Reset button (R, Reset, Restart, circular arrow)
Restarts a boiler that has stopped itself with a fault its maker lets the householder clear, most often a failed ignition. It makes the boiler try again; it does not repair anything.
What the manual says to do
Press it once, the way your manual says: Baxi, press and hold for 5 seconds; Vaillant, press the fault clearance key for one second; Viessmann, press the two named buttons for about 4 seconds; Ideal, press Restart; Worcester Bosch Greenstar 2000, press the up and down arrows together until the fault symbols go out. If the fault comes back, stop and call your installer or engineer.
Only your boiler’s own manual says exactly what a symbol means on your model. The manuals let the householder reset a fault once, top up the pressure through the filling loop and change the settings; anything else on a gas boiler is a job for a qualified heating engineer (Gas Safe registered in the UK), as the manuals themselves say.
What it does not mean
It is not a fix to press again and again: Vaillant says to consult a competent person after three unsuccessful fault-clearance attempts, and Baxi says a fault shown with the spanner cannot be reset by the user. It does not cure low pressure; that needs topping up first.
- What it looks like
- A button marked R, ‘Reset’ or ‘Restart’, a circular arrow, or on some Vaillant models a flame with a line through it. Some boilers have no reset key and use two buttons held together.
- Names used
- Reset button (Baxi); Restart (Ideal); Fault clearance button (Vaillant); Burner reset (Viessmann); Fault reset (Worcester Bosch)
Where makers differ
Baxi labels it ‘Reset’ with an R symbol; Ideal ‘Restart’; Vaillant calls it the fault clearance button, and its advice page says the reset button “will likely show a flame with a line crossed through it”. The Worcester Bosch Greenstar 2000 has no separate reset key. Viessmann shows a ‘burner reset’ symbol.
Other symbols with the same shapes
Sources
No public standard defines this boiler symbol, so its meaning is taken from the manuals of 5 different maker groups (Baxi, Vaillant, Worcester Bosch, Ideal Heating, Viessmann), each fetched and read on the date shown:
- Baxi, Baxi Compact range (quick guide 7849761): Quick start guide to your boiler, 7849761 Baxi Compact quick guide user instructions (PDF) — “Reset button (press and hold for 5 seconds)”; “If a small spanner appears, please contact your Gas Safe registered engineer or Baxi Customer Support”. Checked 2026-09-27.
- Vaillant, ecoTEC plus VU, VUW, VUI ..6/5-5: Operating instructions ecoTEC plus, 0020245033_02 (26.05.2021) GB, IE (PDF) — “After three unsuccessful attempts to ignite the flame, the product switches to fault mode (fault message: F.28). Press the fault clearance key for one second … If you have been unable to eliminate the ignition fault after three fault clearance attempts, consult a competent person.” Checked 2026-09-27.
- Vaillant, Vaillant boilers in general: How to reset a boiler (Vaillant UK advice page) — “The reset button is located on the boiler’s display and will likely show a flame with a line crossed through it. You will only need to press the reset button for three seconds”, and to check the model’s manual. Checked 2026-09-27.
- Worcester Bosch, Greenstar 2000 combi (GR2301iW): Greenstar 2000 user instructions, 6 721 839 343 (2023/04) UK/IE (PDF) — “Some faults lead to a shutdown of the appliance, which only starts again after a reset: Press the up and down arrows simultaneously, until the symbols … are no longer displayed.” Checked 2026-09-27.
- Ideal Heating, Logic Max Combi2 C24, C30, C35: Logic Max Combi2 user guide, UIN 228290 A06 (October 2022) (PDF) — “To restart the boiler, press ‘Restart’. The boiler will repeat the ignition sequence. If the boiler still fails to light consult a Registered Gas Installer.” Checked 2026-09-27.
- Viessmann, Vitodens 100-W/111-W/111-F/141-F (black/white screen): Operating instructions for the system user, 6167584 GB (12/2020) (PDF) — Symbols: “Burner reset”; burner fault: “A fault has caused the burner to lock out. You can reset it … Press … for approx. 4 s … Notify your heating contractor if the fault recurs.” Checked 2026-09-27.
Written in our own words; quotations are the makers’ wording.