Your boiler has stopped working because the waste water pipe is likely blocked or frozen, causing water to back up into the unit.
Book a Gas Safe engineer within 24–48 hours. Your boiler may be unsafe or could break down completely if left.
Technical description: CONDENSATE BLOCKAGE
What causes this fault?
This fault occurs when the liquid waste produced during the heating process cannot drain away from the boiler. The most common reason is a blockage in the drainage pipe or the internal trap, which causes water to back up into the heat exchanger and trigger a safety shutdown. Often, this happens because debris has built up over time or the pipe has become restricted.
This fault is extremely common during freezing winter temperatures, as the external portion of the condensate pipe can freeze, causing a total blockage.
DIY fix possible
Locate the plastic pipe leading from your boiler to the outside of your property.Check if the end of the pipe is blocked by debris or frozen ice.If frozen, pour warm (not boiling) water over the external pipe until the ice melt clears the blockage.Restart the boiler by pressing the reset button.
Find a Gas Safe engineer
Search the official register for a qualified engineer in your area.
Gas Safe Register →Protect yourself from future repair bills
A boiler cover plan would cover faults like ERROR CODE 8 — no call-out fees, no surprises.
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Ideal Icos HE is discontinued — time for a new one?
Parts for discontinued models can be hard to find and expensive. A new A-rated boiler could save you money on both repairs and energy bills.
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.