Vaillant Ecotec Exclusive 832 - error messages S54 and F20

TomsMom

I have a 10 year old Vaillant Ecotec 832 and for the past few weeks have been getting error message:
S54 - Water Deficiency - Waiting Time.

I lose the hot water and have to wait about 15 minutes for it to come back on. It's random and happens maybe twice a day.

I have now started to lose hot water and central heating and get error message:
F20 - Safety temperature limiter actuated (Flow probe not connected thermally correct or defective, appliance does not shut down)

I live in a fairly rural area and use the best plumber/gas engineer round here but being the best he is extremely busy and although he comes out and promises to ring Vaillant for help it's taking far too long. I wouldn't bother with any of the others locally, they're just not worth it.

Does anyone know if this is something that can be repaired or am I looking at a new boiler? I'd probably get a new boiler fitted quicker than a repair!

As a pensioner with health issues I'd like to get this sorted before the weather gets any worse.

hollie.weimeraner

Vaillant fault codes

https://vaillantgroup.intelliresponse.com/public/?interfaceID=2&requestType=NormalRequest&source=3&id=3980&sessionId=235c7216-4bdc-11e9-b282-2d423204323f&question=Vaillant+Fault+Codes

F.20
Safety switch-off: Temperature limiter: Incorrect earth connection between cable harness and product, flow or return NTC defective (loose connection), black discharge via ignition cable, ignition plug or ignition electrode

The S54 is a status code not a fault code, quick search shows

https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/vaillant-status-code-s-54.182333/

TomsMom

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

Vaillant fault codes

https://vaillantgroup.intelliresponse.com/public/?interfaceID=2&requestType=NormalRequest&source=3&id=3980&sessionId=235c7216-4bdc-11e9-b282-2d423204323f&question=Vaillant+Fault+Codes

F.20
Safety switch-off: Temperature limiter: Incorrect earth connection between cable harness and product, flow or return NTC defective (loose connection), black discharge via ignition cable, ignition plug or ignition electrode

The S54 is a status code not a fault code, quick search shows

https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/vaillant-status-code-s-54.182333/

Thanks for your reply although I already knew what the codes meant as I quoted them from instruction book I have and I'd seen the question about S54 on the DIYnot forum.

There must be something wrong for the S54 to suddenly start becoming a problem multiple times every day when it has never happened before and for the F20 to have started happening now. So I was hoping someone might have an answer as to whether it was repairable or not.

hollie.weimeraner

TomsMom wrote: »

Thanks for your reply although I already knew what the codes meant as I quoted them from instruction book I have and I'd seen the question about S54 on the DIYnot forum.

There must be something wrong for the S54 to suddenly start becoming a problem multiple times every day when it has never happened before and for the F20 to have started happening now. So I was hoping someone might have an answer as to whether it was repairable or not.

Both codes show a common issue relating to flow so it could be that. I would suggest the only way you'll find out is by getting an engineer to visit.

I do believe that Vaillant boilers are quite easy to repair depending on the issues (according to my brother who's a BG engineer) which was one of the reasons I chose them when I had one fitted. So fingers crossed for you

TomsMom

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

I would suggest the only way you'll find out is by getting an engineer to visit.

That's the problem. I use the best in the area, the only one worth using, and he is so busy that he makes promises he doesn't keep. I've used Vaillant's site to look for an engineer and they have none in my area - neither installers nor for repair. It's so frustrating. I'm sure if I rang anyone to insall a new boiler I'd have one in by next week, but there'd be no aftercare service because none of them are any good for repairs other than the one I use (when I manage to get him to come).

pimento

British Gas will come for a call out fee.

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/home-services/boilers-and-heating/boiler-and-heating-repair.html

TomsMom

pimento wrote: »

British Gas will come for a call out fee.

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/home-services/boilers-and-heating/boiler-and-heating-repair.html

Yes but unfortunately it's very hit and miss with BG. You may get a really good engineer but I've heard too many reports of them condemning a boiler and fitting a new one when a repair would have been possible. It happened to a friend near where I live, she'd had a local chap out, took months for him to try and find the cause of the problem, my gas engineer telling him it was a sensor but other chap ignored him and ended up with my friend paying him off for his "months of trying to find the problem" and she ended up going to BG. BG didn't find the cause (not sure they even looked) and she ended up paying thousands for a new boiler and rerouting pipework to her 4 storey 200 year old house. Sort of puts you off for life!

pimento

I suppose it depends how cold you are.

TomsMom

pimento wrote: »

I suppose it depends how cold you are.

I'm not at the moment. I can keep resetting it and everything comes back on for now, I've no idea how long that will last. But when you have a fault that turns everything off multiple times a day then it gets frustrating trying to get an answer whether it's repairable or the boiler needs replacing.