Error E130

Safety precautions:

1) If you or anyone smells gas or you have a carbon monoxide alarm activation or feel unwell, get everyone out of the building immediately, call the emergency gas number (or emergency services) and do not re-enter. Do not operate electrical switches or naked flames.

2) If the boiler is locked out but there is no smell of gas or CO, keep the area ventilated. Do not repeatedly reset the boiler more than once or twice if the fault returns quickly.

3) Any work on gas, flues, combustion parts, or internal wiring must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Do not attempt to isolate or work on gas supply pipes unless qualified.

Initial homeowner checks (safe, non-invasive):

1) Record the exact error code and any other display messages, and note when it occurred (heating on, hot water demand, after power cut, cold weather, etc.).

2) Reset the boiler following the manual: switch off electrical power to the boiler, wait 2–5 minutes for the system to cool, restore power and press the boiler reset button. If E130 does not clear or returns immediately, do not continue attempting resets.

3) Inspect the external flue terminal from outside: look for visible obstructions such as leaves, nesting material, plastic bags, snow, ice or other debris. If you can safely remove light, superficial debris from outside the terminal without putting yourself at risk, do so. Do not insert objects into the flue or attempt internal cleaning.

4) Check that external vents, airbricks and combustion air inlets around the property are not blocked.

5) Check other gas appliances (cookers, gas fires) briefly to confirm there is gas supply; do not attempt any gas appliance repairs yourself.

6) Note any unusual noises from the boiler (fan not running, rattles) or visible signs like soot around the flue terminal which suggest incomplete combustion.

Specific diagnostic steps and likely fixes (what an engineer will do or you can report to the engineer):

1) If simple clearing of the external terminal and a safe reset fixed the fault and it does not return, monitor the boiler closely for the next 24–48 hours. If it reappears, stop using the boiler and call a Gas Safe engineer.

2) If the error persists after safe homeowner checks and reset, contact a Gas Safe engineer. Typical engineer diagnostics include:

a) Visual inspection and cleaning of the flue: remove soot, nests or blockages, check for damage or incorrect flue termination and verify clear air path.

b) Check fan operation and flue airflow: confirm the fan spins correctly and produces correct flow; replace fan if faulty.

c) Test the flue thermostat/thermistor: measure resistance/continuity and compare with manufacturer data; replace the sensor if it is open-circuit, shorted or reading out of range.

d) Inspect wiring and connectors between the flue thermostat and the PCB: check for loose terminals, corrosion, chafed or damaged cables and repair or replace wiring as needed.

e) Check for related combustion or gas supply issues that could cause overheating (engineer-only checks): combustion analysis, gas pressure tests and inspection of burner/flame patterns.

f) Check PCB logs and lockout history and clear the fault after repair; run the boiler through a warm-up and safe operating sequence to confirm the fault does not return.

3) After any repair, the engineer will reset the boiler, run safety/combustion checks and ensure the flue temperature and sensor readings are within normal ranges before returning the boiler to service.

When to call a professional:

1) Call a Gas Safe registered engineer immediately if the E130 error reappears after a single reset, if you find a significant flue blockage you cannot clear safely, if you detect signs of poor combustion (soot, strong fumes) or if you have any CO alarm activation or health symptoms.

2) Any replacement of sensors, fan, PCB or flue components and any electrical or gas-side remedial work must be done by a qualified engineer. Repeated lockouts or intermittent faults always warrant a professional fault-finding visit to ensure safe, permanent repair.

Final note: E130 is a safety-related lockout. Minor, one-off occurrences can sometimes be resolved by clearing a visible external obstruction and performing a controlled reset, but do not ignore recurring or unexplained E130 events — they indicate a fault with the flue path, sensors, fan or combustion system that needs a Gas Safe engineer to diagnose and fix safely.