E1 on a Baxi boiler isn’t a fault code on its own. It’s the first part of a three-digit code from Baxi’s E1xx group, so the two digits after it tell you what’s actually wrong: E1 33 is a gas or flame failure, E1 19 is low pressure and E1 60 is the fan. Only Baxi’s previous generation of boilers shows E1 codes, so if yours is an older one that keeps locking out, a new Baxi boiler is usually the better option for efficiency and lower repair bills.
We’re Clever Energy Boilers, a Gas Safe registered (no. 554138) installer based in Bingley and accredited by Worcester Bosch. Over the last 15 years we’ve completed more than 25,000 installations across Yorkshire, the North West and the Midlands. This page decodes the full code, clears up the low-pressure myth and sends you to the right guide for your fault.
What does the Baxi E1 error code mean?
It means you’re reading the start of a longer code. None of the Baxi code tables we checked lists a standalone E1. What people search for gives it away: “E1 33”, “E1 19”, “E1 31”, “E1 68” and “E1 60”, mostly on Duo-tec and Platinum boilers. Those are E133, E119, E131, E168 and E160, read in two parts.
Find the two digits after E1 in the first column, then follow the link:
| Digits after E1 | Full code | What it means | Read next |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | E110 | Overheat, safety thermostat operated | Baxi E110 fault code |
| 11 | E111 | Over-temperature (EcoBlue) | Baxi E110 fault code |
| 17, 18, 19 | E117, E118, E119 | Water pressure | Baxi E119 fault code |
| 25 | E125 | Circulation fault | Baxi E125 fault code |
| 28 | E128 | Flame failure | Full Baxi code list |
| 30 | E130 | Flue overheat | Full Baxi code list |
| 31 | E131 | Power cut while the boiler was already in fault mode | Full Baxi code list |
| 33, 34, 35 | E133, E134, E135 | Gas supply or ignition fault | Baxi E133 fault code |
| 51 | E151 | Flame failure | Full Baxi code list |
| 54 | E154 | Sensor test | Full Baxi code list |
| 60 | E160 | Fan or fan wiring fault | Baxi E160 fault code |
| 68 | E168 | Not listed in Baxi’s tables | Baxi E168 fault code |
On newer Baxi boilers with dotted codes, an E1 can instead be the start of the E.01 group. That covers E.01.04 (flame lost 5 times in 24 hours), E.01.12 (return hotter than flow), E.01.17 (no circulation) and E.01.20 (maximum flue temperature). Every code across every model, number and dotted codes included, sits on our full list of Baxi error codes, which starts with a quick check of which code family your boiler uses.
Is the Baxi E1 error code low pressure?
No, not by itself. Plenty of websites say E1 means low pressure on a Baxi, but it doesn’t. Low pressure shows up as:
- E119 on classic models like the Duo-tec, Platinum, Main Eco and Potterton Promax
- 118 on the EcoBlue, Assure and the 600 and 800 Combi
- H.02.07, A.02.06 or E.02.07 on the newer dotted-code range
So only E1 18 and E1 19 are pressure faults. Our Baxi E119 guide and Baxi H0207 guide cover the fix, and any other E1 code points somewhere else entirely.
Why is my Baxi boiler showing an E1 fault?
One of the faults in the decoder has tripped. The E1 codes people look up most often point to these causes:
- Gas or ignition (E1 33). The gas is off, prepay credit has run out, the condensate pipe has frozen or the electrode is worn. See our Baxi E133 guide.
- Low pressure, E1 19. Often a leak, radiators that were just bled or a failed expansion vessel. Our guide to a boiler losing pressure helps you track it down.
- A power cut during a fault (E1 31). The power went off while the boiler was already locked out, so there’s an earlier fault behind it.
- The unlisted E1 68. Baxi doesn’t document it and it’s most likely the PCB, as our Baxi E168 guide explains.
- Fan trouble, E1 60. A worn fan or damaged fan wiring. See our Baxi E160 guide.
- Overheating or poor circulation (E1 10, E1 25) from a failing pump, sludge, air in the system or closed valves. Our E110 and E125 guides go into each.
In a hard frost, the kind that settles on the tops above Keighley and Haworth, E1 33 and E1 19 are the two to expect. Baxi lists both E133 and E119 as codes a frozen condensate pipe can cause.
