Medium
S.32 on Vaillant ecoTEC plus Regular

Your boiler has paused to prevent itself from freezing because it has detected a problem with the fan speed, likely caused by a blocked or frozen flue pipe.

Book a service

This fault should be looked at by a Gas Safe engineer within the next week or two. It may get worse if left.

What the manual says

Manufacturer manual

Heat exchanger antifreeze active, as fan speed variation is too high. Appliance is within the waiting time of the operation block function

From this model's manual
Verified against the Vaillant Ecotec Plus Regular installation & service manual, page 32.
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 fault happens when the boiler's internal computer detects that the fan is not spinning at the correct speed, which triggers a safety pause to prevent the system from freezing up. The most common cause is a blockage in the flue pipe or heavy ice buildup that prevents air from moving freely through the unit. Occasionally, it can also be triggered by moisture or debris interfering with the electrical signals between the fan and the control board.

This fault is much more common during periods of extreme cold when ice can block the external flue or intake vents.

DIY fix possible

Check the external exhaust pipe (flue) for any obstructions like leaves or debrisIf it is very cold outside, check if the white plastic condense pipe is frozen and gently thaw it with warm waterTurn the boiler off and back on again to see if the message clears

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