High
F.72 on Vaillant ecoTEC Pro 24

Your boiler has detected that the two pipes measuring temperature are giving very different readings, which usually means a sensor is failing or there is a blockage in the system.

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

Fault: Flow/return sensor - Temperature difference between flow and return temperature sensor is too great

Shared across the range
This code is shared by the boilers in this range, which use the same control board. It may not be printed in this exact variant’s manual.
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 computer notices that the flow and return pipes have wildly different temperatures, which shouldn't happen during normal operation. The most common reason is that one of the temperature sensors has become faulty or uncalibrated, though it can also be caused by a physical blockage or a pump failure preventing water from circulating correctly.

This fault often surfaces when the heating is first turned on after summer, as internal components like the pump can seize or debris can settle 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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