Error EA 227

Safety precautions:

- If you smell gas, leave the property immediately, do not operate electrical switches or the boiler, and call the gas emergency number (or emergency services) from a safe location. Do not attempt repairs.

- If you see a water leak or suspect internal leakage, switch the boiler off at the isolator, turn off the mains water supply if safe to do so, and call a Gas Safe engineer.

- Never attempt to work on the gas valve, burner, ignition lead, flame electrode, or PCB unless you are a qualified Gas Safe engineer.

Initial homeowner checks (safe to do yourself):

1. Note the exact fault code and any LED/flashing patterns, then check the boiler manual for the reset procedure for your model. A reset will clear the lockout temporarily but will not fix the underlying fault.

2. Check other gas appliances (hob, gas fire) to see if they are working. If no gas appliances are working you may have a gas supply issue or frozen gas meter; contact your gas supplier.

3. Check the condensate pipe (usually white plastic) running from the boiler to outside. In cold weather the condensate pipe can freeze and block drainage, causing faults. If frozen, thaw using warm (not boiling) water and insulation; once thawed reset the boiler.

4. Check boiler pressure on the gauge. Low pressure (below about 1.0 bar) can prevent normal operation. If comfortable and following the manual, you can re-pressurise the system using the filling loop; otherwise call an engineer.

5. Look for visible signs of leaks or moisture around the boiler and on wiring/PCB area. If present, isolate boiler and call an engineer.

6. Ensure the room thermostat and programmer are calling for heat so the boiler is actually being asked to fire.

Specific diagnostic and practical steps (what an engineer will check and what you can report):

1. Reset the boiler following the user manual. If the boiler fires and stays on, monitor for recurrence. If EA 227 returns, further diagnosis is needed.

2. If reset fails, tell the engineer whether other gas appliances work and whether the fault occurred during very cold weather (suggesting frozen condensate pipe or frozen meter).

3. Thaw external condensate pipe if frozen: run warm water over the outside length and re-insulate. After thawing, reset the boiler. Do not force or use open flames or boiling water.

4. Check for a frozen gas meter or gas supply interruption (especially in cold weather). If the meter is frozen or sounds abnormal, contact your gas supplier.

5. If no gas supply issues, the likely next causes are ignition/flame sensing items. The flame sensing electrode or ignition lead can be dirty, misaligned, corroded or failed. These are normally cleaned, tested and replaced by a Gas Safe engineer.

6. The engineer will also check the burner jet/pilot for blockages (carbon/dirt), the gas valve operation and modulation, and the PCB for moisture damage or faulty signals. Moisture from a leaking heat exchanger or pump seals can cause intermittent or permanent flame detection faults and may require component replacement.

7. If internal moisture is suspected, the engineer will isolate the water and assess the heat exchanger, pump seals and PCB. If the PCB is wet/damaged it often needs replacement.

8. Keep a record of when the fault happens, weather conditions, and any preceding events (power cut, lack of gas credit, recent service work). This information helps the engineer diagnose faster.

When to call a professional:

- After you have done the safe initial checks, or immediately if you smell gas, find a leak, or cannot safely reset the boiler. EA 227 involves ignition and gas control components so any internal cleaning, electrode adjustment, gas valve or PCB work must be performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer. If the fault recurs after a reset call a qualified engineer who can test gas pressures, inspect/clean/replace electrodes and jets, check the gas valve and replace damaged electrical components.

What to tell the engineer when they arrive:

- Boiler model and serial if available, exact fault code EA 227, how many times you tried resetting, whether other gas appliances work, whether you found frozen condensate or visible leaks, and any recent maintenance or service history. This speeds up diagnosis and repair. Remember: resetting may clear the code temporarily but does not replace a proper repair when the underlying cause is a failed component or a gas supply issue.