Error 283

Safety precautions:

1) If you smell gas, or a carbon monoxide alarm is sounding, evacuate everyone from the property immediately and call the emergency gas number and/or your gas supplier—do not stay to investigate. 2) Isolate mains power to the boiler and the gas supply only if you are instructed to do so by a professional; do not open the boiler casing or attempt internal repairs yourself. 3) Ensure you have a working carbon monoxide alarm installed where the boiler is located.

Initial homeowner checks (safe, basic checks you can do):

1) Note what the display shows and whether the boiler is stuck at 283 or if other codes appear after it (press the spanner/return button to view the information menu and any cause codes if shown). 2) Listen: you should hear the fan and pump run briefly during the preparation phase — if nothing runs at all there may be an electrical, pump or fan fault. 3) Check system pressure on the boiler gauge: it should normally be around 1–1.5 bar when cold. If pressure is low (<1.0 bar) repressurise the system following the boiler manual instructions. 4) Check that central heating controls/thermostat are calling for heat and any room or cylinder thermostats or programmers are set correctly. 5) Check the condensate pipe (if fitted) for freezing or blockages in cold weather and check the external flue outlet for obvious blockages (birds’ nests, debris). 6) Ensure the gas supply to the house is on (check the meter and other gas appliances).

Reset and observe (do this once):

1) Try a single reset as per your GB162 manual (press the reset button for about 3 seconds or follow the model-specific reset dial procedure). 2) After reset, observe the boiler through a full start attempt: listen for the fan, then the burner ignition attempt, and watch for any new fault or cause codes. 3) Do not repeatedly reset the boiler more than once or twice; repeated resets can cause lockouts and will not fix underlying faults.

Specific diagnostic checks you can report to an engineer:

1) If the boiler remains stuck at the fan/pump stage and the fan runs but there is no ignition, note whether an EA or other ignition/flame fault appears afterward (EA usually means no flame detected). 2) If the fan does not run or runs unusually loudly or slowly, the fan motor or control may be faulty or the airflow is blocked — report this. 3) If the pump does not run or you hear cavitation, there may be a pump fault, airlock or very low system pressure — report your pressure reading and any odd noises. 4) If there is evidence of water leaks, low pressure that you cannot keep up, or the pressure sensor shows faults, do not run the boiler and call an engineer.

When to call a Gas Safe registered engineer (and what they will typically check):

1) Call an engineer if the boiler will not progress past the 283 stage, if it repeatedly locks out, if other fault codes appear, if you can smell gas, or if you are uncomfortable performing the checks above. 2) The engineer will safely open the boiler, check electrical connections, test the fan and pump operation, verify flame sensing and ignition components, inspect the gas valve and modulating control, check flow/return sensors and pressure sensor, and probe for flue or condensate blockages. 3) They will clear any locking faults correctly, replace defective components if required, and test combustion and safety devices.

Important reminders:

1) Do not attempt internal repairs, dismantle gas or combustion parts, or replace ignition or gas valve components yourself. 2) If a carbon monoxide alarm activates or you detect the smell of gas, evacuate immediately and call emergency services/gas emergency. 3) If a simple reset and the basic checks above do not return the boiler to normal operation, arrange a Gas Safe engineer visit — persistent or recurring faults need professional diagnosis and repair.