Ideal boiler shows F4 and fails to ignite, no flame established
Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
Possible Causes
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Ignition and gas valve issues must be handled by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Do not remove the boiler case or attempt to access the burner.
User checks:
- Confirm gas supply: Check other gas appliances. If they do not work, contact your gas supplier.
- Check boiler controls: Ensure the room thermostat and programmer are calling for heat and that the boiler is not in standby or holiday mode.
- Reset the boiler: Turn the boiler off and on, then press the reset button once. Do not repeatedly reset if F4 returns immediately.
Engineer tasks (for information):
- Inspect and clean ignition electrode and check spark strength.
- Verify correct electrode gap and positioning relative to the burner.
- Test gas valve operation and inlet pressure.
- Check wiring between ignition transformer and PCB.
If F4 persists, stop resetting and arrange a visit from a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Repair Difficulty
Required Part
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