Spring has finally sprung, which means warmer weather, budding flowers and spring cleaning. It’s also a great time to carry-out maintenance on your water and heating systems. Here’s some expert advice on how to carry out that spring clean treatment:

 
Clean out your heating system
Over the winter months your heating system will probably have been working overtime so now that the weather is getting warmer and your heating system is not being used as frequently, this is a good time to undertake maintenance on your heating system.

Cleaning your central heating system is integral to its health as well as your own. Many of us have heating systems that aren’t working as well as they should without even knowing it. This can be due to poor water management, which can lead to the growth of microorganisms which can cause problems such as system blockages and damage to pipework. Cleaning out your system will improve efficiency and save you money, ready for when the cold weather comes back around.

Maintain your water tank
Water tanks are a central component of any water system so making sure they are well maintained is important. Regular cleaning and chlorination are the most straightforward methods of maintaining a water tank and shouldn’t be forgotten from your spring clean regime.

Sometimes the inside of water tanks can harbour layers of bio-film containing bacteria such as Legionella. If this is the case the tank should be drained and cleaned thoroughly by physically disinfecting and scrubbing all tank surfaces.

Legionella Testing
There may be a number of areas that present a high risk for Legionella in your property without you even knowing it. Legionella can be harmful and is best avoided by ensuring that your water system is clean and hygienic. When testing your water system for traces of Legionella you should first identify areas that are of high risk. Any area where water is lying stagnant can create prime conditions for Legionella growth. Check your system for unused pipes and infrequently used outlets such as showers and taps. Identify any areas where hot or cold water is stored at between 20 and 45 degrees centigrade as this is ambient temperature for bacteria like Legionella to grow, and should be monitored and dealt with accordingly.

Clean out any outdoor water systems such as fountains, sprinklers, hot tubs etc. In these systems water is susceptible to temperature changes due to weather conditions and often water is recirculated without being drained.

If traces of Legionella are detected in your water system our professionally trained engineers are on hand to help you carry out any remedial action and schedule regular checks for the future.