Finally getting back to this. I only recently discovered I can use the diagnostics port to try and control it directly. I’m probably going to attempt that but need to get some hardware.
I still don’t seem to have any issues with connecting or disconnecting.
I ordered the stuff and setup the ESPHome-Econet solution. It works really well! I actually deleted the Rheem integration just now because the ESPHome solution is so much better. It was cheap and easy to setup too. I spent about $25 US buying the parts from Mouser. (I used an old phone cable, so I didn’t have to buy that)