Where is the reset button on a Baxi boiler?
The reset control on a Baxi boiler is on the front control panel, and you never need to remove a cover to reach it. What it looks like depends on the range. Baxi's own guide to resetting its boilers describes three types of control: a dedicated reset button, a selector switch with an R (reset) position, and on some older boilers the temperature control knob.
Check the name on the front of the boiler first. Baxi's current 400, 600 and 800 boilers come in two generations: the original Combi and System models, and the newer Combi 2 and System 2 ranges, which have a 2 after the word Combi or System. The Duo-tec, Platinum, Assure and other ranges have their own panels.
Baxi reset controls by range
| Boiler | Reset control | How to use it | How a fault shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original 600 Combi (624 and 630) | Reset button on the control panel, next to the display and temperature knobs | Press for about one second. Holding it for more than two seconds means the boiler will not reset | An error number with an R symbol (resettable) or a spanner symbol (not resettable) |
| 200, 400, 600 and 800 Combi 2, 600 and 800 System 2 | Reset key on the control panel | Press once after dealing with the cause; see your user guide for the key symbol | A letter and number code, such as E.04.10 or H.02.07 |
| Duo-tec Combi | Selector knob with an R position | Turn to R, hold for at least 5 seconds, then release | Code on the display |
| Some older Baxi boilers | Temperature control knob | Turn fully anticlockwise and hold until the red lockout light goes out, then turn it back | Red lockout light |
The hold times come from the Baxi 600 Combi user guide and from Baxi's guide to resetting a boiler. The other original generation models, such as the 400 and 800 Combi, also have a reset button on the panel, but check the user guide for your model, which Baxi publishes in the literature library on its website.
On the original 600 Combi, a short press is the whole job. If you hold the button down for more than two seconds the reset does not happen, which is why some people think their reset button has stopped working.
How to reset a Baxi boiler step by step
Reset a Baxi boiler by reading the code, checking the likely cause, then using the reset control once and giving the boiler a few minutes to restart.
- Read the code. Write down the number and any symbol next to it. Our list of Baxi boiler error codes explains each one.
- Check for the spanner symbol. On models that show it, a spanner means you cannot reset the fault yourself. The 600 Combi user guide tells you to contact your installer, your annual service provider or Baxi Customer Support.
- Check the pressure. If the gauge or display is below 1 bar, top up first. A low pressure code will return after a reset until you do. Our guide to Baxi boiler pressure shows how.
- Check the gas. Make sure the hob or other gas appliances work and any prepayment meter has credit.
- Check the condensate pipe in freezing weather. See the section below.
- Reset once. Use the control for your model from the table above.
- Wait and test. Give the boiler a few minutes, then run a hot tap or turn up the thermostat and listen for the burner.
Baxi codes that commonly need a reset
A reset clears a lockout, which is the boiler switching itself off and waiting for someone to acknowledge a fault. The codes below are the ones Baxi owners most often reset. On the Combi 2 and System 2 ranges, the installation manual explains that codes starting with E are permanent faults that need a reset, while codes starting with H are temporary blocks that clear once the cause has gone.
| Code | What it means | Check before resetting |
|---|---|---|
| E133 | Gas supply or ignition fault | Gas supply, meter credit, frozen condensate pipe |
| E119 | Water pressure switch not made, pressure too low | Top up the pressure |
| E118 | Water pressure low, below 0.5 bar | Top up the pressure |
| E110 | Overheat or safety thermostat operated | Pressure and radiator valves; call an engineer if it repeats |
| E.04.10 (Combi 2) | Burner failed to light after repeated attempts | Gas supply and meter credit |
| H.02.07 (Combi 2) | Heating pressure permanently low | Top up the pressure; an H code clears without a reset |
Code meanings are from Baxi's published error code list. Some faults, such as a fan fault like E160 or a control board fault like E168, point to a failed part and are unlikely to stay cleared after a reset.
What happens after you press reset
After a reset, a Baxi boiler clears the code and goes back to waiting for a demand for heat or hot water. When you run a hot tap or turn up the thermostat, it starts its normal sequence: the fan runs first to clear the combustion chamber, then the spark electrode tries to light the burner and a sensing electrode checks that a flame is present. That takes a little time, so give it a minute or two before deciding whether the reset has worked.
If the burner lights and the boiler keeps running, the lockout was probably caused by something temporary, such as a brief loss of gas or a pipe that has now thawed. If the same code appears again during that sequence, the boiler has found the same problem, and pressing reset again straight away will not change the result. Go back to the checks above, and if everything looks normal, it is time to book an engineer.
Keep a note of the date and code each time it happens. A pattern, such as lockouts only on frosty mornings, helps an engineer find the cause quickly.
Can a frozen condensate pipe make a Baxi lock out?
Yes. Baxi's own advice lists E133, E119, E128, E28 and E53 as codes that can appear when the condensate pipe has frozen. The pipe carries water from the boiler to a drain, and if it freezes outside, the water backs up and the boiler shuts down. Baxi's steps are to switch the boiler off at the control panel and at the wall, warm the frozen section with a hot water bottle, a heat pack or warm water from a watering can, never boiling water, then switch the power back on and restart the boiler. Our guide to a frozen condensate pipe covers where to look and how to prevent it.
How many times should you reset a Baxi?
Baxi's guidance is that if lockout occurs frequently, a fault is indicated and you should contact your installer or service engineer. In practice, reset once, and if the same code returns, check the cause again and try once more at most. If it locks out a third time, stop. For advice that applies to any make of boiler, see our guide on how to reset a boiler.
Do not remove the boiler casing to look for the cause of a lockout. The gas valve, burner, fan and control board are inside, and only a Gas Safe registered engineer should work on them. If you smell gas, do not operate switches or press reset: turn off the gas at the meter if you can, open windows and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
When to call a Gas Safe registered engineer
Call your installer, Baxi Customer Support or a Gas Safe registered engineer if the display shows a spanner symbol, if the same code comes back after two or three resets, or if the boiler runs for a while after each reset but keeps locking out. Repeated ignition lockouts usually mean a problem with the gas supply, the ignition or flame sensing electrodes, or the condensate drain, and our guide to a boiler not firing up explains what an engineer will test.
Before you call, note the model name from the front of the boiler, the full code including any symbol, how often it happens and what you have already checked. If the boiler is still under its Baxi guarantee, contact Baxi first, because repairs arranged elsewhere may affect the cover.