BoilerFaultCodes.com
E.04 – .10 High Lockout

Your boiler is trying to start up but cannot light the gas flame to provide heating or hot water.

Call an engineer soon

Book a Gas Safe engineer within 24–48 hours. Your boiler may be unsafe or could break down completely if left.

Technical description: Failure to light (could be gas supply issue).

What causes this fault?

This fault occurs when the boiler's control system attempts to start the combustion process but fails to detect a stable flame after several attempts. The most common reasons include a lack of gas reaching the burner, worn-out spark electrodes that can no longer ignite the gas, or a fault within the gas valve itself.

This issue is more frequent during extreme cold snaps, as external gas meters or regulators can sometimes freeze, restricting the flow of gas to the property.

Typical repair cost £100-280 (including labour)

DIY fix possible

Check if other gas appliances, like a hob, are working to confirm gas supply.Verify that your gas meter has credit if you use a pre-payment meter.Reset the boiler by turning the selector switch to the 'R' position for five seconds.

Find a Gas Safe engineer

Search the official register for a qualified engineer in your area.

Gas Safe Register →

Protect yourself from future repair bills

A boiler cover plan would cover faults like E.04 – .10 — no call-out fees, no surprises.

Top rated
OpenFix
Boiler & heating care plans
Get a quote →
Hometree
from £12.95/month
Get a quote →
HomeServe
from £8.00/month
Get a quote →

Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Could it be time for a new boiler?

If repair costs are adding up, a new energy-efficient boiler could be the smarter long-term choice.

UK's #1 online installer
Boxt
Fixed-price online quotes. Next-day installation.
Get a free quote →
Heatable
Instant online boiler quotes from £1,499.
Get a free quote →
iHeat
Fast installation. Price match guarantee.
Get a free quote →

Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Related fault codes