Error Code EA: No Ignition

Symptoms

• The boiler display shows error code EA
• The boiler has locked out and will not fire
• No heating or hot water is available
• You may hear a clicking sound (the ignition electrode attempting to spark) but the burner does not light

Likely Causes

• Gas supply interrupted — the gas meter may have been turned off, the supply may be depleted (prepayment meter), or there may be a wider supply issue in your area
• Frozen condensate pipe — in winter, the condensate drain pipe can freeze at its external section, causing the boiler to lock out
• Ignition electrode worn or dirty — over time the electrode can degrade, preventing a spark from reaching the gas
• Gas valve fault — a mechanical or electrical failure in the gas valve prevents gas from reaching the burner

Step-by-step Fix

1. Check your gas supply. Is the gas meter on? If you have a prepayment meter, check it has credit. Try another gas appliance (such as a gas hob) to confirm gas is flowing to the property.
2. Check other properties. If no gas appliances work, your neighbours may also be affected. Check the National Gas Distribution network for reported outages in your postcode.
3. Inspect the condensate pipe (especially in winter). Follow the plastic pipe from the bottom of the boiler to where it exits the building. If any external section is frozen, thaw it gently by pouring warm (not boiling) water over the ice or by wrapping the pipe with a warm cloth. Never use a naked flame.
4. Reset the boiler. Once you have addressed any of the above, press the reset button on the boiler display. Wait 30 seconds for the boiler to attempt ignition. The display will show the boiler cycling through its start-up sequence.
5. Monitor for repeat lockouts. If the boiler fires successfully and runs without further errors, the issue is resolved. If the EA error returns, reset once more and observe.
6. If EA returns three times — stop resetting and call an engineer. Repeated ignition failures indicate a fault that requires professional diagnosis. Continuing to reset the boiler will not resolve an underlying mechanical or electrical issue.