How to reset your boiler

Has your heating suddenly stopped working? No hot water coming out of the taps, and you’re not sure why? On average, almost half of all gas boilers break down within the first 6 years of installation¹ – but don’t panic  – yours might just need a quick fix and a reset.

Your boiler could have gone into ‘lockout’, which is when it shuts down because it’s detected a problem. The good news is that if it’s a common fault, you may not have to call in a boiler engineer. 

But first, if you're feeling unsure, watch OVO Senior Engineer Rich Laniyan demonstrate exactly how to reset your boiler:

And here’s our simple step-by-step guide on how to reset different types of boiler. Remember to keep reading for more on what to do if you keep having problems after resetting.

When to reset your boiler

Broadly, there are 2 reasons why your boiler might have gone into lockout. 

• There’s a fault that won’t let the boiler work correctly (in this case, it should usually display an error code)
• There’s a fault that makes it unsafe for the boiler to keep operating, e.g. high pressure or a problem with your gas supply

Resetting your boiler without fixing the underlying problem won’t do anything. So first, you need to identify what’s gone wrong.

Why has my boiler gone into lockout?

Boiler lockout can happen for a number of reasons. It’s a safety feature, designed to kick in when something goes wrong.

The good news is that if you’ve got a minor fault, you don’t need to call a qualified engineer to fix the problem.

Your boiler should display an error or fault code. This usually appears on the display, starting with an ‘E’ or ‘F’. Take a look at your boiler’s manual to find out what the code is telling you.

Here are three common issues that might have caused your boiler lockout, along with how to spot them, and how to fix them. 

1. Low or high pressure

Your boiler might lock out if the water pressure is either too high or too low. The pressure gauge on the front of your boiler should usually be at around 1.5 bar. Anything below 1 bar is considered low pressure. And anything over 1.5 bar means the pressure is too high. 

To find out more about how to save yourself the hassle and cost of calling out a professional, read our guides to what to do if you have low boiler pressure, and how to deal with high boiler pressure. 

2. Sludge or debris

One reason your boiler could be locking down is due to a build-up of gunk in the system. Limescale can interfere with your heat exchanger, or other key parts of the boiler, and stop it from working properly.

You’ll probably notice that it’s causing a problem when your boiler starts sounding noisier than usual. Consider clearing out the pipes with a power flush.

3. Ignition problems

Most boilers will lock out if they’ve failed to ignite three times in a row.

Reasons this could happen include: 

• a fault with your gas valve
• a lack of gas pressure
• trouble with your ignition lead 

If your boiler is failing to fire up, you should call a gas-safe-registered engineer to find and fix the problem.

OVO Energy has got you covered

Our boiler emergency cover starts from £15/month². We’ll help keep your boiler and central heating system working efficiently, so you can relax. Find out more information on our boiler cover page. 

How to reset your boiler

Once you’ve fixed the problem with your boiler, it’s time to reset it to get the heating and hot water flowing again. 

For most models of boiler, all you need to do is press and hold the reset button for up to 10 seconds. 

You’ll know that the reset has worked if you see one of the following:

• The flame ignite
• The error code disappear
• A red/orange light turn green
• A ‘burner’ light turn on

You should also hear your boiler firing up again. To test whether your boiler is now working, just turn on the hot water tap, or dial up the thermostat. 

Where exactly your boiler’s reset button is will depend on the model. Below, read a breakdown of how to reset gas boilers from different makers.

How to reset a Worcester boiler

If your Worcester Greenstar boiler has a flashing red light, you may want to try resetting it. Don’t worry – it’s easy to do.

If your Worcester boiler has a reset button:

1. Press and hold the reset button
2. Release it after three seconds

If yours has a reset light:

1. Turn the temperature dial towards the reset light
2. Leave it there for three seconds
3. Turn it back to its starting position

If this doesn’t fix the problem, or if you find yourself having to regularly reset your boiler, then you may have to call out a heating engineer.

How to reset a Vaillant boiler

If you have a Vaillant ecoTEC boiler, you should find your reset button just underneath the display.

To reset, simply press down and hold for one second.

If this hasn’t worked after three attempts, you should call an engineer. 

How to reset a Baxi boiler

Baxi boilers can be reset in three different ways, depending on the model you have. 

If your Baxi boiler has a reset button:

1. You’ll know your boiler is in lockout when you see a red light either flashing or constantly lit
2. Press and hold the reset button until the red light turns off
3. You may then see a burner light switch on, to show your boiler has fired up again

If your boiler has an ON/OFF/SELECTOR switch:

1. Open the fascia display
2. You may see an error code, or (if you have a boiler without a display screen) a flame failure light
3. Turn the selector switch to the R (‘reset’) position
4. Hold for five seconds before releasing
5. The error code should change, or the flame failure light should stop flashing
6. The burner light will turn orange to show that your boiler is working again

If your boiler uses a thermostat control knob to reset:

1. You’ll know your boiler is in lockout when you see a red light either flashing or constantly lit
2. To reset, turn the temperature control knob completely anti-clockwise
3. Hold until the red light goes out
4. Turn back to your normal setting
5. Again, a burner light should come on to show that your boiler has fired up again

If your Baxi boiler keeps locking out repeatedly, give an engineer a call.

How to reset a Vokera boiler

If your Vokera boiler needs resetting, you may see a flashing red light.

Simply move the mode selector switch to the ‘OFF/RESET’ position, then move it back to where you would normally have it (either ‘hot water only’ or ‘heating and hot water’). 

If it works, you should see a green light. If not, time to get an engineer on the phone. 

How to reset a Glow-worm boiler

Glow-worm boilers indicate faults by displaying fault codes, which begin with the letter F.

To reboot a Glow-worm boiler, simply press the reset button, then wait 5 seconds. You should see your boiler spring back to life. If not, you may need to call an engineer.

Why won’t my boiler turn on after resetting?

Remember, resetting isn’t a solution to boiler problems. It’s just a way to reboot your boiler once the problem is fixed. 

If your boiler reset button isn’t working, check the power and pressure gauge again. Once you’ve tried fixing the problem and resetting a couple of times, if the boiler still isn’t playing ball, it’s time to call a professional.

If your boiler keeps going into lockout

If you’re asking, ‘why do I have to keep resetting my boiler?’, there might be something more seriously wrong with your heating system. 

If you’re repeatedly getting error codes and your boiler keeps locking out again after you reset it, then consider calling an engineer. It might even be time to start thinking about a replacement. 

Is it time for a new boiler?

Over time, a new, more energy-efficient boiler could save you money. Check out some of our energy guides to help you through the process:

• Why boiler replacement could be a good idea
• Types of boiler explained

How to reset your boiler when the gas runs out

If you're a pay-as-you-go customer and your boiler has a digital display, it will show an error message to indicate you're out of gas. Once you’ve topped up, reset your boiler as described above. The error message should disappear, and your boiler will work as normal.

If you have a mechanical boiler, we suggest contacting one of our boiler engineers.

And if you’re interested in advice on saving money and cutting your carbon footprint, read up on our energy-saving tips.

Our website offers information about energy-efficiency solutions, but not personal advice. It is intended to provide information and guidance only. You assume responsibility for any decisions made or actions taken based on the information provided.

Find out more about common boiler problems and what to do about them, and how to use your boiler timer.

Sources and references

¹ https://247homerescue.co.uk/blog/almost-half-of-all-gas-boilers-break-down-within-six-years/

² Please be aware that there is a 30 day no claim period from the day you sign up.