Your boiler is struggling to light its flame, which means you may experience intermittent issues with your heating and hot water.
Book a Gas Safe engineer within 24–48 hours. Your boiler may be unsafe or could break down completely if left.
Technical description: Ignition
What causes this fault?
This fault occurs when the boiler's control system attempts to start the heating process but fails to detect a stable flame through the ignition electrodes. The most common reasons are a worn-out spark probe that can no longer create a spark or a faulty gas valve that isn't delivering enough fuel to the burner.
This fault is more frequent during the first cold snap of autumn when a boiler is suddenly worked harder after sitting idle all summer.
DIY fix possible
Check that your gas pre-payment meter (if you have one) has creditEnsure your gas stopcock is fully openPress and hold the 'Flame/Reset' button for 3-5 seconds to attempt a restart
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 S.13 — no call-out fees, no surprises.
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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.
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