Is the Baxi E1 fault dangerous?
The code itself isn’t. Every E1xx code means the boiler has spotted a problem and stopped to protect itself, and how serious that is depends on the last two digits.
If you smell gas at any point, open the windows, don’t use any switches, turn the gas off at the meter and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
What can I safely check at home when my Baxi shows an E1 error?
Start by writing down every digit and any symbol on the screen, then use the decoder above. A few checks are safe whatever the code:
- Look at the pressure gauge. With the boiler cold it should read about 1 to 1.5 bar. If it’s low, top it up using our guide on how to repressurise a boiler.
- Check the condensate pipe. In frosty weather, pour warm water, never boiling, over the plastic pipe outside. Here’s how to defrost your condensate pipe.
- Is the gas on? Make sure the gas valve is open and you have credit if you’re on a prepay meter. If the hob lights, the supply is fine.
- Reset once. Hold the R button for 5 seconds and see whether the boiler fires.
Leave everything else alone, and never take the casing off.
When should I stop resetting the Baxi E1 error and get a Gas Safe engineer?
After one reset. If the same E1 code comes back, or the display shows a spanner symbol, a Gas Safe registered engineer needs to take over. Sensors, fans, gas valves and PCBs are all engineer jobs. Give them the full code rather than just “E1” so they arrive with a good idea of what’s wrong.
Why does the Baxi E1 fault code keep coming back?
A reset clears the lockout, not the cause. Pressure codes return because water is still leaking from the system somewhere. Gas and flame codes come back when an electrode is wearing out or the condensate keeps freezing, and fan and PCB faults are often intermittent, so the boiler runs for a while and then locks out again.
Each of our Baxi code guides covers the repeat pattern for its own code.
Is an E1 error a sign you need a new Baxi boiler?
Often, yes, because of the boiler’s age rather than the code. E1xx codes only appear on Baxi’s previous generation, and the current range uses dotted codes. Any boiler showing an E1 code is built on Baxi’s pre-2016/17 platform, and Duo-tec, Platinum and EcoBlue boilers are now roughly 10 to 18 years old.
That doesn’t make every E1 fault a write-off, since a sensor is a modest repair. Look at a replacement if:
- Your Baxi is over 8 years old and running less efficiently than it used to
- More than one E1 code has appeared in the past year
- An engineer has been out twice for the same code
- You’re resetting it regularly just to keep the heating on
Repair prices depend on the code, so we keep them in one place: the cost table in our Baxi boiler error codes guide. Set that against our guide to how much a new boiler costs.
Get a new Baxi boiler with Clever Energy
We install new Baxi boilers across Yorkshire, the North West and the Midlands, from Bingley and Keighley to Bradford, Halifax and Leeds. Your new boiler can come with a long, market-leading warranty through Clever Energy, and our boiler finance options let you spread the cost. Find out more on our Baxi boiler installation page, get your fixed online boiler quote or request a callback. If you’d rather talk it through, call 0330 055 2210 between 8am and 8pm on weekdays or 10am to 4pm at weekends.
Baxi E1 fault code FAQs
What does E1 mean on a Baxi boiler?
It’s the start of a three-digit code, not a code by itself. The next two digits tell you the fault, so E1 33 is E133 and E1 19 is E119.
What does E1 33 mean on a Baxi?
It’s E133: the gas supply was interrupted or the flame failed. Check the gas valve, your prepay credit and the condensate pipe, reset once, and see our Baxi E133 guide for the rest.
How do I fix an E1 error on a Baxi boiler?
Read the full code first, then follow the guide for that code. Pressure, the condensate pipe, the gas supply and one reset are the only safe checks, and anything beyond them is for a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Is the Baxi E1 code low pressure?
No. Low pressure on a Baxi is E119, 118 or H.02.07 depending on the model, and only E1 18 or E1 19 point to it.
How do I reset a Baxi showing an E1 fault?
Hold the R button for 5 seconds, once. If the code returns or a spanner symbol appears, a reset won’t fix it.
More Baxi error codes
Before this one, our Baxi H0207 error code guide covers low pressure on the newer dotted-code boilers. Next up is the Baxi E20 fault code, the central heating sensor. The full set, sorted by model, is on our Baxi boiler error codes page.