If your Worcester Bosch is showing 229, it has lost its flame partway through a heating or hot water cycle and shut down, and in cold weather a frozen condensate pipe is a very common reason. We’re Clever Energy Boilers: Gas Safe registered, accredited Worcester Bosch installers based in Bingley, serving Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West and the Midlands. When an older Worcester keeps throwing error codes like this, a replacement Worcester Bosch boiler is the better option longer term for efficiency and for saving on repair bills.
Over 25,000 installations in 15 years have taught us that this is one of the few codes where a bit of warm water can genuinely fix things. It’s also a code where the published explanations don’t all agree, so we’ll be upfront about what we know and what varies by model.
What does the Worcester Bosch 229 fault code mean?
It’s usually seen as EA 229 on Greenstar i boilers. The EA part tells you the fault is flame related. The 229 narrows it down, and here the sources disagree. Some describe it as the loss of the flame signal while the boiler was running. Others tie EA 229 to a frozen condensate pipe. The two aren’t contradictory: a blocked condensate route is one reason a flame goes out mid-cycle.
Since Worcester models differ, check the exact code on your display and your manual. When in doubt, we’d lean towards the cautious reading and assume the flame has been lost.
How is the 229 error different from the 227 fault code?
With the 227 code, the boiler never gets a flame going. With 229 the flame starts fine and then disappears. That points less at ignition parts and more at things that interrupt a burning flame: blocked condensate, wind in the flue, a gas supply that wobbles, or a sensor losing its signal.
What can cause a lost flame fault on a Worcester Bosch?
- A frozen or blocked condensate pipe, backing water up into the boiler
- A dirty or damp condensate trap
- Strong wind blowing into the flue terminal
- An unstable gas supply
- A tired flame sensor or electrode
- Low system pressure
How do I thaw a frozen condensate pipe to clear a Worcester error?
This is one of the few boiler jobs we’re comfortable with homeowners doing, as long as you’re careful.
- Turn the boiler off at the controls.
- Find the plastic condensate pipe where it leaves the house. It’s usually white or grey and ends at a drain, gully or soakaway.
- Look for a frozen section, which is often at the open end or on an exposed bend.
- Pour warm water along it. Warm from the tap or a kettle that has cooled slightly is fine. Never use boiling water, which can crack the pipe.
- Wait a few minutes, then reset the boiler.
Keep ladders and slippery steps out of it. If the pipe is high up or hard to reach, leave it for someone who can reach it safely. Our guide on how to defrost your condensate pipe has more detail.
What about the pressure on a Worcester Bosch boiler?
While you’re at it, glance at the gauge. A cold system should show roughly 1 to 1.5 bar. If it has fallen, switch the boiler off, attach the filling loop, open the valves slowly until the needle reaches the right range and close them again. If it keeps falling, something is leaking and you’ll need an engineer.
When is a Worcester 229 fault not a DIY job?
If the pipe isn’t frozen, or the code returns after thawing, stop. Electrodes, sensors and the gas supply are for a Gas Safe registered engineer. Never open the casing, and don’t keep pressing reset.
Is it time to replace your Worcester after repeated error codes?
A frozen pipe on a modern boiler is a nuisance rather than a reason to replace it. A code that keeps coming back on an older one is different. Think about a new Worcester Bosch when the boiler is over 8 years old, when you’ve had several faults in a short space of time, or when resetting has become part of your daily routine. Our cost guide shows what a new boiler involves.
Talk to Clever Energy about a new Worcester Bosch boiler
We cover Yorkshire and the Humber, including Bingley, Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield and Hull, the North West from Manchester to Blackburn and Crewe, and the Midlands, including Birmingham, Walsall and Telford. See our Worcester Bosch boiler installation page, or get an online quote. Prefer to chat about a new boiler? Call 0330 055 2210, weekdays 8am to 8pm.
Worcester Bosch 229 fault code FAQs
What does the EA 229 error code mean on a Worcester boiler?
It points to a flame lost during operation, and some sources link it to a frozen condensate pipe. The exact meaning can vary by model, so check your manual.
Is a Worcester 229 fault caused by a frozen condensate pipe?
Often in cold weather, yes. It’s the first thing to check, and warm water over the pipe frequently clears it.
Can I reset my Worcester after thawing the pipe and clearing the fault?
Yes. Reset once after thawing. If the code returns, call a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Why does the 229 error code only show up in winter on a Worcester?
Freezing temperatures turn the condensate in the pipe to ice, and the blockage stops the boiler from running. In milder weather the pipe stays clear.
Is it worth keeping an old Worcester Bosch with this fault code?
If the boiler is over 8 years old and codes keep returning, replacing it is generally the better long-term move.
More Worcester Bosch error codes
229 and the condensate codes work together as a pair. Before this one, have a look at the Worcester Bosch FA fault code; after it, the Worcester Bosch D5 fault code covers the next code in the set. The full list sits on our Worcester boiler error codes guide.
