Intergas Boiler Fault Code 10

The Intergas fault code 10 relates to the S1 sensor and here we have Q & A. We could also offer you a service by you clicking on our emergency boiler repair booking.

The Intergas Boiler Fault Code 10 Error Common Q & A

Just below, we have a list of common questions relating to the fault code 10 on the Intergas Boiler.

What does fault code 10 mean on Intergas boilers?
If I reset my boiler, will this fix the S1 sensor and clear fault code 10 from the display panel?
Is there an easy way to fix this problem on a DIY basis?
How will my boiler repair company fix fault code 10 on my Intergas boiler?
How can my boiler engineer check the S1 sensor?
If my S1 sensor is faulty, what’s going to happen?
The sensor doesn’t seem to be the problem, so, what should my boiler repair company look at next?
What is limescale build-up, and how do I know if my boiler is affected?
Can my heating engineer inspect my heat exchanger to determine if limescale is a problem?
Limescale and heating sludge seem to be an issue, what can we do to fix the problem?
After running a hot flush, how can we protect our boiler?
My boiler engineer wants to check the integrity of the PCB, why would they want to do that?
My boiler repair company thinks the PCB is the problem, how much is it going to cost to replace?

What does fault code 10 mean on Intergas boilers

If you’re having a problem with your Intergas boiler, you’ll notice a fault code on the display panel. This gives an indicator of what the fault might be, making the fix much quicker for your engineer, in comparison to if they had to fault-find for every potential issue.

In the case of fault code 10, the problem lies with the S1 sensor.

If I reset my boiler, will this fix the S1 sensor and clear fault code 10 from the display panel

Unfortunately, the reset function on Intergas boilers isn’t designed to fix problems. It’s only designed to be used once the problem has been found and fixed. It helps the boiler to sync, so it can fire for hot water and heating.

What you’re experiencing is known as a boiler lockout. There are two reasons lockouts occur:

Continued operation could damage important boiler components
Continued operation could mean that the boiler is dangerous

In the case of fault code 10, it’s most likely that continued operation could damage important components, leading to further expensive repair bills.

Is there an easy way to fix this problem on a DIY basis

Given that gas appliances can be dangerous, not to mention extremely complex, there’s no DIY fix.

You need to call an emergency boiler repair company. They’ll be able to send out a qualified Gas Safe engineer to find and fix the problem. Once the problem is fixed, resetting the boiler will clear fault code 10 from the display panel, removing the boiler from its locked out state.

How will my boiler repair company fix fault code 10 on my Intergas boiler

Although the fault code being displayed helps to give an indication of what the problem is, it doesn’t highlight it exactly. Your boiler engineer will need to check for:

A faulty S1 sensor
Circulation faults
Printed circuit board (PCB) problems.

How can my boiler engineer check the S1 sensor

The most common issue that causes fault code 10 to be displayed on Intergas boilers, is an issue with the S1 sensor.

Your boiler’s components are all controlled by the PCB. It’s this component that tells others when to fire up, adjust and when to shut down; that’s all based on demand from taps, showers and your heating thermostat.

But the PCB’s job isn’t just giving commands, it also monitors a range of sensors to ensure that the boiler is working within tolerance. Not working within pre-defined tolerances set by the manufacturer, could mean that the boiler is dangerous, or damaging its internal components.

And, the S1 is one of the sensors that the PCB monitors. The job of this sensor is to check water flow and temperature from the heat exchanger.

The heat exchanger is the component that transfers heat from the burner, into heat in water. And, the S1 sensor feeds back readings to the PCB to ensure that the flow and temperature are correct.

Your boiler repair company will be able to test the flow S1 sensor by using a multi-meter. This device helps to check if there are any aspects of the S1 sensor that aren’t providing power.

If my S1 sensor is faulty, what’s going to happen

The PCB is looking to see that the readings from the S1 sensor are within tolerance. If the S1 sensor is faulty, it’s likely there is either no reading being passed onto the PCB, or the reading is incorrect. As soon as the PCB notices that either of these scenarios are in play, that’s going to cause fault code 10 to be displayed, and the boiler to lockout.

