Have the model and serial numbers from the label ready — a photo of the label works.

Recalls and manuals

Check whether your model is under a safety recall on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s site: cpsc.gov/Recalls. Your owner’s manual is on A.O. Smith’s support site; search it with the model number from the label.