Worcester Bosch Boiler C1 264 Fault Code
The Worcester fault code C1 264 fan fault Q & A or require an engineer for an emergency boiler repair.
The Worcester Boiler Fault Code C1 264 Error Common Q & A
Just below, we have a list of common questions relating to the C1 264 fault code on the Worcester Bosch Boiler.
- What does the C1 264 fault code mean on my Worcester Bosch boiler?
- What does the fan do on my Worcester boiler?
- Why has my fan stopped running in my Worcester boiler?
- What happens if my fan has failed completely?
- How much will a fan cost to replace, and will it clear the C1 264 fault code?
- How will a boiler engineer know if there’s a signal problem with the fan?
- Why would my boiler develop wiring or connection issues?
- Where do boiler vibrations come from, and how can they cause the C1 264 fault code to be displayed?
- I’ve noticed water below my boiler, could this be causing the C1 264 fault code to be displayed?
- What’s the fix for boilers that are suffering with boiler damage?
What does the C1 264 fault code mean on my Worcester Bosch boiler?
The C1 264 fault code for Worcester boilers relates to a fan that has stopped running.
This isn’t to be confused with other boiler fault codes where the fan is running too fast, too slow, or hasn’t been recognised as working, before the boiler starts up.
What does the fan do on my Worcester boiler?
Without a working fan, the boiler won’t fire up. In this case it’s stopped running, the printed circuit board (PCB) has recognised this and has shut down the boiler.
The fan creates a small draught that helps harmful gases from boiler combustion escape via the flue.
Without a fan, the gases would remain in the boiler. If the boiler was to continue to run, this would be dangerous.
The fan is linked to a component called an air pressure switch. This switch (which is more of a sensor, than a switch) monitors air pressures within the boiler.
For instance, on start up it recognises air pressure has changed thanks to the fan being operational, feeds back that information to the PCB, which then fires the boiler.
However, in the case of the C1 264 fault code, the air pressure switch notices a sudden change in air pressure due to the fan not running.
This information is fed back to the PCB, and the PCB shuts the boiler down.
Why has my fan stopped running in my Worcester boiler?
The C1 264 fault code is a little more specific than other fan related faults. This signals a fan that’s stopped running, rather than one that’s not working at all.
There are a few possible reasons for this:
- By coincidence, the fan has failed completely
- There is a signal problem between the fan, air pressure switch and PCB
What happens if my fan has failed completely?
Fans last for years. So, unless you’ve been having intermittent boiler problems recently, it’s unlikely it’s suddenly just failed.
However, a Gas Safe engineer will be able to take apart your boiler, assess the fan, and determine whether the fan unit has failed.
Unfortunately, there’s no easy fix for a failed fan. Rather than spending time and money repairing the fan, it makes more financial sense to replace the whole unit.
How much will a fan cost to replace, and will it clear the C1 264 fault code?
Fans are one of the most expensive parts in a boiler. A replacement could cost more than £250 including parts and labour.
It’s rare that you’ll need a new boiler after a failed fan. However, you should have your Gas Safe engineer check over all the important parts in your boiler.
Old boilers are unreliable and inefficient. There are lots of parts that can cost £250-500 to replace, so check they’re not likely to fail soon, before replacing the boiler. The most expensive parts include the:
- PCB
- Heat Exchanger
- Pump
- Gas Valve
How will a boiler engineer know if there’s a signal problem with the fan?
For the fan to operate, it’s not just the fan that needs to be working correctly.
The air pressure switch monitors what the fan is doing, and the PCB receives this information from the air pressure switch.
Essentially, there are three parts of the puzzle; any of them could be to blame.
What a Gas Safe engineer will need to do, is use a multi-meter to test each part individually. After doing this, they’ll need to test the stability of the wiring to and from each part.
It’s common that this is a simple case of loose or damaged wiring and connections between these three components.
Why would my boiler develop wiring or connection issues?
Wiring rarely degrades on its own; it usually outlasts a boiler.
However, there are two things that are catalysts to wiring and connections degrading:
- Boiler vibrations
- Water damage
Where do boiler vibrations come from, and how can they cause the C1 264 fault code to be displayed?
A noisy boiler is one that vibrates a lot. And, older boilers vibrate a lot more than newer ones.
If you have a noisy boiler, or have noticed noise increasing recently, this could be one of the reasons that connections and wiring have gotten damaged and are now causing your boiler to malfunction.
Typically, we find that this is a simple case of loose connections, and that’s a cheap and easy fix.
Most loose connections are easy to spot, and a visual inspection is enough to find the culprit.
But if that doesn’t do the job, next, your boiler engineer can use a multi-meter to find out which sections of wiring and which connections are loose and re-secure them.
Once they’ve been re-secured, the boiler can be reset to clear the C1 264 fault code.
I’ve noticed water below my boiler, could this be causing the C1 264 fault code to be displayed?
Water is one of the biggest killers of boilers - it’s up there with old age.
If you’ve noticed water below your boiler, there’s a good chance there’s an internal component that is leaking.
Typically, we find that it’s either the heat exchanger, or the pump.
Either way, the water that’s leaking will find its way into every single electrical component in your boiler; even connections and wiring.
There’s a good chance that this is what’s causing signal problems between the air pressure switch, fan and PCB.
The water damage to wiring and connections could:
- Make the PCB think the fan isn’t running, even when it is
- Lead the air pressure switch to give the wrong readings
- Make the fan receive signals to turn off, when it shouldn’t
- Cause so much damage that the fan, air pressure switch and/or the PCB, they’re now beyond repair
What’s the fix for boilers that are suffering with boiler damage?
First, the leak needs to be found by the engineer, and fixed quickly.
The faulty parts, wiring and connections need to be found and fixed too.
Finally, the boiler engineer will need to assess each component to see how bad the water damage really is.
We’ve seen it where the smallest of leaks have not only interfered with the fan’s operation, they’ve also damaged the PCB too.
The problem here is that the replacement fan will cost around £250. And, a boiler’s PCB is likely to cost around £500 to fix.
Combine the two costs and that’s getting dangerously close to fitting a new boiler, rather than repairing an old one.
So, if there’s a C1 264 fan fault, with the possibility of damage to other components, the boiler needs to be assessed thoroughly. There’s little point spending hundreds of pounds to fix an old boiler, only for it to break a few months down the line.
Other Worcester boiler issues
More more boiler issue regarding the Worcester Bosch the please visit the Worcester Boiler Problems And Cures page.