Ideal Boiler F2 Fault Code: How to Fix Boiler Flame Loss

If you’ve noticed the F2 fault showing up on the display of your Ideal boiler, this guide will help you determine what the problem is, and what you need to do next.

What Does the Ideal Boiler F2 Fault Code Mean?

If your boiler displays the F2 error on the control panel, it means the flame went out while you were calling for hot water or heating. Note that this doesn’t mean your boiler can’t ignite in the first place — that’s a separate issue that’s shown by the L2 fault code on Ideal Logic boilers.

Ideal Logic F2 Fault Code Causes

There are many causes for the Ideal F2 fault code — and most of them require an invasive inspection of your boiler and possibly your central heating system. So, if you’re wondering “What does F2 mean on a boiler?”, the best way to answer your question is to get a Gas Safe engineer to come and check out your appliance. In other words — do not attempt taking your boiler apart yourself.

That being said, below we’ll present the most common underlying causes of the Ideal Logic F2 error.

1. Gas Valve

We’ll start with the gas valve, as it’s the most common reason for the F2 fault code showing up on Ideal Boilers, such as the Logic and Logic Plus.

Your boiler engineer will first want to check that the gas valve isn’t stuck. If it can’t rotate, it won’t supply the pilot jet and the burner with the fuel they need to keep a flame. Once the flame goes out, your boiler will show you the F2 fault code.

Sometimes, the engineer will be able to fix a stuck gas valve. But if they can’t, a replacement is likely to cost around £300.

There are other gas valve faults worth mentioning, such as loose and damaged wiring.

You can get a repair engineer to fix your gas valve here, or read our guide to boiler gas valves to learn more.

2. Fan

The fan in a boiler works by creating a draught. This draught pushes harmful gases out of the flue pipe so they don’t accumulate on your property.

Consequently, a faulty fan means a dangerous boiler that can’t vent its toxic fumes. It’s such a critical fault that the boiler won’t even fire up if the fan isn’t running. And if the fan stops working while the boiler is on, the flame will go out, and you’ll see the F2 fault code on the boiler.

If you suspect that this is the issue, you can get an engineer to check over your fan. And, you can read our full guide to boiler fan faults here.

3. Flue

If there’s no solid airway for flue gases to escape through, your boiler will extinguish the flame and display the F2 fault code.

One of the things that could cause this is the flue. Typically, this is the case if you have a vertical flue (through the roof) and it doesn’t have a flue guard. This omission gives potential for debris (leaves, etc.) to accumulate in the flue, causing a blockage.

You can book a Gas Safe engineer to check if this is the case. They’ll be able to run through the gas valve, fan, and flue to determine what exactly is causing the problem.

4. Gas Pressure

The strength of the flame in your boiler fluctuates depending on the gas pressure. If the gas pressure is too low, the flame will go out and you’ll see “F2” on your Ideal boiler. 

A qualified Gas engineer can test the pressure into the gas meter (from the mains gas), out of the meter, and into the meter, to determine what the problem is.

It could be a mains gas issue (your gas supply), in which case your other gas appliances also may not work, and you’d need to contact your gas company.

However, during winter months for instance, the problem could be that the regulator on the meter has frozen. This is going to restrict the flow of gas, and the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) will send a command to the boiler to enter the safety lock out mode.

Ideal Boiler Still Not Working?

If you’ve hired a Gas Safe engineer to investigate the cause of your boiler’s F2 fault code, and any subsequent repairs have failed to get it working properly, it may be time to consider a replacement boiler.

To get the best possible deal on a new boiler, we recommend you to obtain at least 3 quotes — but the more the better.

First, you can check out Heatable and see what prices the online installation company quotes you (they’re typically very competitive). All you need to do is fill out their anonymous questionnaire — no need to share your phone number, email address, or any other personal information.

Next, you can ring up some local boiler installers and ask them for itemised boiler installation quotes and use Heatable’s prices as a benchmark. If you choose one of the local traders, be sure to verify their reputation by asking former customers before agreeing to the installation.

Ideal Boiler F2 Fault Code FAQs

As we conclude, let’s go over some common questions about the F2 fault on Ideal boilers.

What does F2 on a boiler mean?

The Ideal boiler fault code means that the boiler is unable to operate safely, and can point to a variety of boiler problems. These include:

• Malfunctioning gas valve
• Faulty fan
• Obstructed flue
• Gas mains supply issue

Unfortunately, these problems don’t qualify for a quick, DIY-type fix, so you’ll have to call out a Gas Safe boiler engineer to inspect and repair your appliance if you see the F2 boiler fault code.

How do you fix a flame loss on a boiler?

Boiler flame loss may occur either because there’s an issue with the gas supply, or because there’s another problem that’s not allowing the boiler to operate safely. To fix a flame loss issue on a boiler, you’d have to first establish the root cause, repair it, and then reset the boiler.

Given the nature of boiler issues that result in the loss of flame, you should always consult with a Gas Safe heating engineer or your boiler cover provider instead of trying to fix the issue yourself.

How do you fix an ignition lockout on an Ideal boiler? 

Ignition lockouts can happen because of faulty electrodes, low gas pressure, carbon build-up on the burner, and other underlying causes. The fix will depend on the exact root problem, which should be investigated by a Gas Safe boiler engineer. In most cases, simple repairs or a replacement part are all that’s needed to get the boiler to ignite again.

How do I reset my Ideal boiler? 

Whether you were dealing with low water pressure, frozen condensate pipe, or ignition failure, you’ll have to reset your boiler to clear any fault codes from the boiler display and get it working again.

For most boiler models, the reset procedure is quite simple. All you have to do is hold the reset button (if there is one), or turn the knob to the “reset” position, for roughly 3-5 seconds. The appliance should then restart.

In Summary

There is more than one explanation for why you’re seeing the code F2 on an Ideal boiler. However, in all scenarios, you’re going to need a Gas Safe engineer.

And, if you’re fed up of your boiler, or it’s out of warranty and likely to cost over £400 to repair, we’d consider getting a replacement.

Do you have any questions, or an experience with the F2 fault code you’d like to share? If you do, please leave us a comment below!