Potterton Boiler E110 Fault Code
The Potterton fault code E110 lock out Q & A or require an engineer for an emergency boiler repair.
The Potterton Boiler Fault Code E110 Error Common Q & A
Just below, we have a list of common questions relating to the E110 fault code on the Potterton boiler.
- What does the E110 fault code mean on my Potterton boiler?
- How do I reset my boiler to clear the E110 fault code?
- Is the E110 fault code one that is likely to lead to a boiler replacement being needed?
- What causes a Potterton boiler to display the E110 fault code?
- What does the pump have to do with my boiler overheating?
- If my pump isn’t working correctly, what could be causing the problem?
- How does air get into the heating pump, and how can it be removed?
- Is the pump the only place where air locks build up in a heating system?
- What is sludge build-up, and how does it affect the pump?
- How can sludge be removed from the pump, and the heating system?
- My boiler engineer thinks the pump’s shaft or bearings are seized, does it need to be replaced?
- If the pump on Potterton boiler needs replacing, how much is it likely to cost?
- How will my boiler repair engineer know if the safety thermostat sensor is faulty?
What does the E110 fault code mean on my Potterton boiler
When your Potterton boiler has a problem, it will display a fault code. Alongside this, it will sometimes lock out, depending on the severity of the fault.
In the case of the E110 fault code, the cause could be:
- The boiler has met or exceeded the maximum temperature gradient
- An overheat
- The safety thermostat has tripped
How do I reset my boiler to clear the E110 fault code
The fault code system on your Potterton boiler is designed to help a boiler engineer determine what’s causing the issue. It makes the fault-finding process much easier, quicker and cheaper.
Once your emergency boiler engineer has fixed the problem, they will reset your boiler for you.
You shouldn’t reset the boiler, before the problem has been fixed. If you do, you risk damaging your boiler. Operation of the boiler after a reset, even for a few minutes, could cause damage that leads to expensive repairs.
Is the E110 fault code one that is likely to lead to a boiler replacement being needed
There are some faults whereby the fix is so expensive, it makes much more sense to simply replace the boiler. A typical example would be a boiler with a broken PCB. This could cost more than £500 to fix. That makes little sense on an old and deteriorating boiler. Instead, a replacement boiler that comes inclusive of a 5-year plus warranty, would be a much better option.
However, it’s likely that the E110 fault code isn’t going to lead to a boiler replacement being needed. Typically, the fixes for the E110 fault code should take around 1 working day to complete, and cost less than £250.
What causes a Potterton boiler to display the E110 fault code
If your boiler is having overheat issues the problem is going to lie with:
- Central heating pump problems
- Air locks in the heating system
- Faulty safety thermostat sensor
What does the pump have to do with my boiler overheating
The pump on your boiler helps to circulate water around the heating system. First, it passes through the heat exchanger. Once heated, it’s then free to circulate.
But, if the pump doesn’t circulate the water around the heating system quickly enough, you’ll find that there’s a differential in temperature between the flow and return pipes that is too large. The flow is the pipe that takes hot water from your boiler, whilst the return is cooler water that’s lost temperature from travelling around the heating system, returning to be heated again.
When the pump isn’t work correctly, it can also cause an overheat. Water isn’t escaping the boiler’s heat exchanger quick enough, and quickly gets above maximum temperature.
If my pump isn’t working correctly, what could be causing the problem
When your emergency boiler repair engineer sees the E110 fault code on your Potterton boiler, they’ll start with the pump. And, there are a few things they are going to want to check for, including:
- Airlocks
- Sludge build-up
- Seized shaft and/or bearings
How does air get into the heating pump, and how can it be removed
Air can find it’s way into the central heating system via small leaks. But, it might be that the system wasn’t bled correctly, last time it was refilled. Each time a heating system is topped up with water, radiators, towel rails and even the heating pump, need to be bled of air.
