High Lockout
E04 on Potterton Powermax HE

Your boiler has shut itself down for safety because it tried to light several times but couldn't maintain a steady flame.

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.

Technical description

Flow sensor open circuit. Check cable/connections not damaged. Renew sensor/cable. Check connections on control

What causes this fault?

This fault occurs when the boiler's control system fails to detect a consistent flame after several ignition attempts, causing it to shut down for safety. The most common reasons are a worn-out sensing probe that can no longer 'see' the flame, or a blockage in the internal drainage system that causes water to back up into the burner.

This issue is more frequent during very cold spells, as frozen external drainage pipes can prevent the boiler from clearing waste water, leading to a flame failure.

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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