Error EA 229

Safety precautions:

1) If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak: do not touch the boiler, open windows, evacuate the building, and call the national gas emergency number immediately. Do not operate electrical switches or open flames.

2) Always isolate power to the boiler before removing covers. Do not attempt internal gas/electrical repairs unless you are a qualified Gas Safe engineer.

3) Do not repeatedly reset the boiler. Limit resets to one or two after a safe DIY check; repeated lockouts indicate a fault requiring a professional.

Initial homeowner checks you can safely do:

1) Note the exact error display (EA 229) and any other indicators (flashing lights, secondary cause codes). Take a photo if needed for the engineer.

2) Check other gas appliances in the property to see if gas supply seems normal. If none of your gas appliances work, contact your gas supplier.

3) Check the condensate pipe (most common cause in winter): locate the small 21mm-ish plastic pipe that exits outside near the boiler drain. If it is frozen, you may see ice or condensation and the pipe can be cold to touch.

4) Check visually for obvious external obstructions at the flue terminal (birds’ nests, leaves, debris) but do not insert objects into the flue.

5) Check boiler pressure on the gauge. If pressure is very low (e.g. below ~0.7 bar on many models) this can cause other faults—consult the manual for correct pressure range and how to repressurise via the filling loop.

Condensate pipe thawing (safe DIY fix often successful in winter):

1) Turn the boiler off following the manual, or set to OFF at the programmer or switch.

2) Pour warm (not boiling) water slowly along the outside of the condensate pipe where it is exposed, working from the boiler end outwards if possible, until any ice melts. Use a towel to protect surfaces. Alternatively use warm water in a container and pour; do not use naked flames or heat guns.

3) Once thawed, insulate the exposed condensate pipe with foam or lagging to reduce re-freezing risk.

4) Restore power and reset the boiler once (press and hold the reset button for the period described in your manual, typically 3–5 seconds) and observe whether the boiler relights and runs normally.

5) If EA 229 returns immediately or within a short time, do not repeatedly reset—proceed to call an engineer.

Other safe diagnostic steps and checks:

1) External flue: make a visual check from ground level for obvious blockage; do not attempt to clear internal flue obstructions yourself. If you see a blockage, call an engineer.

2) Gas supply: if only the boiler is affected and other gas appliances work, do not attempt to adjust the gas meter or regulator. If multiple appliances are affected, contact your gas supplier.

3) Reset procedure: follow the boiler manual for the correct reset method for GB162 (typically press the reset button for several seconds or use the mode selector as described). Perform a single reset after you have completed safe checks.

4) Note intermittent faults: if the fault appears only under certain conditions (windy, very cold, when hot water is demanded) record the circumstances to help the engineer diagnose.

When to call a professional and what to tell them:

1) Call a Gas Safe registered engineer if EA 229 persists after thawing, if you cannot identify a safe DIY cause, if you detect flue or burner problems, or if you suspect electrode, gas valve, PCB or burner jet faults. These tasks require specialist tools and certification.

2) Provide the engineer with the fault code (EA 229), any cause code displayed, what you have already checked (condensate thawed, pressure checked, visual flue check), and whether other gas appliances are affected.

3) If the engineer finds the fault is a frozen condensate pipe, ask them to inspect trap/sump condition and advise on insulating or rerouting to prevent recurrence. If the fault is electrode/ignition/PCB/gas valve related, these parts should only be serviced or replaced by a qualified engineer.

Important extra notes:

1) Do not attempt to remove or adjust the gas valve, burner, PCB, or ignition electrode unless you are a Gas Safe engineer. Incorrect work can create an unsafe condition.

2) Do not use excessive heat or open flame to thaw condensate pipes. Use warm water or safe heating and then insulate the pipe.

3) If EA 229 is accompanied by a CE or low-pressure fault, check and correct system pressure per the manual, but investigate underlying causes with an engineer if pressure keeps dropping.

4) Repeated EA 229 lockouts indicate an underlying fault that will likely need diagnostic testing (multimeter checks on flame detection, pressure/gas flow tests, inspection of burner and flue) by a professional.

Summary: check and thaw a frozen condensate pipe first (safe DIY), perform a single reset, and if the fault returns or you are unsure, stop and call a Gas Safe registered engineer to diagnose and repair.