Air locks can create blockages. Not only does that mean that water isn’t circulating properly, it can also lead to a noisy pump. If you’ve noticed odd sounds coming from your boiler, as well as the E110 fault code being displayed, there’s a good chance that it’s air causing the problem.
For the heating engineer, they’ll be able to remove the boiler’s casing, locate the pump and bleed any air from the bleed screw.
It’s important that you do in fact, use an engineer. Removing a boiler’s casing is classed as working on a gas appliance, and the only people legally allowed to do that, are those with Gas Safe accreditation.
Is the pump the only place where air locks build up in a heating system
Put simply, no. Although it’s most likely that the cause of the circulation fault is an airlock in the pump, air locks elsewhere aren’t going to help.
To bleed air from towel rails, radiators and pipework, you’ll need a radiator bleed key. Each radiator has a small bleed valve. Opening this will release air. As the air is released, you’ll hear a small hissing noise.
Please note, once the hissing stops and all air has been removed, water will start to dribble from the radiator. So, you’ll need towels to protect walls and floors, as well as a container, in case water escapes the radiator quicker than expected.
What is sludge build-up, and how does it affect the pump
Sludge build-up is something that happens in all heating systems. It’s essentially, iron oxide (rust) that comes from the inside of towel rails, radiators and even pipework. As these items rust, and that rust breaks off, it circulates around the heating system. It can get stuck in all kinds of places, including the pump.
When central heating sludge gets stuck in the pump, it creates a blockage. Much like an airlock, this is going to restrict the pump’s ability to circulate water. What this means, is that water quickly overheats in the heat exchanger, and it also creates a high differential in temperature between the flow and return pipes on your Potterton boiler.
How can sludge be removed from the pump, and the heating system
The first step is to ask your boiler repair engineer to run a hot flush. This cleans out the heating system, using specifically designed chemicals; it gets rid of most of sludge in the system.
Once the sludge has been removed from the heating system, the next step is to protect the system, and prevent this from happening again.
That’s going to mean fitting a boiler filter and dosing the system with central heating inhibitor. The inhibitor breaks down the rust, and that makes it easy for the filter to catch it. The filter then can be cleaned out by a boiler service engineer, alongside your annual boiler service.
Finally, the pump can be cleaned. Although the hot flush gets rid of most of heating sludge, a quick manual clean of the pump will help it run smoother. And, that’s going to mean that the pump lasts much longer.
My boiler engineer thinks the pump’s shaft or bearings are seized, does it need to be replaced
The shaft and bearings on your pump can wear out and seize over time. That said, they’re robust components, so it’s likely there has been a catalyst.
If the system has had central heating sludge build-up, this could have been the catalyst. If not, the boiler repair company will need to inspect the installation of the pump. The pump’s shaft needs to be fitted horizontally.
If it’s even slightly off horizontal, the pump’s shaft and bearings are going to be put under excessive pressure. That leads to them wearing out prematurely or seizing up.
But, on some occasions, the pump won’t need to be replaced. Most top pump manufacturers have servicing kits available for their biggest selling pumps. So, your boiler engineer could repair the pump, rather than replacing it completely.
If the pump on Potterton boiler needs replacing, how much is it likely to cost
On many occasions, the pump will need to be replaced to clear the E110 fault code. That’s going to get the circulation of water back to where it should be.
Typically, we’d expect a pump replacement for a Potterton boiler to be in the region of £250. That includes labour, as well as a quality pump from a leading manufacturer such as Grundfos.
How will my boiler repair engineer know if the safety thermostat sensor is faulty
After assessing the pump for heating sludge, removing air locks and replacing the unit if necessary, the next step to clear the E110 fault code, is to check the safety thermostat sensor.
To test this, your boiler engineer can use a digital multi-meter. They’ll be able to test the circuit, as well as the sensor itself. If the sensor is showing inconsistent readings, or isn’t getting any power, then it’s going to need to be replaced to clear the E110 fault code.
Other Potterton boiler issues
For more boiler issues regarding the Potterton Boiler then please visit the Potterton Boiler Problems And Cures page.