As we mentioned, resetting the boiler isn’t advisable. Even if the boiler is reset, as soon as the PCB recognises that the sensor problem hasn’t been fixed, it’s going to lockout once more.

If the S1 sensor is faulty, your boiler engineer can replace it to fix the problem and reset your boiler to clear the fault code.

The sensor doesn’t seem to be the problem, so, what should my boiler repair company look at next

If the sensor isn’t faulty, then the readings it’s passing onto the PCB are correct. And, that means the flow of water or temperature aren’t within tolerance, and something’s causing that to be the case.

It’s most likely that the circulation problem originates from the heat exchanger. And, one of the most common reasons a circulation fault occurs, is due to limescale build-up.

What is limescale build-up, and how do I know if my boiler is affected

Limescale comes from minerals in water. These minerals deposit themselves throughout the heating system, and eventually, start to create blockages. At first, the fact that limescale is present won’t be noticeable. But over time, these blockages restrict water flow, causing the circulation problem.

If fault code 10 is being displayed on the control panel, the first thing to check, is whether you live in a hard water area. Water is generally labelled as “low”, “moderate” or “high”, in terms of hardness.

If you live in an area with moderate water hardness, it’s likely limescale would take years to build-up on your heat exchanger. For those living in hard water areas, the timeline is going to decrease considerably.

Can my heating engineer inspect my heat exchanger to determine if limescale is a problem

The heat exchanger can be inspected for limescale and cleaned manually if necessary. Your heating repair company will also be looking to see if there’s any build-up of heating sludge.

Heating sludge occurs when small pieces of rust break off from radiators, towel rails, fittings and pipework. Over time, they create thick and dirty heating water. Particles that don’t get broken down in full by circulating around the heating system can get lodged just about anywhere, including the heat exchanger.

Limescale and heating sludge seem to be an issue, what can we do to fix the problem

Depending on the level of limescale in comparison to heating sludge, your heating engineer will use specifically designed cleaning chemicals. For instance, Sentinel, a leading brand in the heating chemical space offer X400 which is a “system restorer”; a good generic cleaner.

However, if limescale is predominantly the problem, something like the X200 boiler descaler might be more suitable.

Your boiler engineer will run a hot flush on your system, alongside cleaning the heat exchanger manually. The hot flush is going to breakdown limescale and heating sludge, ready to be drained from the system.

Not only is this going to help circulation through the heat exchanger, by removing small blockages from other boiler components and radiators, your heating system will work at a much higher level of efficiency.

After running a hot flush, how can we protect our boiler

Again, the preventative measures put in place, are going to depend on the level of limescale versus heating sludge in the system.

For those in areas of low water hardness, it’s most likely that heating sludge has been the major problem. To combat this, after running a hot flush, your boiler engineer will fit a magnetic system filter. This catches any future debris and can be cleaned out with each annual boiler service.

For those in areas of moderate-high water hardness, it’s likely it’s a combination of limescale and heating sludge. So, alongside a magnetic system filter, it’s likely your boiler engineer will fit a limescale reducing filter.

Both the scenarios above allow debris to be caught. But, to be caught, it needs to be broken down into manageable chunks. So, in both scenarios, your heating engineer will dose your system with central heating inhibitor, which helps to break down both limescale and heating sludge.

My boiler engineer wants to check the integrity of the PCB, why would they want to do that

The PCB on your Intergas boiler is one of the most important parts. The smallest of malfunctions could mean that your boiler fails to operate. And, if your boiler repair company is looking to check the PCB, it’s unlikely the S1 sensor or heat exchanger are the problem.

If wires, connections or the PCB unit are faulty or damaged, signals given and received from parts such as the S1 sensor maybe incorrect, or incorrectly interpreted. Like all electronic parts on boilers, your boiler engineer can check the PCB using a multi-meter.

My boiler repair company thinks the PCB is the problem, how much is it going to cost to replace

If the PCB is at fault, a replacement is going to be needed to clear fault code 10 from the display panel.

PCB replacement costs vary considerably, depending on the model of Intergas boiler that your own. Typical costs will range in the region of £400-500.

And, at these prices, it’s worth asking your engineer to inspect your boiler. If it’s incredibly old and has numerous other parts that are likely to fail soon, a replacement boiler, rather than a repair, might be the best option.

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