Error EA 269

Safety first:

1) If you smell gas or suspect a leak: immediately turn off the gas supply at the meter or isolation valve, do not operate electrical switches, leave the building, and call your gas emergency number and a Gas Safe engineer. Do not attempt internal repairs.

2) If there is no gas smell, isolate the boiler electrically before doing any visual checks (turn the boiler power off at the isolator). Do not remove the boiler cover or touch internal components unless you are Gas Safe registered.

Initial homeowner checks you can safely do:

1) Check the gas supply and meter: confirm other gas appliances work and that any appliance isolation valve feeding the boiler is open (lever parallel to pipe). For prepay meters, confirm there is credit and the supply is active.

2) Look for an obvious frozen or blocked condensate pipe (usually a small plastic pipe running to an outside drain). If frozen, thaw it with warm (not boiling) water or a warm towel. Remove blockages from accessible external drains.

3) Check the flue and air vents are not blocked by debris, birds’ nests, snow, or leaves. Ensure the area around the boiler and flue terminal is clear.

4) Note any other symptoms: flashing lights, additional cause codes (press the spanner/return/info button on the boiler to view the cause code if available), history of intermittent faults, recent power cuts, or recent work on the heating system.

5) You may attempt a single reset only if the manufacturer’s manual for your specific model permits it and there are no gas smells. Do not repeatedly reset. If you do try a reset: follow the manual (usually press and hold the reset button for 3–5 seconds, then observe). If the EA 269 returns or the boiler locks out again, stop and arrange an engineer visit.

If basic checks do not clear the fault, call a Gas Safe registered engineer and provide these details:

1) Exact fault code shown (EA 269) and any accompanying cause or three-digit code from the information menu.

2) Any observations you made during checks (gas supply status, frozen condensate, flue blockage, whether a reset was attempted, any unusual noises or smells).

What the engineer will typically check and do (do not attempt yourself):

1) Verify gas pressure and gas valve operation, check for a stuck or leaking gas valve.

2) Inspect the ignition electrode(s), ionisation/flame sensor, and ignition lead for wear, corrosion, damage or incorrect positioning; replace or re-gap if required.

3) Test the flame detection circuitry and PCB inputs/outputs; replace faulty control electronics if necessary.

4) Check for external causes such as flue temperature sensor, flue blockage, condensate issues or safety thermostat trips.

5) Run ignition tests and full service checks to ensure correct burner operation and safe sealing.

Important cautions and final notes:

1) EA faults relate to ignition and flame sensing — they are safety-critical. Do not continue to operate or repeatedly reset the boiler if the fault persists. Repeated resets can mask an underlying gas or ignition hazard.

2) Do not open the boiler casing, adjust the gas valve, or replace internal components unless you are a qualified Gas Safe engineer.

3) Have the engineer carry current proof of Gas Safe registration and show a full diagnostic report. Provide boiler model and serial number and the EA 269 code so they can bring appropriate parts if replacement is likely.

4) After repair, ask the engineer to run the boiler through several ignition cycles and to check combustion and safety interlocks before leaving the property.