Your boiler is currently preparing to fire up the burners to heat your water or radiators after a brief pause.
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.
Technical description: Ignition sequence (warm start)
What causes this fault?
This is a normal part of your boiler's operating cycle rather than a mechanical failure. It occurs when the boiler has briefly paused because it reached the desired temperature and is now re-engaging the ignition process to maintain the heat for your home. The 'S' prefix indicates a status message, meaning the system is simply telling you what it is doing at that moment.
DIY fix possible
This fault may be fixable without an engineer. Check your manual first.
Find a Gas Safe engineer
Search the official register for a qualified engineer in your area.
Gas Safe Register →Protect yourself from future repair bills
A boiler cover plan would cover faults like S.23 — no call-out fees, no surprises.
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Vaillant Ecomax 613 2 E is discontinued — time for a new one?
Parts for discontinued models can be hard to find and expensive. A new A-rated boiler could save you money on both repairs and energy bills.
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.