Ideal Boiler L6 Fault Code
The Ideal fault code L6 flame failure Q & A or require an engineer for an emergency boiler repair.
The Ideal Boiler Fault Code L6 Error Common Q & A
Just below, we have a list of common questions relating to the L6 fault code on the Ideal boiler.
- What does the L6 fault code mean on my Ideal boiler?
- If my boiler is displaying the L6 fault code, is it likely to be dangerous?
- What could be causing the L6 fault code and false flame problem on my Ideal boiler?
- What does the gas valve do on my boiler?
- What happens if the gas valve is faulty on my Ideal boiler?
- Why does my gas valve stick open, and can it be fixed?
- Why would the wiring or connections be causing the L6 fault code to be displayed on my Ideal boiler?
- How do I know if my boiler is vibrating excessively?
- My boiler engineer has fixed the excess vibrations, how can they fix the gas valve?
- What can I do if water damage has caused problems with the gas valve?
- My boiler engineer thinks I need a new gas valve, how much is this likely to cost?
- My boiler engineer has tested the ignition lead and electrode and says that’s the problem, what can be done to fix the L6 fault code?
- How will I know if the problem is with the PCB?
- How can a boiler engineer check if the PCB is at fault?
- My boiler engineer thinks the PCB is at fault, what do I do next?
- How much does it cost to fit a new PCB in an Ideal boiler?
What does the L6 fault code mean on my Ideal boiler
When a boiler’s printed circuit board (PCB) recognises a problem, it will lock out and display a fault code. In this case, the L6 code.
The problem here is a false flame, which triggers the lock out. The boiler has noticed that there is a flame present, even when there is no demand for heat/hot water.
If my boiler is displaying the L6 fault code, is it likely to be dangerous
Your boiler’s lock out procedure is designed to make the boiler safe. And, this is the reason why you shouldn’t be trying to reset your boiler to fix the problem.
Resetting your boiler might temporarily trick the boilers PCB into thinking the problem is fixed. This could lead to your boiler being unsafe.
One of the most common faults relating to the L6 fault code is a faulty gas valve that’s letting-by gas when it shouldn’t be.
In this instance, if you were able to get your boiler working again with a reset, excess gas could be entering your property, and that’s dangerous.
Do not work on or attempt to fix your boiler unless you have Gas Safe accreditation. Instead, get a qualified emergency boiler engineer to fix the problem on your behalf.
What could be causing the L6 fault code and false flame problem on my Ideal boiler
The first thing a boiler repair engineer will need to check, is that there isn’t a problem with the gas valve.
Once they’ve checked the gas valve for faults, they’ll need to work their way through other boiler parts and fault find for issues. They’ll need to check the:
- Electrode and ignition lead for damage or moisture
- Operation of the PCB
What does the gas valve do on my boiler
The gas valve is controlled by the PCB. When you turn on taps, showers, or turn up your thermostat, the PCB recognises that more gas is needed.
It passes the signal to the gas valve which opens slightly to allow a steady flow of gas into the burner. And once water it’s up to temperature, the boiler tells the gas valve to restrict or shut off the supply of gas.
What happens if the gas valve is faulty on my Ideal boiler
When the gas valve is faulty on your boiler, it’s going to work intermittently. It might open and close when it shouldn’t or might stay permanently open.
A common fault with boiler gas valves is that they stick open or closed.
Not necessarily completely, but in most cases, partially. However, a gas valve that stays partially open when it should be closed will “letting-by”.
That means its leaking gas into the burner. The PCB notices this thanks to the flame sensor. It sees that a flame is present even though the gas valve should be closed.
When the valve is completely broken, it might not respond to the PCB at all.
Why does my gas valve stick open, and can it be fixed
This might be due to defective wiring, meaning that it gives and receives the wrong signals to/from the PCB.
However, it’s most likely that the valve is simply sticking due to old age. If the valve is in good condition overall, but is sticking, it’s likely that an emergency boiler engineer will be able to fix it.
They’ll make sure it’s clean and free of debris, and that it opens and closes fully. However, if the gas valve is showing signs of excessive wear, it makes sense to replace it, rather than recondition an old component that’s likely to fail soon anyway.
