Potterton E131 fault codewhat it means and how to fix it
Interruption of power supply while in fault mode — the Potterton Promax Store only. The power went off while another code was showing. Restore power, read the code that follows.
Before you start
What code was showing before the power went off?
The right answer depends on what you can see. Pick the one that matches.
Choose the option on the left that matches what your appliance is doing, and the answer for that case appears here.
I know — one of the E codes
Follow that code's page; E131 was only the interruption.
Reset if it is one of the three the knob acts on; otherwise call.
I do not know
The boiler will show it again when it tries to run.
Let it try, note the next code, then act on that.
What E131 means
This code belongs to one Potterton range. The Promax Store HE and Promax Store — storage combis with a cylinder inside the casing — carry a table row the other rotary-switch boilers do not: "E131 — Interruption Of Power Supply while in fault mode". It means exactly that.
The boiler was displaying a fault, the mains went off (a power cut, a fused spur switched, a plug pulled), and when power came back the board recorded the interruption rather than pretending the original fault had gone. It is a bookkeeping code, not a new problem, and the earlier version of this site had it wrong: E131 was listed as an alias of E130 (flue overheat), which is a different code with a different meaning.
On the Store the knob reset acts on E110, E130 and E133; E131 is not in that list, and the manual's procedure for the Store is the general one — restore power, turn the selector to Reset and hold for five seconds if the underlying code is one of the three, and otherwise investigate the code that appears next. The other rotary-switch Pottertons (Promax Combi, System, Titanium, Gold) do not show E131 and the Assure and Promax Ultra have no equivalent.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| Power cut or the spur switched off while a fault was displayed | The only meaning. Someone turned the boiler off and on to clear a code, and the board logged it. | Common |
| Intermittent supply | A loose fused spur or plug that drops the boiler out momentarily produces E131 repeatedly after other codes. | Occasional |
What to try yourself
Make sure the boiler has a steady supply — spur switched on, fuse sound. Wait for the display to settle.
Watch for the code that was showing before the interruption. If it is E110, E130 or E133, turn the selector fully anticlockwise to Reset and hold for at least five seconds. Any other code, look it up on this site and follow that page.
Get a Gas Safe registered engineer to look at your Potterton E131
We do not pass enquiries to a repair firm, so there is no form here. Find a Gas Safe registered engineer through the Gas Safe Register, and ask to see their registration card when they arrive — it is the register, not the van, that tells you they are qualified.
What it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£0–£90
Time on site
5 minutes
Nothing for the code itself. A call-out to trace an intermittent supply £60–£90.
Typical UK prices including parts and labour, updated September 2026. Your quote may differ.
Own this appliance and had this code? . Nothing is published until a person has read it.
Related Potterton fault codes
- E83Usually simple to fixCommunication error on the Potterton Assure and Promax Ultra: the board has lost contact with a connected control such as an OpenTherm room unit. Check the control and its wiring first.Related: electronics and power
- E103Get it checkedCodes 103, 104, 107 and the word "Bat" on the Potterton Assure: the user guide names them only to say contact your installer or Baxi Customer Support. They concern the safety board's battery.Related: electronics and power
- E55Usually simple to fixCalibration required on the Potterton Promax Ultra — shown after the gas valve or board is replaced until the engineer runs the calibration routine. Not a fault an owner will meet unprompted.Related: electronics and power
- E119Get it checkedThe sealed system on a rotary-switch Potterton — Promax, Titanium, Gold, Heatmax — has dropped below half a bar. The window shows E1 and then 19. Fill to 1–1.5 bar and it clears itself.Related: same brand
- E133Get it checkedGas supply interrupted, ignition failed or no flame detected — every Potterton generation. Confirm the gas supply, one reset (5 s on the knob, 1–3 s on the button), and call if it returns.Related: same brand
- E118Get it checkedThe digital-display Pottertons — Assure Combi, Assure System, Promax Ultra — have dropped below half a bar on the heating circuit. Repressurise to 1–1.5 bar and the boiler restarts on its own.Related: same brand
Own a Potterton boiler? Save it and its codes come first next time.
Related guides
Technical review
Not reviewed by an engineer
No engineer has read this page. Severity follows what the manufacturer publishes, and we would rather tell you that than let a byline imply a sign-off.
Sources and how we verified this
We establish the facts from the sources below and then write the explanation ourselves. We do not copy manufacturer wording and we do not host their manuals.
- Manufacturer technical and service documentation
This page has not been reviewed by an engineer, and we would rather tell you that than imply otherwise. The severity rating follows what the manufacturer publishes: where they say isolate the appliance and call someone, so do we.