Ideal boiler calling you a C word? Find out why, and how to apologise.
Ideal boilers come with two boiler statuses, specifically Status 0 and Status C.
These should not be confused with fault codes which appear to signify a particular issue.
However, it is possible for either of these statuses to appear when they shouldn’t, which would mean there is a problem, nonetheless.
So, what is the ideal boiler status C and when should it appear normally?
Let’s take a close look!
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What is an Ideal Boiler Status C?
When you see C (i.e., status C) on your boiler’s display, this simply means that your boiler is currently burning fuel so it can heat up water.
This water can then be used to circulate through the pipework and reach the radiators in your home. Put even more simply, it means the heating is on.
Your Ideal boiler should remain in status C until the thermostats in your home recognize that the temperature you set has been reached.
Once this happens the burner light (which is present as an LED right beside the display screen) will begin to flash with the C still on display.
The boiler will stop heating up water at this stage.
So, as you can see, if your Ideal boiler has a status C, it normally just means it’s working as intended.
In other words, it’s usually not a sign of any particular issue. However, this isn’t always the case.
When Might Boiler Status C Signal an Issue?
It is possible for an Ideal boiler to be in status C when, in fact, it shouldn’t be.
For example, if your boiler is in status C and the burner light is on even when your boiler is turned off or you haven’t turned your heating on (or set it to be on for that given time), it may signal a problem.
Beyond that, if you find the C displaying along with a flashing burner light despite your heating not reaching the temperature you’ve set, this could mean that your boiler isn’t providing hot water as it should be.
Can I Fix a Status C Appearing in Error DIY?
If status C is appearing when it shouldn’t, there are two approaches which are safe for a DIYer to undertake.
Any other efforts to resolve the issue are not suitable for a DIYer and must be dealt with by a qualified professional for practical and safety reasons.
Undertaking any gas-related work on a boiler is also against the law for those who are not qualified.
The first DIY-suitable approach would simply involve resetting your boiler and checking if that makes the C display disappear.
You can do this by holding down the reset button (located at the front of your Ideal boiler) for three seconds or more.
If your heating is not scheduled to be on and you haven’t turned it on, hopefully, your boiler will no longer be in status C after you’ve reset it.
Alternatively, there may be an issue with your thermostat. If it recently showed a low battery warning or if it has a blank display, you might simply need to replace its batteries.
Please do so by following the manufacturer's guide and only proceed if you know what is involved. For instance, specific batteries may be required.
What If These Two Steps Fail?
If resetting your boiler or replacing the batteries for your thermostat (if there’s reason to believe it’s worth trying) do not succeed, you’ll have to hire a Gas Safe Register engineer to fix the problem.
You may now be wondering, how much that would cost. Well, on average, the labour cost of hiring a heating engineer would be around £30 to £60 per hour.
However, this would depend on factors such as where you live, since heating engineers charge different rates from region to region.
Moreover, you need to consider both the labour cost and supply costs (where applicable).
Cost of Having an Ideal Boiler Status C in Error Fixed by a Heating Engineer
Expanding on the previous section, here are the estimated costs of the most likely fixes for a Status C in error:
Job Description | Labour Cost | Supply Costs | Total Cost |
Fixing Stuck or Faulty Port Valves | £30 to £120 | N/A | £30 to £120 |
Replacing Stuck or Faulty Port Valves | £30 to £120 | £40 to £90 | £70 to £210 |
Having Dust or Debris Removed from your Thermostat | £30 to £60 | N/A | £30 to £60 |
Repairing Faulty Connections or Wiring related to the Thermostat * | £30 to £120 | £10 to £30 | £40 to £150 |
Replacing a Thermostat | £30 to £120 | £80 to £240 | £110 to £360 |
Fixing a faulty PCB | £60 to £240 | N/A | £60 to £240 |
Replacing a faulty PCB | £60 to £240 | £430 to £560 | £490 to £800 |
New Boiler Installation ^ | £250 to £1,000 | £550 to £1,800 | £800 to £2,800 |
*The pricing given for fixing the wiring/connections for a thermostat can vary a lot. Therefore, the estimates used here are more approximate than for the other jobs described above.
If there’s an issue with the thermostat that has nothing to do with the batteries or dust/debris, a heating engineer will then likely use a multimeter to test a variety of relevant electrical parts.
Ultimately, the extent of the repair work required could vary quite a bit if this is indeed the source of the problem.
It’s not likely that an Ideal boiler status C appearing in error would lead to a homeowner fitting a new boiler.
However, if, for instance, you needed to have a new PCB installed, you may find it more financially viable to have your boiler replaced instead.
Of course, given the current cost of living, this may not be an option for many households, at least at first glance. But, if you’re interested, it’s possible to purchase a boiler on finance.
In other words, you can buy a boiler now but pay later. In most cases, this would involve paying interest, although interest-free options are available.
Other Ts and Cs will apply, such as a credit check.
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