When parts of your hot water system sit unused during the colder months, the water within them can cool and stagnate. This creates a more favourable environment for harmful bacteria, including Legionella, to multiply. The good news is that with a consistent routine of planned flushing, temperature checks, and simple documentation, homeowners can dramatically lower the risk. Whether you live in Bordon, Whitehill, Liphook, Alton, Farnham, or anywhere across the GU35, GU34, or GU9 areas, these steps can help keep your home’s hot water safe all winter long.
Quick checks you can do now
Before setting up a full routine, a few fast actions can drastically reduce bacterial risk in dormant pipes and outlets.
- Run any unused taps or showers for 2–3 minutes on hot until the water reaches its usual temperature.
- Ensure your hot water cylinder is reaching at least 60°C.
- If you have mixer taps, run the hot side individually where possible.
- Note down any taps or outlets you seldom use.
Why legionella flushing checks matter
Legionella bacteria thrive in lukewarm, unused water systems. Winter makes this more likely because spare rooms, outbuildings, guest bathrooms, and external circuits are used less often. By carrying out regular legionella flushing checks, you keep water moving, maintain safe temperatures, and prevent stagnation. This reduces the chance of bacteria multiplying to levels that could cause illness.
Homes in areas like Bordon or Alton, where some properties have extensions, garages, or seasonal garden buildings, can particularly benefit from a reliable flushing schedule.
Identify underused outlets and circuits
The first step is working out where water may be sitting still for too long. Most homes have at least one area that doesn’t see daily use. Make a simple map or list of your system, focusing on:
- Guest bathrooms or spare ensuite showers
- Utility sinks or garages with hot water feeds
- Loft rooms, garden studios, and annexes
- Any long pipe runs that feed remote taps
If you live in Whitehill, Farnham, or Liphook, for instance, many older houses and renovated properties have tucked-away taps or old circuits that rarely see daily flow.
Setting up a winter flushing routine
Once you know which outlets are dormant, you can build a routine that is easy to follow and works around your week. Your aim is to keep water circulating and ensure temperatures hit levels that inhibit bacterial growth.
Below is a straightforward, homeowner-friendly approach:
- Weekly flushing: Run all underused hot taps and showers for 2–5 minutes. You should run them until the water reaches its usual operating temperature.
- Hot water cylinder check: Ensure your cylinder thermostat is set to at least 60°C. This temperature helps control bacterial growth inside the tank.
- Thermostatic mixer valves (TMVs): If you have these fitted, they may reduce the outlet temperature. Flush for slightly longer to ensure the upstream pipework reaches full temperature.
- Showerheads: Once a month, remove and descale them. This reduces limescale build-up, which can harbour bacteria.
How to carry out a proper flush step by step
Flushing is simple once you know the order and timings. This method works for most typical domestic homes across GU35 and surrounding areas.
- Open the hot tap fully and allow it to run.
- Let it continue until the water stops increasing in temperature.
- For showers, set to hot only if possible and run for a full 2–5 minutes.
- Do not spray aerosols of water close to your face. Aim the showerhead at the floor while it flushes.
- Repeat for each outlet on your underused list.
Most households find that a full flush takes no more than 10–20 minutes per week.
Documenting your flushing routine
Documentation sounds formal, but a simple log helps you stay consistent. It also gives you something to refer back to if you ever need to check when an outlet was last flushed. A household with spare bathrooms or outbuildings will particularly benefit.
Your log can be a note on your phone, a printed checklist pinned inside a cupboard, or a simple spreadsheet. Include the outlet name, the date you flushed it, and whether it reached full temperature.
Here is a simple checklist format you can copy:
- Outlet name
- Last flushed date
- Temperature reached?
- Any issues noticed?
What to do if an outlet never heats properly
If a tap or shower never reaches hot temperature even after extended flushing, there may be a circulation issue, a faulty valve, or an obstruction. Homes in older areas such as Farnham or Alton occasionally have legacy pipework that may need upgrading to keep water moving effectively.
In these cases:
- Check the boiler and cylinder are working correctly.
- Make sure isolation valves on the pipework are fully open.
- Inspect for visible leaks or signs of stagnation.
- If in doubt, ask a qualified heating engineer to investigate.
Keeping your hot water safe all winter
Regular legionella flushing checks keep water fresh, hot, and moving. A consistent weekly routine, a simple log, and awareness of underused areas are usually enough to keep winter-dormant systems safe in any home. Whether you are in Bordon, Whitehill, or nearby towns, these steps can help keep your system performing reliably through the colder season.
Next steps: If you’d like a professional review of your hot water system or help setting up a flushing schedule, contact us at (01420) 558993.