Error code

A.O. Smith heat pump water heater error code 081

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.

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Is 081 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.

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What 081 means

“Condensate management”

— 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 081 fits

Next to 081 in A.O. Smith’s table: 080 (Air filter is dirty) and 083 (Heat Pump Compressor suction pressure is too low).

What to try first

  • Check the unit is level and the condensate drain line is clear.

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.