Error EA 227

Safety precautions:

1) If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak: do not touch the boiler or switches, open windows, evacuate the property, and call the national gas emergency number immediately (in the UK 0800 111 999) or your local gas emergency service. Do not attempt any repairs.

2) Do not open the boiler casing or attempt to work on gas valves, ignition electrodes, injectors, or the PCB unless you are a Gas Safe registered engineer. Electrical isolation and gas isolation must only be done by competent persons.

3) Limit resets: one or two manual resets are acceptable to test if a simple temporary fault has cleared; repeated resets are not recommended and can mask a real safety issue.

Initial homeowner checks (safe, outside or simple checks):

1) Check for frozen condensate pipe (common in cold weather): locate the white plastic condensate discharge pipe which usually exits to the outside. If it is blocked with ice, thaw it with warm water (not boiling) poured slowly or using a warm cloth. Do not use force or sharp tools. After thawing, drain any trapped water and re-check.

2) Reset the boiler: follow the boiler manual reset procedure (on many Worcester units this is holding the up/down buttons or switching the fused spur off for 10–20 seconds and back on). After thawing the condensate pipe, try a single reset to see if the boiler relights.

3) Check gas supply: confirm other gas appliances (hob, oven, gas fire) work. If they do not, check prepayment meter credit, the house gas isolation valve (if you know where it is and it has not been tampered with), and contact your gas supplier if needed. If other gas appliances work, the supply to the property is likely OK and the problem is inside the boiler.

4) Check boiler pressure and visible leaks: glance at the pressure gauge (ideal cold pressure ≈ 1–1.5 bar). If you see any water leaking from the boiler or obvious corrosion, isolate the water supply to the boiler and switch it off at the fused spur and call an engineer.

Specific diagnostic and do‑it‑yourself fix steps (do not open the boiler):

1) Thaw condensate pipe: if frozen, thaw as above, then reset the boiler once. If the boiler restarts and runs normally, insulate the external condensate pipe to prevent recurrence.

2) Observe behaviour on reset: listen for the spark/ignition clicks and for the gas sound. If you hear spark but no gas flow (no hissing) and other gas appliances are working, do not attempt to intervene—call an engineer. If you hear gas but no spark, that suggests ignition/ignition lead/electrode problems.

3) Look for visible signs of moisture or leaks around the boiler casing and the area beneath it. Moisture on the PCB or inside can cause flame detection faults. If you suspect an internal leak, turn off the boiler electrical supply and the water inlet (if you can do so safely) and contact an engineer.

4) Basic electrode observation (only external, no internal work): if your manual shows an external inspection point for the ignition/flame electrode and the procedure is explicitly permitted, you may visually check for heavy soot/carbon on the electrode tip. Do not attempt to remove or clean the electrode unless the manual states it is a user task. Avoid touching connectors or wiring.

When to call a professional (required in many cases):

1) If the EA 227 persists after thawing any condensate pipe, confirming gas supply, and performing a single reset, call a Gas Safe registered engineer. Problems like a faulty flame sensing electrode, ignition lead, gas valve, blocked burner/injector, PCB faults, or internal leaks require qualified diagnosis and repair.

2) If you detect water ingress, a leak from the heat exchanger, or visible electrical damage, switch the boiler off at the fused spur, turn off the water supply to the boiler if safe to do so, and arrange an engineer visit.

3) If you are unsure at any stage or not comfortable performing the safe checks above, call a Gas Safe engineer immediately.

What to tell the engineer when you call:

- Boiler make and model (Worcester Bosch Greenstar I / combi or system), serial if available.

- Exact fault code (EA 227) and any other codes shown.

- What you have already checked (condensate thawed, gas appliances checked, boiler reset, any visible leaks) and the result.

- When the fault started and any conditions (very cold weather, power cuts, recent work on the boiler).

Important reminders:

- Do not attempt replacement of gas components, flame sensing electrodes, gas valves or PCB yourself. Only a Gas Safe registered engineer should carry out gas-related or internal electrical repairs.

- A lockout like EA 227 is a safety response; sensible user checks (condensate thaw, gas supply, reset) may resolve common causes, but persistent faults must be handled professionally to ensure safety and correct repair.