F22 error on Vaillant Ecotec Plus Boiler

[claire_reese]

Hi all,

I have a Vaillant Ecotec Plus 418 boiler (standard boiler, not combi), but as of this morning my heating and hot water has stopped working, and I get the error message F22.

I believe this means the pressure is low and I've looked online, and it suggest I must use valves under the boiler to repressurise. However, my boiler/pipes do not have these valves (as far as I can see).

I've included 4 photos. Photo 1 is the boiler panel, photo 2 is the underneath of the boiler, and photos 3 and 4 are in the airing cupboad.

Can anyone help or suggest anything? Thank you!

 

[oz-plumber]

None of your photos show anywhere where the system pressure can be adjusted. There must be some more pipework nearby

 

[claire_reese]

Hi oz plumber, thanks for your reply. I've looked and followed the pipework and can't see anywhere.

 

[claire_reese]

This is on the other side of the water tank at the bottom, is it anything?

 

[Gasmk1]

if its a sealed system there will be an orange/red coloured vessel with a guage near it and probably a flex hose with one or two taps this is where you need to re-pressurise the system

 

[claire_reese]

Hi Gasmk1, thank you for your reply. I cannot see anything like that. Is it possible it is in the boiler?

 

[Gasmk1]

i think your system is an open vent with the tanks in the loft so no vessel in this case
F 22 is Dry fire

Too little water in the appliance, water pressure sensor defective, cable to pump or water sensor defective, pump blocked or defective, pump output too low

possibly your pump is defective

 

[SimonG]

You got water in the loft tanks?

 

[claire_reese]

Thank you for your replies. Gasmk1 is there a way if I could know for certain that it is an open vent system? And SimonG I've just checked and yes there is water in the loft tanks.

Also just to say the boiler is a standard boiler, not a combi boiler, if that helps.

 

[Gasmk1]

if there is two tanks in the loft then it is open vent and it is more than likely the pump feel it to see if it is hot or vibrating

 

[claire_reese]

Hi Gasmk1, thanks again for your reply. Yes there are two tanks in the loft. The pump is cold and not vibrating, but I guess that is because the heating and hot water are off? Even if try to turn them on, the pump doesn't seem to change.

 

[Gasmk1]

does the valve on the 3 port motor open when calling for heat there is a lever on the side end you cant see this should be loose if its opening

 

[claire_reese]

Hi Gasmk1, not sure which valve you mean. This is the motor.

 

[Harvest Fields]

As above make sure what small tank in the loft has water inside it. Have you bled all rads until water comes out?

 

[claire_reese]

Thank you Harvest Fields for your reply. Both tanks in the loft have water inside. I have just bled all the radiators again until water came out. Sadly, still the same

 

[Gasmk1]

Hi Gasmk1, not sure which valve you mean. This is the motor.

View attachment 35255

No the silver box above the pump on the end you can't see is a lever if the lever is floppy when there is a heat demand its opening and either not making the switch so nothing works but if the lever is stiff and you feel resistance when you push it then the valve is faulty. You will only be able to check properly if there is a demand for heat

 

[claire_reese]

Hi Gasmk1, thank you so much once again for your reply. Ok so this is the valve I take it (picture attached)? I pressed the heating button on the boiler and felt the lever on the back of the valve, and it was not stiff as far as I could tell. I could move it left and right. Which position should it be in?

 

[Gasmk1]

if you have a call for heat then it should just be loose if nothing happening then its most probably the pump but it could be the valve not making its switch. you will need either a gas safe engineer or someone with good electrical knowledge to look at it

 

[claire_reese]

Ok thank you. Also just to say if I turn the electric to the boiler off, and then back on and press the heating button on, the boiler comes on briefly (for 6-8 seconds), it makes noise and the flame is on, but then it goes off and the F22 error comes up. Does this help give any indication as to the source of the problem? Thanks.

 

[Gasmk1]

pump

 

[claire_reese]

Ok thank you Gasmk1. Is there any way I can test/check the pump?

 

[claire_reese]

I switched the electric to the boiler off and removed the screw on the front of the pump (see attached photo). But with a screw driver I couldn't turn the screw inside. Does that mean the pump has seized up? And if so do I need a new pump? Thanks

 

[Gasmk1]

yes its seized try keep turning it to free it up it may work but will need replacing

 

[claire_reese]

Thank you again Gasmk1. I tried again to turn it and free it up but it seems to be stuck/seized up really tight! Won't budge at all.

 

[Last Plumber]

Have you recently had a PCB changed?