High
S.53 on Vaillant ecoTEC Pro 28

Your boiler has temporarily paused because water is not moving through the system fast enough to take the heat away 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

Waiting time: Water shortage. The product is within the waiting period of the modulation block/operating block function as a result of a water deficiency (flow/return spread too large).

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 sensors detect that the heat is and building up too quickly because the water isn't flowing away fast enough. The most common reason is a blockage in the system or a failing pump that is struggling to push the water around your radiators. It can also be triggered if there is too much air trapped in the pipework or if your heating valves are bumped shut.

This issue often surfaces in autumn when the heating is turned back on for the first time, as internal pump parts may have seized or sludge has settled during the summer months.

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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