Worcester Bosch Greenstar showing EA (often EA 227) in Birmingham? The boiler could not detect a flame. Common causes in Birmingham homes and what to check first.
No flame detected when the boiler tried to fire.
The number shown alongside EA on many Greenstar models.
Try the hob and check any prepayment meter credit.
Frozen pipes cause EA on cold mornings across the city.
Hold the reset button as the manual says, then leave it if EA returns.
Electrodes, gas valve, flue and condensate trap are engineer checks.
Yes, that is the boiler showing it has locked out because it could not see a flame.
Usually a condensate pipe that freezes. It can be rerouted, upsized or lagged so it stops happening.
Yes. If the trap inside the boiler is blocked, the boiler can stop with EA even in mild weather.
Once is fine. If the code comes straight back, stop resetting and get it looked at, because the boiler is telling you the cause is still there.
Ask to see the Gas Safe ID card when they arrive. The back lists exactly which appliances that engineer is qualified to work on, and the number can be checked on the Gas Safe Register.
EA on a Worcester Bosch Greenstar, often shown with the number 227, means the boiler tried to fire and could not detect a flame. It locks out and the blue light or the display tells you so. Worcester Greenstars are everywhere in Birmingham, and in the inter-war semis of Great Barr, Perry Barr and Kings Norton they are probably the most common boiler on the street.
The checks are the same as for any ignition fault, in this order. Is there gas? Try the hob, and if you are on a prepayment meter, check the credit. Is it frozen? On a cold morning, the condensate pipe is the first suspect, especially where it runs a long way outside to the drain. Thaw it with warm water, never boiling, and reset once by holding the reset button as the manual describes.
If the gas is fine and the pipe is clear, EA that keeps returning usually means a worn or dirty ignition or flame sensing electrode, a gas valve fault, or a blockage in the flue or condensate trap inside the boiler. Those are engineer jobs, and the boiler should not be stripped down by anyone who is not qualified to work on it.
Codes differ a little between models and years, so check the meaning in your own boiler manual too. Send a photo of the display and the boiler badge on WhatsApp and we can usually tell you the likely cause before anyone sets off. If you smell gas, leave the house, do not touch switches and ring the National Gas Emergency line on 0800 111 999 from outside.
A new boiler supplied and fitted by Gas Safe registered engineers - honest advice on the r…
Learn more →An annual service keeps your boiler safe, efficient and - importantly - keeps the warranty…
Learn more →Fast CP12 landlord gas safety certificates for rented homes across Birmingham - …
Learn more →Cold radiators, a noisy system or rooms that never warm up? We repair, upgrade and power f…
Learn more →Homeowner or landlord, we've got Birmingham covered: repairs, servicing, installs and certificates. Leave your details and a local engineer will get back to you fast.
Send a photo of the problem on WhatsApp for the quickest reply, or give us a call. You get a free, no-obligation quote, usually the same day.
