Welcome to our 10-minute guide to Worcester Greenstar boiler faults.
Got boiler problems with your Worcester?
No worries. This article will explain what they mean, and what you need to do next.
Bosch pump on my Worcester ran dry whilst we were away last week owing to a leak on one of our radiators. We can run two showers off ours. The topic ‘My Worcester Bosch central heating.
We’ve also referenced detailed articles on each of the Worcester boiler problems listed, so you can get the fault fixed.
Fed up with your boiler? You can get multiple boiler repair quotes from local heating engineers here.
Or, if you’re ready to ditch it for a new one, you can get a fixed price online from BOXT (part owned by Bosch), from £1,795.
What Happens When You Get A Worcester Boiler Fault?
Before we start, it’s worth noting this. When a problem occurs with your Worcester boiler, your control panel should display a fault code.Â
In the case of Worcester boilers, their fault codes start with EA.
The Worcester EA fault code will give an indication of the problem.
You’ll be able to find the cause of the fault by referencing the fault code, in your owner’s manual.
8 Common Worcester Boiler Faults
#1 – Blocked Condensate Pipe
Condensing boilers like Worcester Bosch, have a condensate pipe. This vents harmful gases from your property.
Unfortunately, it’s a common problem with Worcester’s that the condensate pipe gets blocked. This will cause a EA229 fault code to be displayed on your boiler.
The Fix
Check the condensate pipe for obstructions.
If it’s a chilly morning, or winter, there’s a good chance that the pipe’s gases have frozen and caused a boiler lockout.
Simply thawing out the pipe with warm water and resetting your boiler will clear the E229 fault code.
Next, you want to stop this from happening again.
You’ll need to insulate the pipe using lagging. Normal lagging will do, but ArmorFlex lagging offers much better protection.
#2 – No Hot Water
Is your Worcester boiler problem relating to no hot water? There’s a few scenarios that can lead to lack of hot water.
These include a faulty diverter valve (typical, if the heating works, but hot water doesn’t).
But, it could also be due to lack of power, a stuck Y/S-plan valve, faulty PCB unit, or even a problem with the heating pump.
The Fix
You can diagnose a faulty diverter valve here.
If your boiler is out of warranty and needs a diverter valve replacing, it might be wise to invest that cash in a new unit with a long warranty. The cheapest place to find a Worcester boiler online currently, is BOXT.
If that doesn’t sound like the issue, head over to our article specific to Worcester boiler faults causing no hot water.
Alternatively, speak to a boiler repair company, we recommend using Boiler Guide to find a local boiler repair specialist.
#3 – Boiler Is Leaking
If your Worcester boiler is leaking, this can cause low pressure, and the boiler to lockout.
A leaking boiler will usually be due to blown pump seals.
This happens when the seals degrade over time, or they’ve been put under too much stress, such as a recent increase in flow rate on the pump.
The boiler recognises this and displays a fault code. In this case, it’s likely to be the A281 or EA338.
The Fix
Before you call a Worcester boiler engineer and spending £100s, it’s worth checking this can’t be fixed on a DIY basis.
Not all leaks are serious, so an engineer isn’t always needed.
We’ve created a guide to skip through if your boiler is leaking.
This will help diagnose the fault, and get it fixed.
(Note: Once you’ve fixed the leak, make sure you boiler is set to the correct pressure, which is 1.3 bar)
Most small leaks can be stopped using Fernox’s F4 leak sealant for heating systems.
Remember, a leak is directly connected to boiler’s losing pressure…
#4 – Boiler Losing Pressure
If your Worcester boiler problem relates to your unit losing pressure; you have a leak.
Sure, it might not be visible, but it’s there somewhere. And, this is not necessary a leak on the boiler. Any leak throughout your central heating will cause a boiler to lose pressure.
This could be a pin-hole in a radiator, a loose connection on a rad valve, or even a weak soldering joint on copper pipe.
The Fix
When a Worcester boiler gets below a certain pressure, it will lock out. To fix this, you’ll need to re-pressurise it using the external filling loop.
But, that’s only a temporary fix. To solve the problem with your Worcester, and clear any fault codes, the leak needs to be found and fixed.
Checkout our guide to boilers losing pressure here.
#5 – No Power To The Boiler
No power to your Worcester boiler? No problem.
Lack of power can be caused by a faulty PCB, an RCD unit that’s tripped or a spur socket that’s tripped.
The Fix
We’ve created a guide for homeowners with no power to their boiler here, to help diagnose and fix the problem.
If the fault relates to a PCB, it might be worth investigating the cost of a new boiler. You can get a price for a new Worcester boiler on-screen using this online tool.
#6 – Boiler Is Making Banging Noises
If your Worcester boiler fault relates to loud banging noises, there’s a fix.
The two most common causes of the problem are:
An airlock in the central heating pump.
A heat exchanger that is kettling.
The Fix
Jump over to our article that covers noisy boilers here.
As you’ll see, an airlock in a pump on a Worcester Greenstar boiler isn’t exactly difficult to remove.
However, if the problem with your Worcester relates to a heat exchanger, it might need replacing.
Unfortunately, heat exchangers are not exactly known for being cheap.
#7 – Boiler Keeps Locking Out
Does your Worcester boiler keep locking out?
All Worcester boilers are fitted with safe-guards. When they overheat, lose too much pressure, or are operating above their working pressure; they lockout.
Why? It stops any internal components getting fried, but it also stops the boiler working if it’s dangerous.
In this case, it’s most likely the fault code is EA 227.
The Fix
If your Worcester boiler fault is a constant (or intermittent) lockout, we’ve created a guide just for you.
Jump over to our ultimate guide to boiler lockouts here.
#8 – Worcester Boiler Overheating
Have you checked your Worcester boiler fault code, and found it relates to a boiler overheating?
If you’ve got a Worcester boiler that’s overheating it could be caused by things such as a faulty fan, pump, blocked PRV or even a condensate blockage.
Some common overheat fault codes include D1 286, E5 218, E5 332, E9 219 and E9 224.
The Fix
If your EA fault code relates to a overheat, checkout our quick guide on boilers overheating here.
What’s Next?
Still having problems with your Worcester Greenstar boiler?
Get a repair quote from local boiler repair engineers over at Boiler Guide here. Or, get a fixed online replacement price from BOXT here.
And, if you want some help, we’re happy to offer that for free.
Just drop a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
What are the problems? 1. The boiler has become increasingly temperamental over the past week. Water seems ok, although now heating not coming on. The blue light comes on (not flashing to indicate fault like mentioned elsewhere on forum) but nothing happens after that. At best, it might sound like it was trying to start up but then 'give up' after about 1 minute. 2. The wireless thermostat stopped controlling temperature 2 days ago. Things I have tried.. * The pressure had dropped to almost zero so I managed to refill so it went back to the recommended 1.5. Still not working after this. * Some times pressing the override button got things going but not anymore. * Some times turning the boiler off and waiting before turning back on worked, but not anymore. * Replaced batteries in thermostat which got the clock working again but nothing else. Other useful information Boiler has leaked a couple of times over the past few days. Seemed to be coming from back left corner, although not sure from how high up it originates. Hope someone can help? Many thanks