High
E20 on Potterton Powermax HE

Your boiler thinks a flame is present even though it hasn't turned the gas on, usually caused by a blocked drain or a faulty sensor.

Call an engineer soon

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

What the manual says

Manufacturer manual

Flame detected with closed gas valve. Check ionization probe/cable. Check condensate outlet not blocked & vent tube clear

Shared across the Powermax HE range
This code is shared by the boilers in this range, which use the same control board. It may not be printed in this exact variant’s manual.
Plain-English guidance below. Severity, DIY steps, costs and parts are our interpretation to help you act, not text from the manual.

What causes this fault?

This fault occurs when the boiler's control system senses a flame internal to the unit even though it hasn't signaled the gas valve to open. The most common cause is a surge of water or moisture backing up into the combustion chamber due to a blockage in the condensate drain or a buildup of carbon on the sensing probe. In some cases, a damaged ignition lead or a failing control board can also send a false electrical signal that mimics the presence of a flame.

This fault is more common during the winter months, as freezing temperatures can cause the external condensate pipe to block with ice, forcing water back into the boiler.

Engineer required

This is a high severity fault. Stop using the boiler and call a Gas Safe registered engineer. Do not attempt gas-related repairs yourself.

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Related fault codes

All 59 fault codes on the Powermax HE

Seeing a different code? Every code this model can display, in one place.

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