Has your Ideal boiler locked out and presented you with the F3 error code? Find out what it means with costs to fix in this handy guide.
As is the case with the majority of boiler brands, Ideal has programmed a wide range of fault coders into their boilers.
These are also known as error codes. They are used to let homeowners know when there’s an issue, whether it be low mains voltage, a flame loss, or an ignition lockout.
By using the Ideal boiler manual, you can find out what each fault code means and the potential solutions.
But what about the Ideal F3 code in particular? What is its meaning and how can it be fixed?
Let’s dive in!
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What Does Ideal’s F3 Code Mean?
The F3 code that can appear on Ideal boilers means that there’s a fault with the boiler fan.
If your boiler fan experiences a fault, the PCB will pick this up and cause a boiler lockout before triggering the F3 fault code.
This would occur both for practical and safety reasons.
The purpose of a boiler fan is to expel waste gases via the flue.
This is important as otherwise, a build-up of harmful gases can occur which could either damage the boiler’s parts or result in a potentially lethal gas leak.
So, you can see why a boiler would be designed to shut itself off and trigger a fault code if the fan fails.
Causes of an F3 Fault
Here are the five key scenarios that would explain an F3 error code:
Totally malfunctioning fan
While not the most likely explanation, a boiler fan that’s no longer working, it’s possible that your boiler fan simply stopped working.
This would be more likely to occur if your boiler is at least a few years old, meaning sufficient time has passed for significant degradation to occur.
Slow fan speed
As mentioned, the fan is needed to effectively expel harmful gases out through the flue. If the fan isn’t working at ample speed, it may not be able to do its job properly.
There are a few reasons why this might occur. For an older boiler, it’s probably the result of malfunctioning components.
However, if your boiler is either new or has been moved to a fresh location in the recent past, it may simply be that your boiler fan wasn’t set to the right speed when installed.
Jammed or burnt-out fan bearings
Bearings are a component of a boiler fan. They are employed to ensure the fan can spin around the shaft. However, if even just one ends up stuck, the fan will likely fail.
Alternatively, one or more of the bearings wearing down over time may be enough to lead to an F3 error. Moreover, if your boiler was noisy prior to the F3 fault, this explanation is probably the reason for your F3 fault.
Wet boiler wiring
Aside from the above issues, it’s also possible that your Ideal boiler is ultimately experiencing an F3 fault because of problems with the wiring.
Obviously, water on any component of a boiler is a serious problem. If your PCB detects internal water damage it will shut off your boiler and display a fault code.
On the one hand, this fault code may result from damage to the wiring connecting your boiler fan to the PCB. However, it’s also possible that water damage has occurred to the PCB itself, resulting in the incorrect fault code being displayed.
Moreover, if there is water damage to any one part of your boiler, it’s very possible that other parts have experienced water damage.
Therefore, a heating engineer should not only replace the wiring/components that have been damaged and solve the source of the leak, but other components may also need to be repaired or replaced.
If there is a water leak inside your boiler, it’s most likely the result of the pump or your heat exchanger.
Loose/damaged boiler wiring
Lastly, the wiring connecting your boiler fan and the PCB may also be loose or otherwise damaged. Again, these issues can also result in an F3 fault code.
Aside from being loose or damaged, if your boiler is fairly new, it may be that the wiring wasn’t done correctly upon installation.
PS You may be interested in Gas Engineer Allen Hart explaining the most common boiler problems and how you can resolve them in the video below:
Can I Fix an F3 Fault DIY?
Unfortunately, you cannot fix an F3 fault DIY, regardless of the problem.
Many people are falsely under the impression that they can change a boiler fan by themselves, but this is not the case.
For any potential F3 error repair/replacement job, it must be undertaken by a Gas Safe Register engineer.
This is for practical and safety reasons alike. Moreover, undertaking these fixes by yourself would also be against the law.
Cost of Hiring a Heating Engineer to Fix an F3 Fault
On average, it costs around £30 to £60 an hour to hire a heating engineer.
That said, the exact labour price would depend on where you are based in the UK among other cost-affecting factors.
Location is relevant since heating engineers charge different prices depending on where you live.
For instance, labour prices are generally highest in the southeast of England, while they are usually below average in northern England and Scotland.
Here are the estimated costs of the specific fixes needed to resolve an F2 error:
Fixing a boiler fan
£30 to £120Replacing a boiler fan
£230 to £420Fixing or replacing fan bearings
£30 to £125 *Fixing a faulty PCB
£60 to £240Replacing a faulty PCB
£490 to £800Replacing an entire boiler
£800 to £2,800 ^
*Please be aware that if there is damage to other parts of your fan, the entire fan will need to be replaced rather than just the bearings.
^The reason we’ve mentioned ‘replacing an entire boiler’ is that in plenty of cases, it will make more sense financially to have your boiler replaced.
For instance, if your PCB or gas valve is in need of replacing, you’d have to spend 100s of pounds on either replacement job.
Therefore, it would make more sense to have a new boiler installed. This is particularly so if your boiler is worn down or especially old.
Obviously, many households would not consider having a boiler replaced currently due to the cost.
However, you’ll be glad to know that it’s possible to purchase a boiler on finance. In other words, you can buy now and pay later.
In most cases, this would mean you’d need to pay interest, however, you’d be able to repay the cost over many months or years. Moreover, some zero-interest options do exist.
Ideal boiler displaying the FD fault code? Find out how to fix it here.
Will my Warranty Cover Repairs or Replacement Work for an F3 Fault?
Ideal’s warranties will only apply if the repair/replacement work has been necessitated due to manufacturing defects. Beyond that, your boiler warranty must also be active.
Ideal’s boiler warranties differ from boiler to boiler, so make sure yours is still ongoing.
For instance, your Ideal boiler must be serviced by a Gas Safe Register engineer annually in order for your warranty to remain valid.
So, all in all, it’s unlikely that your Ideal warranty will apply, but if you’ve any doubts, you can always consult a professional.
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