High
S.53 on Vaillant ecoTEC plus Regular

Your boiler has temporarily stopped working because it cannot detect enough water flowing through the system to operate safely.

Call an engineer soon

Book a Gas Safe engineer within 24 to 48 hours. Your boiler may be unsafe or could break down completely if left.

What the manual says

Manufacturer manual

Appliance is within the waiting period of the operation block function due to water shortage (VL- RL spread too big)

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 occurs when the boiler's internal sensors detect a lack of sufficient water circulation through the heat exchanger, causing a rapid rise in temperature that could damage the unit. The most common reasons are a failing or jammed central heating pump that isn't pushing water fast enough, or a blockage caused by a build-up of sludge and debris in the pipework.

This issue is more frequent in autumn when the heating is turned back on after the summer, as the pump can seize or 'stick' during long periods of inactivity.

Engineer required

This is a high severity fault. Stop using the boiler and call a Gas Safe registered engineer. Do not attempt gas-related repairs yourself.

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