Low
S.21 on Vaillant ecoMAX 622

Your boiler is currently preparing itself to provide hot water quickly and is not actually reporting a fault.

Monitor it

This is a minor fault. Keep an eye on it and mention it at your next annual boiler service. Reset the boiler and see if it clears.

What the manual says

Manufacturer manual

Pump and fan running (warm start)

From this model's manual
Verified against the Vaillant Ecomax 613 installation & service manual, page 45.
Plain-English guidance below. Severity, DIY steps, costs and parts are our interpretation to help you act, not text from the manual.

What causes this fault?

This code appears when the boiler activates its pre-heat function to ensure hot water is delivered to your taps as quickly as possible. It is a standard operational sequence where the pump and fan run briefly to warm up the internal heat exchanger. Your boiler hasn't stopped working; it is simply preparing itself for use.

DIY fix possible

Check if the comfort mode or pre-heat setting is turned onWait a few minutes to see if the status changes to a normal heating codeMonitor for any actual fault codes starting with F if the boiler fails to fire

Find a Gas Safe engineer
Search the official register →

Avoid the next call-out bill

A cover plan would handle faults like S.21: no call-out fees, no surprise bills.

Approved partner
Domestic Appliance Guard
Unlimited call-outs, 24/7 helpline, no price-hike promise
Get a quote →

Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Related fault codes

Related guides you might find useful