Why would the wiring or connections be causing the L6 fault code to be displayed on my Ideal boiler
There are two obvious problems that lead to damage to wiring, connections and the gas valve on your boiler.
Typically, we find that the problem stems from vibrations from the boiler that work connections loose, or water damage that comes from boiler parts that are leaking.
How do I know if my boiler is vibrating excessively
Parts such as the pump and fan work hard, and when they do, they will vibrate.
However, if you’ve noticed these parts vibrating more than usual, there’s a good chance that this is what’s lead to damaged or loose connections on the gas valve.
When you speak to a boiler repair engineer, it’s worth having them inspect the pump and fan. It might be that they’ve developed a problem (such as defective bearings).
If this problem isn’t fixed, the excess vibrations could lead to the gas valve fault occurring again, but it could also lead to similar issues with other electrical components.
My boiler engineer has fixed the excess vibrations, how can they fix the gas valve
If the gas valve has simply developed a case of loose connections, your boiler engineer will be able to find these with a simple visual inspection.
These connections can be re-secured, and your boiler engineer can test the gas valve using a multi-meter to check that this has fixed the problem.
What can I do if water damage has caused problems with the gas valve
First, you need a repair engineer to determine where the leak that’s caused the water damage is coming from.
Typically, the first place to start would be the pump. The boiler’s pump has weak seals. It’s possible these have degraded over time and this is what’s causing the leak.
And, you shouldn’t get this fixed quickly just because it’s caused damage to the gas valve.
If the pump is leaking on the gas valve, it’s leaking on other components too. Getting this fixed sooner rather than later could help prevent further expensive repair bills on your boiler.
My boiler engineer thinks I need a new gas valve, how much is this likely to cost
If the gas valve is beyond repair, you’ll need a replacement. Typically, a gas valve will cost around £300 to replace. It will take a boiler engineer roughly 1 day to get your boiler up and running again.
My boiler engineer has tested the ignition lead and electrode and says that’s the problem, what can be done to fix the L6 fault code
Hopefully, the problem is limited to moisture on these components, rather than the components being faulty. If it’s moisture, they can be wiped down and refitted.
If the problem persists, your engineer will need to replace the ignition leads and electrode. And this job is likely to cost in the region of £200, depending on the specific model of your boiler.
How will I know if the problem is with the PCB
Another common cause of the Ideal L6 fault code being displayed is a problem with the PCB.
If you’ve noticed your boiler acting strangely, there’s a good chance that this is the culprit.
The boiler’s PCB controls all the electronic components. That includes the gas valve, but others such as the fan, pump, air pressure switch and even the heat exchanger.
So, if there’s even the slightest fault with the PCB, the boiler won’t work correctly. The PCB won’t be communicating with internal boiler parts correctly, and that’s going to lead to issues such as:
- Radiators not getting up to temperature
- Showers/taps going hot and cold
- The boiler switching on and off at random
- A display panel that works intermittently
If you’ve noticed any of the above, there’s a good chance that the PCB is to blame
How can a boiler engineer check if the PCB is at fault
If you’re experiencing problems mentioned above, and there’s a visible leak, it’s likely that moisture has made its way into the PCB and caused damage.
Your boiler engineer will be able to test the PCB using a multi-meter. This will monitor the PCB’s operation ensuring that it doesn’t just get power, but it gets it consistently.
My boiler engineer thinks the PCB is at fault, what do I do next
If the PCB is faulty and is beyond repair, a replacement is needed.
It’s important that your boiler engineer checks all wiring and connections to ensure it can’t be repaired, as a new PCB is going to be expensive.
How much does it cost to fit a new PCB in an Ideal boiler
You should expect a PCB to be anywhere from £400-600 to replace. The exact cost will depend on the model of your boiler.
When making a repair investment of this size, it’s important to check the boiler’s overall condition. If other expensive parts are going to need replacing soon, it would make more sense to invest in a new boiler.
The parts you will want your boiler engineer to check include the burner, heat exchanger, pump, fan and gas valve.
Other Ideal boiler issues
For more boiler issues regarding the Idea Boiler then please visit the Ideal Boiler Problems And Cures page.