There is no error code 249 listed in my service manual. Are you sure that number is correct? Error code 49 is a cold water inlet fault. I would say that your husband may of disconnected the wires to the inlet valve. Check that two blue wires are firmly connected to the cold valve & two red wires are firmly connected to the hot valve. If it is definitely coming up with error 249 then you will have to do what it says & call F&P service tech. It must be a new error code they haven't included in the book for some reason.
Lincoln Appliance NZ, October 2009