Bradford White Water Heater Error Code 57

Error code 57 means the control board has detected a short to ground on the flame rod circuit. The flame rod is the sensor that confirms burner ignition, and a short condition means an unintended electrical connection to ground has been detected. The heater shuts down the burner when this fault occurs as a safety measure. The underlying cause must be corrected before the unit will resume normal operation.

Yes, the control board treats this fault as a safety issue and shuts down the burner to prevent uncertain or uncontrolled operation. You should not attempt to bypass the fault or force the unit to operate while the code is active. Address the root cause of the short before restoring the heater to service.

Repair costs vary depending on the cause. If only a realignment of the flame rod is needed, a service call fee of roughly $75 to $150 may be the primary cost. If a replacement flame rod assembly or lead wire is required, parts typically range from $20 to $80, with total repair costs including labor generally falling between $100 and $300. A control board replacement, if needed, would push costs higher.

Some causes of this code, such as a physically misaligned flame rod that has shifted and is contacting grounded metal, can be corrected without replacing parts. However, if the ceramic insulator, lead wire, or flame rod itself is damaged, replacement parts will be needed. Working on gas appliance components requires care and familiarity with gas systems, so if you are not comfortable inspecting burner components, a qualified technician should handle the repair.

A reset may temporarily clear the fault and allow the unit to attempt ignition again, but if the underlying short condition still exists, the code will return almost immediately. The error code will continue to appear until the physical cause of the short to ground is identified and corrected.