Worcester Bosch EA 227 fault codewhat it means and how to fix it
The 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.
Stop — this needs an engineer
Get a Gas Safe registered engineer to look at your Worcester Bosch EA 227
We do not pass enquiries to a repair firm, so there is no form here. Find a Gas Safe registered engineer through the Gas Safe Register, and ask to see their registration card when they arrive — it is the register, not the van, that tells you they are qualified.
What is happening elsewhere in the house?
The right answer depends on what you can see. Pick the one that matches.
Choose the option on the left that matches what your appliance is doing, and the answer for that case appears here.
The gas hob will not light either
There is no gas reaching the property. The boiler is behaving correctly by locking out.
Check the emergency control valve at the meter is in line with the pipe, and check a prepayment meter for credit. If both are fine, call your supplier.
It is freezing outside and the boiler worked yesterday
A frozen condensate pipe is the most likely cause. It is the classic first-cold-snap Worcester fault.
Pour warm — not boiling — water along the external white plastic pipe, then reset. If it fires and stays lit, that was it.
You hear repeated clicking, then it stops
That clicking is the ignition sparking. Gas is reaching the ignition point but either not igniting or not being detected once lit — the electrode is the prime suspect.
Book a Gas Safe registered engineer. Do not reset more than twice while you wait.
You can smell gas
Stop immediately. Do not reset, do not operate any electrical switch, and do not try to find the leak.
Open the windows, leave the property, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 from outside.
What EA 227 means
EA 227 means no flame was sensed during the ignition sequence. The boiler opens the gas valve, sparks, and then looks for an ionisation current across the flame sensing electrode to confirm that gas is actually burning. No current means no flame, and the boiler closes the valve and locks out rather than continuing to release gas. The 227 suffix specifically identifies flame detection failure at startup, as opposed to other EA conditions. In practice the cause is usually mundane: no gas reaching the appliance, or an electrode that has carboned up and can no longer detect the flame it has successfully lit.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| No gas at the appliance | Empty prepayment meter, a service valve knocked shut, or a supply interruption. Test by trying another gas appliance. | Common |
| Dirty or worn flame sensing electrode | Carbon deposits reduce the ionisation current below the detection threshold. The boiler lights and immediately decides it has not. | Common |
| Frozen condensate pipe | In cold weather a blocked condensate backs up and prevents the boiler completing a successful cycle. | Common |
| Gas valve failure | The valve does not open, or opens too slowly for the ignition window. | Occasional |
Can you fix it yourself?
Stop — this needs an engineer
What it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£130–£480
Time on site
1h 15m
Electrode replacement £130–£220. Gas valve £300–£480. Frozen condensate cleared free if you can reach the pipe yourself.
Typical UK prices including parts and labour, updated September 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.
Worcester Bosch Greenstar electrode set
87161431020£22–£52Authorised Worcester parts distributor
Price checked 28 September 2026
Condensate trap and siphon
COND-TRAP£15–£38Plumbing merchant
Price checked 28 September 2026
Own this appliance and had this code? . Nothing is published until a person has read it.
Related Worcester Bosch fault codes
- EA 229Get it checkedThe burner lit and then the flame was lost during operation. That is a different fault from failing to light in the first place.Related: ignition and gas supply
- F7 228Stop — call an engineerA flame is being detected before the burner has started. Switch the appliance off and get a Gas Safe engineer rather than resetting.Related: ignition and gas supply
- FA 306Stop — call an engineerThe boiler detected a flame after it had closed the gas valve. That points to a valve letting gas past when it should be shut, and it must not be reset.Related: ignition and gas supply
- 2951Stop — call an engineerThe flame has been lost too many times in a row and the boiler has locked out. Each loss was a 229; Worcester's instruction is to read the history and find what put it out.Related: ignition and gas supply
- EA 261Stop — call an engineerAn ignition fault that Worcester define two ways: on the Greenstar i it points at the heat control module, on the Compact range it means the flame was not established inside the four-second ignition window.Related: ignition and gas supply
- EA 234Get it checkedThe control board cannot see the gas valve coil, so it will not attempt to light. Worcester call it a gas valve error, coil disconnected. No gas is released, but it is a gas job.Related: ignition and gas supply
Own a Worcester Bosch boiler? Save it and its codes come first next time.
Related guides
Common questions about Worcester Bosch EA 227
What does the 227 part mean?
It is the specific condition within the EA category. EA on its own tells an engineer the boiler locked out on a flame fault; 227 tells them it was flame detection failure at ignition. Always quote both halves — it saves diagnostic time and it saves you money.
How many times can I reset it?
Twice. Each reset triggers a fresh set of ignition attempts, and each attempt releases a little gas before the valve shuts. If two resets have not fixed it, the fault is real.
Why does it happen every winter?
Because the condensate pipe freezes. Worcester boilers, like all condensing boilers, produce acidic condensate that runs out through a plastic pipe. If that pipe runs outside in 21mm plastic with a long horizontal section, the first hard frost will block it.
What will an engineer charge to fix EA 227?
If it is the electrode, £130 to £220 including the call-out and combustion check. A gas valve is £300 to £480. If it turns out to be gas supply, your supplier deals with it and it costs you nothing.
Technical review
Not reviewed by an engineer
No engineer has read this page. Severity follows what the manufacturer publishes, and we would rather tell you that than let a byline imply a sign-off.
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
- Manufacturer support portal
- Trade body guidance
This page has not been reviewed by an engineer, and we would rather tell you that than imply otherwise. The severity rating follows what the manufacturer publishes: where they say isolate the appliance and call someone, so do we.