High
F3 on Viessmann Vitodens 050-W

Your boiler is detecting a flame when there shouldn't be one, so it has shut down for safety purposes to prevent a malfunction.

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

Burner in fault position. Flame signal is already present at burner start. Check the ionisation electrode and lead.

From this model's manual
Verified against the Viessmann Vitodens 050 W Bpjd installation & service manual, page 53.
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 sensors detect a flame signal before the ignition sequence has even started. The most common reason is a build-up of carbon or moisture on the sensing probe which sends a false electrical signal to the control board, or a faulty internal component that incorrectly thinks the gas is already burning.

This issue is more frequent during periods of high humidity or heavy rain, as moisture ingress can affect the electrical signals on the ignition leads.

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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