Vaillant S.02 Fault Code
Also written as S02 — same fault.
The Vaillant S.02 fault code means: your boiler is currently preparing for heating by circulating water, but it has not yet fired the burner to create heat.. It appears on 31 Vaillant models in our database.
Technical description: Heating mode error – water pump running
What causes the Vaillant S.02 fault?
Strictly speaking, this is a status message rather than a mechanical failure, indicating that the boiler is in a pre-heating phase. It occurs when the control system has told the pump to move water throughout the radiators, but the burner hasn't actually switched on yet. This often happens if an external thermostat is calling for heat or if the system is simply performing a routine check before ignition.
This code is most frequently seen in the autumn when homeowners first turn their heating back on after the summer and the system takes a moment to prime itself.
DIY fix possible
Check that your room thermostat or programmer is set to a high enough temperature to trigger heatEnsure all radiator valves are openWait up to 10 minutes to see if the code changes to a 'running' status (S.04)
Find a Gas Safe engineer
Search the official register for a qualified engineer in your area.
Gas Safe Register →Vaillant models that show the S.02 fault code
Click a model for the full fault code list and model-specific repair notes.
- aquaPLUS
- Atmomax
- Combi Compact 242EB Repair: £0-120
- Combi Compact 282EB
- ecoTEC exclusive
- ecoTEC plus
- ecoTEC Plus 615
- ecoTEC Plus 620
- ecoTEC Plus 625
- ecoTEC Plus 630
- ecoTEC Plus 635
- ecoTEC Plus 65
- ecoTEC Plus 832
- ecoTEC Plus 836
- ecoTEC Plus 840
- ecoTEC Plus 938
- ecoTEC plus Aquaplus
- ecoTEC plus System
- ecoTEC Pro
- ecoTEC Pro / ecoTEC Plus Repair: £0-80
- ecoTEC Pro 24
- ecoTEC Pro 28
- ecoTEC Pro 30
- ecoTEC sustain
- Home System
- Thermocompact
- Turbomax Plus 824/828E
- Turbomax Plus 828
- Turbomax Plus 828 E
- Turbomax Plus VUW 242E
- Turbomax Plus VUW 242EH
Source
Vaillant S.02 fault code information on this page is sourced and cross-checked against the official Vaillant service / installation manuals for each affected model.
Reviewed by the BoilerFaultCodes Editorial Team · Last reviewed 27 April 2026