Ferroli A01 fault codewhat it means and how to fix it
The burner failed to light and the appliance has locked out. Ferroli list a blocked siphon as a cause, which is worth checking early.
Take care
What A01 means
A01 is no burner ignition, and being an A code it is a permanent lockout that needs a manual reset. The Ferroli manual gives five causes: no gas, a detection or ignition electrode fault, a defective gas valve, incorrect inlet gas pressure, and an obstructed siphon. That last one deserves attention because Ferroli name it explicitly where many manufacturers leave it implied. The siphon is the condensate trap — the U-bend inside the appliance that holds a water seal and lets acidic condensate drain away while stopping flue gases coming back through the drain. When it blocks, condensate backs up into the combustion chamber and the burner cannot stay alight. The same thing happens when the external condensate pipe freezes, which is why winter produces so many of these. A blocked siphon and a frozen drain present identically, and one of them you can fix from outside with a kettle of warm water.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| Condensate frozen outside or siphon blocked inside | Ferroli list an obstructed siphon as a named cause. In cold weather the external pipe freezing produces the same result and is the version you can address yourself. | Common |
| No gas reaching the appliance | A prepayment meter without credit, a closed emergency control valve, or air in the supply after work. Ferroli specify checking that air has been purged from the pipes. | Common |
| Electrode fouled or out of position | The manual asks for the electrodes to be checked for correct positioning and freedom from deposits, which is a service item as much as a repair. | Occasional |
| Inlet gas pressure incorrect | Enough gas present to register but not at the pressure the appliance needs. Requires a manometer to confirm and is not something you can judge by eye. | Occasional |
| Gas valve defective | The most expensive of the listed causes and the least common. | Rare |
What to try yourself
Try a gas hob. If it will not light, the supply is the problem and the appliance is behaving exactly as it should.
Check any prepayment meter for credit, including emergency credit that may have run out overnight.
Outside, follow the plastic condensate pipe down from the appliance and feel for a solid, ice-cold section. Bends and the open end freeze first.
Pour hand-hot water slowly along any frozen section until you hear it running clear. A kettle boiled and left standing ten minutes is about the right temperature.
Never use boiling water, a heat gun, or a naked flame. Cracked plastic in freezing weather is a considerably worse problem than the one you set out to fix.Press reset for a second. If it lights and holds, the condensate was the cause. If it locks out again, the siphon inside may be blocked and that needs an engineer.
Get a Gas Safe registered engineer to look at your Ferroli A01
Gas Safe Register engineers only. No obligation.
What it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£0–£320
Time on site
25 minutes
Free if the external condensate pipe was frozen. A siphon clean or replacement is £90 to £180. An electrode is £110 to £190 fitted and a gas valve £240 to £320.
Typical UK prices including parts and labour, updated August 2026. Your quote may differ.
Parts you may need
We may earn a commission if you buy a part through one of these links. It does not change what you pay, and it does not affect which parts we list.
Condensate trap and siphon
COND-TRAP£15–£38Plumbing merchant
Price checked 5 August 2026
What other owners found
Nobody has shared what worked for them on this code yet. If you have had it, you would be the first — and it genuinely helps the next person.
Related Ferroli fault codes
- A02Stop — call an engineerA flame is being detected while the burner should be off. Switch the appliance off and get a Gas Safe engineer to it.Related: ignition and gas supply
- EA 227Stop — call an engineerThe boiler tried to light and never detected a flame, so it has shut the gas off and locked out. This is the most common Worcester fault code.Related: ignition and gas supply
- E01Get it checkedThe appliance tried to light and could not confirm a flame, so it has locked out. In winter a frozen condensate pipe is the most likely reason.Related: ignition and gas supply
- F.28Stop — call an engineerThe boiler tried to light and failed three times in a row, so it has shut the gas off and locked out. Do not keep resetting it.Related: ignition and gas supply
- 501Get it checkedNo flame was detected during ignition and the appliance has locked out. Check the gas supply and the condensate pipe before booking anyone.Related: ignition and gas supply
- A01Get it checkedThe burner failed to light and the appliance has locked out. Check the gas supply and, in cold weather, the condensate pipe before calling anyone.Related: ignition and gas supply
Related guides
Sources and how we verified this
We establish the facts from the sources below and then write the explanation ourselves. We do not copy manufacturer wording and we do not host their manuals.
- Manufacturer technical and service documentation
- Trade body guidance
Checked by Technical reviewer (Gas Safe registration to be displayed on appointment) on 5 August 2026.