Your boiler has stopped working because it failed to light properly or the waste water pipe is blocked.
Book a Gas Safe engineer within 24–48 hours. Your boiler may be unsafe or could break down completely if left.
Technical description: Flame Failure or Blocked Condensate Drain
What causes this fault?
This fault occurs when the boiler tries to light but cannot detect a stable flame, prompting the system to shut down for safety. The most common reasons are a lack of gas supply, a dirty sensing probe that can't 'see' the flame, or a blockage in the waste water pipe that causes water to back up into the heat exchanger. In many cases, it is simply a sign that the components responsible for the spark or flame monitoring have worn out.
This fault is significantly more common during freezing winter temperatures, as the external condensate pipe can freeze, causing water to back up and prevent the boiler from lighting.
DIY fix possible
Check that your gas pre-pay meter hasn't run out of credit.Inspect the white plastic pipe (condensate pipe) outside to see if it is frozen or blocked.Attempt to reset the boiler by turning the control knob to 'R' for five seconds.
Find a Gas Safe engineer
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A boiler cover plan would cover faults like 20 — no call-out fees, no surprises.
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Potterton Performa System HE is discontinued — time for a new one?
Parts for discontinued models can be hard to find and expensive. A new A-rated boiler could save you money on both repairs and energy bills.
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