Baxi Boiler 162 Fault Code
The Baxi fault code 162 air pressure switch Q & A or require an engineer for an emergency boiler repair.
The Baxi Boiler Fault Code 162 Error Common Q & A
Just below, we have a list of common questions relating to the 162 fault code on the Baxi boiler.
- What does the 162 fault code mean on my Baxi boiler?
- What does the air pressure switch do in my Baxi boiler?
- Is my boiler dangerous if it’s showing the 162 fault code?
- How can a boiler engineer tell if there’s a problem with a fan?
- Can an electrical fault cause issues with the fan?
- Will I need a new fan if the electronics are causing the 162 Baxi fault code?
- If the motor and bearings in the fan are in bad condition, should I replace the fan?
- If my air pressure switch is to blame, what are the likely causes of the 162 fault code being displayed?
- How will kinked hoses affect the air pressure switch?
- Can faulty wiring be fixed to clear the 162 fault code on my Baxi boiler?
- Will water damage contribute to the problem causing the 162 fault?
- What can be done if moisture is causing the 162 fault code to be displayed?
- How much does it cost to replace the air pressure switch?
What does the 162 fault code mean on my Baxi boiler?
According to Baxi’s list of fault codes, the 162 error is related to an air pressure switch fault.
What does the air pressure switch do in my Baxi boiler?
There are various sensors in a boiler which monitor pressures and tolerances. They then feedback to the PCB (the boiler’s circuit board).
The PCB will determine whether the boiler is safe to operate (or to continue to operate).
The air pressure switch is one of these devices.
In newer condensing boilers, the flue expels waste gases. But, these gases won’t exit the flue correctly, unless the fan is working. The fan works by creating a draught that pushes the gases up and out of the flue.
The air pressure switch’s job is to determine whether the fan is working, and that the flue isn’t blocked.
If either the fan isn’t working, or the flue is blocked, the air pressure switch will log a change in pressure, and won’t allow the boiler to fire up.
Is my boiler dangerous if it’s showing the 162 fault code?
Fault codes are not an exact science, so the root of the problem needs to be found by an engineer.
However, it’s likely there’s either a problem with the fan, flue, or air pressure switch.
A problem with the flue or fan would mean that harmful gases are not leaving your property when the boiler fires up. If this is the case, it’s dangerous to continue using your boiler. Your boiler should have locked out and displayed a fault code.
Don’t reset the boiler to try and clear the fault code. Instead, have a qualified Gas Safe engineer come and fix the problem, and they’ll reset the boiler when the issue is fixed.
Another possible scenario is that the air pressure switch is faulty. If the air pressure switch is giving off incorrect readings to the PCB, it might be fooling it into thinking that the fan is not working, or the flue is blocked, when really both components are working fine.
How can a boiler engineer tell if there’s a problem with a fan?
The fan is one of the first components in a boiler to fire up. The PCB wants to recognise that the fan is running, so that it’s ready to push harmful gases into the flue, the minute the boiler fires up.
Any experienced boiler engineer will be able to recognise (by sound) whether the fan is running or not. If it’s not, they’ll need to determine why.
Old fans can be prone to getting partially seized motors and bearings. This can sometimes be enough to stop them working.
Can an electrical fault cause issues with the fan?
Although fans can deteriorate due to old age, electrical issues are much more common.
Wiring that’s worked itself loose (or, the individual connections on the wiring), can cause intermittent signals. This could cause the fan to:
- Give signals that it’s working/not working, when the opposite is true
- Receive signals that it should turn on/off, when the opposite is true
A boiler engineer will be able to fault find the electronics on the fan, and all the way to the PCB. This will determine which parts of the electrics are at fault.
Will I need a new fan if the electronics are causing the 162 Baxi fault code?
Assuming the motor and bearings on the fan are in good condition, there’s a good chance you won’t need a new fan if it’s just electronics that are causing the issue.
Remember, a good percentage of boiler repair costs is allocated to labour, so if the fan is close to being replaced (check the condition by consulting your engineer), that’s when a replacement should be considered.
If the motor and bearings in the fan are in bad condition, should I replace the fan?
If the motor and bearings are in bad condition, it’s likely the boiler engineer will suggest a replacement.
However, it’s important to check other expensive parts like the pump, heat exchanger and gas valve.
Fans are robust, so if they’ve deteriorated, it’s likely other parts will soon too. And, rather than replacing these expensive parts in an old boiler, it would make more sense to have a more efficient replacement boiler instead.
If my air pressure switch is to blame, what are the likely causes of the 162 fault code being displayed?
There are three common reasons an air pressure switch will fail:
- Kinked hoses
- Faulty wiring
- Moisture
How will kinked hoses affect the air pressure switch?
It’s important the hoses connected to the switch are not kinked, even slightly.
Even the smallest of kinks will adjust the air pressure that the switch is reading. Basically, the switch is getting an incorrect reading of the boiler’s pressure.
This could cause the switch to tell the PCB to lock the boiler out, due to unsafe pressures.
The easy solution here is to re-route the hoses so that they don’t interfere with any other boiler parts.
All kinks need to be removed and if the any are permanent, the hoses will need to be replaced.
Can faulty wiring be fixed to clear the 162 fault code on my Baxi boiler?
Old boilers create lots of vibrations, that’s why they’re so much noisier than newer boilers. These vibrations over time, can work components, connections and sections of wiring loose.
If this is the case, a boiler engineer can re-secure the connections, reset the boiler, and test to check this has cleared the 162 fault code on your Baxi boiler.
Will water damage contribute to the problem causing the 162 fault?
Any electronic fault can make components act strangely. That’s not just typical of boilers, that’s typical of any electronic appliance.
Boiler manufacturers now try to ensure that electronic components are sealed. But, older boilers are known for allowing moisture into the electronics easily.
Although moisture might not drip directly onto components, it can still find it’s way in and cause damage.
Usually, this comes from internal boiler heat. Older boilers (being less efficient), create more waste energy (i.e. the boiler gets hot), and this turns any moisture into condensation.
It’s this that can find its way into electronics and cause problems.
What can be done if moisture is causing the 162 fault code to be displayed?
If moisture is an issue, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed your boiler losing pressure.
Boilers lose pressure because of leaks. So first, the leak on the boiler needs to be found and fixed. Only then should the engineer look at fixing the problem with the air pressure switch.
Fixing the switch without fixing the leak is going to mean that the issue arises again.
How much does it cost to replace the air pressure switch?
The price for replacing the air pressure switch on a boiler will depend on the exact boiler model.
You should expect to pay around £100 for parts. On top of this, you should expect to pay approximately £200 for labour.
Of course, labour is directly linked to time spent. So, a boiler that’s more complex to dismantle and reassemble will have a high labour price attached.
Other Baxi boiler issues
For more boiler issues regarding the Baxi Boiler then please visit the Baxi Boiler Problems And Cures page.