If you have an Ideal boiler, such as the Ideal Logic or Ideal Logic Plus, then it’s a good idea for you to know what to do in the event that you lose your boiler flame. If this happens then that means not hot water and your central heating won’t work. In the case your Ideal logic boiler stops turning on, take a look at the error message or the boiler fault codes on the screen.
Spotting the signs – No Hot Water, Cold Radiators
Just imagine running yourself a supposedly hot bath with supposedly hot water ready for a night of relaxation and pampering only to get the shock that your bath is ice-cold! Or perhaps your central heating isn’t working as it should be with cold radiators when you have turned the heating on. These are just a couple of the signs that your boiler may have a fault.
Know Your Fault Code
If the menu displays F2 then this means that there is flame loss. If your boiler screen is showing a L2, your boiler has entered a ‘Ignition Lock Out’ or also known as a ‘flame lockout’ state. This is activated as a safety precaution. When you have boiler flame loss, your Ideal boiler will automatically lock the ignition for safety reasons. Your boiler will be locked out until the fault is fixed meaning that your heating system such as hot water, central heating and other gas appliances.
Flame loss can be caused by a variety of different issues, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will need to replace your boiler. Very often, a Gas Safe engineer will be able to identify and fix the problem for you.
Depending on the brand of your boiler the following list of fault codes put together by EasyBoilerCompany may be helpful
Common causes of flame loss
Below we have created a little breakdown of what faults and problems may appear when you come to check your combi boiler. This will be displayed either on a display screen with one of the many boiler fault codes or if you have an older boiler this may be represented through blinking lights on your boiler. If your boiler does suffer from any of the faults or issues listed below we advise that you call out a gas safe registered engineer to repair your boiler.
1) Blocked flue
Your boiler flue carries waste gases and water vapour out of your home. It is an important part of your boiler system because some of these gases can be harmful if you were to breathe them in (e.g. carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide). If your flue becomes blocked, your boiler will lock and the flame will go out thus affecting your home’s heating and your home’s hot water.
A blocked boiler flue is more likely if your flue is exiting your home through the roof rather than horizontally through the wall because debris can more easily get inside your flue and block it. We recommend having your flue pipe position changed as this could potentially make this fault never appear again.
In the very rare cases this can be caused by the pcb or printed circuit board malfunctioning causing the boiler to think that the flue is blocked.
2) Faulty gas valve
Your boiler gas valve can get stuck, in which case it isn’t able to supply the pilot jet and burner with the fuel they need to be able to maintain a flame. IGas valves can also become loose and their wiring can get damaged, causing them to supply either too much or too little gas. If that happens, your boiler will lose its flame and will lockout. We advise that you call out a Gas Safe Registered to look over your home’s boiler as soon as possible.
3) Low gas pressure
If there isn’t enough gas pressure within your boiler, then not enough gas will reach the pilot jet and burner for the flame to keep burning, and it will go out. This is more likely if your gas meter is located outside your home because it can sometimes freeze in cold temperatures.
4) Faulty ignition lead
The ignition lead is necessary to ignite your boiler flame. If the ignition lead becomes faulty, for example, because of a loose connection, then your flame won’t light. If this has happened to your boiler we recommend seeking out a gas safe registered boiler engineer to help get your central heating system back in working order along with other gas appliances.
5) Problem with the fan
Your boiler’s fan creates a draft, which pushes waste gases and water vapour out of your boiler flue. If the fan isn’t running, then your boiler won’t fire up for safety reasons and enter the locked out state thus causing this boiler fault. Your flame will be lost as the boiler shuts down. Your boiler can also suffer flame loss if the fan speed is too low because in this case, the boiler will shut down and lock.
6) Gas leak
In very rare cases, boiler flame loss can be caused by a gas leak. If you think you have a gas leak or you can smell gas, you need to call the National Gas Emergencies helpline on 0800 111 999. If you are able to do it safely, you should shut off your gas supply and any other gas appliances within, then leave your property. To turn off the gas supply, you should find your gas mains tap, which is usually located beside your gas meter. Move the handle a quarter of a turn until it’s 90 degrees away from the pipe. Then leave your property as soon as possible.
How to fix boiler flame loss
According to PlumbGuardian, whatever the problem or fault with your boiler that’s causing the flame loss, you won’t be able to fix it yourself. You should always get a Gas Safe Registered engineer in to fix the problem. Most of the time, the problem will be fixable, although you may need to buy some replacement parts. The engineer will be able to diagnose the problem and give you a breakdown of what will need to be done to fix it.
Call A Gas Safe Registered Engineer
Boiler flame loss is a fairly common problem where your boiler’s flame goes out and your boiler locks. There are several reasons why this could happen, such as problems with the gas valve, low gas pressure, a faulty ignition lead, a blocked flue, a problem with the fan, or even a gas leak. A Gas Safe engineer will be able to diagnose and usually fix the problem.
