Error E160

Safety first

1. If you are not trained and Gas Safe registered, do not open or attempt internal repairs on the boiler. Working on the fan, gas components, or flues without proper qualification is dangerous.

2. Before doing any visual checks, switch the boiler off at the isolator, turn off the gas supply at the appliance or meter if you can safely do so, and shut off electrical power. Wait and only perform non-intrusive checks unless you are qualified.

Initial checks a homeowner can do (safe, non-intrusive)

1. Reset the boiler using the manufacturer reset button or by switching off for 30 seconds and restarting. Note whether the E160 returns immediately or after a short run period.

2. Check the external flue terminal and air intake for obvious blockages (leaves, bird nests, snow, debris). Clear any obstruction from outside — never insert objects into the flue.

3. Listen and observe when the heating is calling for heat: you should hear the pump and then the fan start. If you hear nothing, or a strange grinding noise, note this for the engineer.

4. Check the boiler’s system pressure and controls (thermostat, timer) to ensure a legitimate heating call is being made. Low pressure alone will not normally produce E160 but can prevent normal operation.

5. Make sure the area around the boiler is dry. Evidence of water ingress or corrosion near cables/terminals is worth reporting to the engineer.

Diagnostic and safer inspection steps a competent DIYer/technically minded homeowner can consider (only if comfortable and safe to do so)

1. Visual inspection with power off: remove the boiler cover only if you are confident doing so and the power and gas are isolated. Look for obvious damaged, chewed, or corroded wiring to the fan and connectors, and for signs of water damage near the fan or its connector.

2. Record the fault behaviour: does the fault appear immediately on demand or after a short period of running? Are there any unusual noises? This information helps the engineer diagnose whether it is the fan motor, the fan internal electronics (tachometer), wiring, or the PCB output.

3. Do not attempt live electrical tests inside the boiler unless you are qualified. Measuring supply voltages to the fan and tachometer signals requires working with live voltages and knowledge of the boiler wiring diagrams and safety procedures.

When to call a Gas Safe registered engineer (and why)

1. If E160 persists after a reset, if you hear no fan noise when there should be, if you see damaged wiring, or if you detect water damage or corrosion inside the case, contact a Gas Safe engineer. Replacing the fan, repairing wiring, testing the main PCB, and performing post-repair safety checks (gas tightness, correct combustion, flue sealing, injector/seal refit where applicable) must be done by a qualified engineer.

2. The engineer will isolate the appliance, perform safe live measurements at the fan connector, test continuity of wiring, check the control PCB outputs, and if required replace the fan assembly. After replacement they must prove the appliance is gas-tight and safe, and commission the boiler correctly.

Final notes

1. Do not attempt to run the boiler repeatedly if it locks out on E160; repeated attempts may cause further damage. A temporary reset may allow limited operation but the underlying cause should be fixed.

2. Describe all your observations to the engineer (when the fault happens, noises, any previous water leaks or rodents, whether reset helped). That information speeds up diagnosis and repair.

3. No internal fan or combustion-related repairs should be performed by anyone who is not a Gas Safe registered engineer.