What’s the risk of legionella in holiday lets, Winter off-season

December is upon us once again! The days are getting colder, the nights are getting longer, and festive spirit is in the air; so why on earth are we talking about summer holiday lets at a time like this?

 

It’s because the winter off-season presents a significant risk to vacant holiday lets; one that can go undetected until the summer season comes around again…

What’s the problem?

During the summer months when your holiday let is occupied by guests, the hot and cold water systems are routinely in use.

Storage tanks and pipes are regularly being flushed through, so the water inside them doesn’t get a chance to stagnate.

During the off-season, though, your water systems can go unused for months on end; and any water left inside the tanks and pipework can become a breeding ground for all kinds of nasty pathogens; including our old adversary, legionella bacteria.

Left to grow until the summer, these bacteria can spread potentially deadly infection amongst your guests.

Legionella bacteria can spread through items such as shower heads, lawn sprinklers, air conditioning systems, and hot tubs and swimming pools; the latter being particularly common in holiday accommodation settings.