Error 162

Safety precautions:

1. If you smell gas, leave the property immediately and call the gas emergency number from a safe location. Do not attempt any checks.

2. Before doing any visual inspection turn the boiler off at the programmer and, if you will be working near electrical parts, switch off the boiler supply at the isolator or mains. Do not open the boiler casing or touch internal electrical or gas components unless you are qualified.

3. Wear gloves and eye protection when working around flues and pipes. Take care on ladders if you need to check an external flue.

Initial homeowner checks you can do:

1. Note the exact code and any sequence of lights or additional digits, and try a single reset first. Locate the boiler reset button and press and hold for 5 to 10 seconds, then watch the boiler attempt to restart. If the error clears and stays cleared, monitor performance but do not repeatedly reset if it reappears.

2. Check the external flue terminal for obvious blockages such as leaves, nests, debris, birds, or snow/ice. Clear any visible obstruction safely.

3. Check the condensate drain and external condensate pipe in cold weather to ensure it is not frozen; if frozen, thaw with warm (not boiling) water along the pipe route.

4. Listen when the boiler tries to start: you should hear the fan running briefly before ignition. If you hear no fan noise, that is an indicator of fan or air path problem.

5. Check the heating system pressure on the boiler gauge. Aim for a working pressure of around 1 to 1.5 bar (consult your boiler manual for the exact recommended range). If pressure is very low, repressurise the system following your boiler instructions and then attempt a reset.

Specific diagnostic and basic fix steps (do not open the boiler):

1. Clear flue/air path: If you found and cleared an external flue blockage, reset the boiler and test. If the fault clears, monitor the system.

2. Thaw condensate and drains: If you thawed a frozen condensate pipe or cleared a blocked condensate trap, reset and test. Persistent blockages may need an engineer.

3. Inspect visible hoses and connections: With the boiler isolated from mains power, look for the small rubber pressure hose that runs from the fan or flue housing to the air pressure switch (usually visible under a service panel). Check for disconnection, splits, kinks or obvious blockages. Do not detach hoses; if you see a loose or damaged hose, photograph it and call an engineer. A reconnected or replaced hose must be done by a qualified person.

4. Check for signs of fan operation: If you cannot hear the fan running during start attempts, or you hear grinding/seizure noises, do not attempt to run the boiler further. Note these symptoms for the engineer.

5. Electrical and sensor checks: Visual inspection of wiring for obvious loose connectors is acceptable, but do not probe, disconnect, or test live circuits unless qualified. If wires to the pressure switch look loose or burnt, stop and call a Gas Safe engineer.

6. After simple corrective actions and confirming no gas smell or unsafe signs, try a single reset. If the boiler attempts to run normally and stays on, monitor it closely. If the error returns, stop resetting.

When to call a professional:

1. Call a Gas Safe registered heating engineer if the error persists after the basic checks above, if you found a damaged or detached pressure hose you cannot safely secure, if you suspect a faulty air pressure switch, a seized fan, wiring or PCB faults, or if you are uncomfortable performing any of the checks.

2. Provide the engineer with the exact error code, the observations you made (sounds, whether fan ran, whether flue was blocked, system pressure), and photos if possible. This speeds up diagnosis.

Final notes:

1. Error 162 is a safety shutdown to prevent unsafe combustion; do not ignore it. Repeated manual resets without fixing the underlying cause can cause further damage.

2. Simple fixes such as clearing a blocked flue or thawing a condensate pipe can restore operation, but replacement of the air pressure switch, fan motor, wiring repairs or PCB work must be carried out by a qualified Gas Safe engineer.