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Pausito · smart living

Water

What do I do with water and heating after a holiday?

Short answer

Flush all taps and showers for a few minutes, with the shower head in a bucket of water to avoid spray.

Explanation

In pipes that stand still for weeks, water can become lukewarm and bacteria can grow. Flushing replaces that water. Before leaving, turn the thermostat down, but not too low with a heat pump.

Rules of thumb

  • Flush all taps for a few minutes; shower head under water in a bucket. [SW-S32]
  • While away (gas boiler): thermostat at 10 °C. [SW-S44]
  • While away (heat pump): thermostat at 15 °C, radiator valves open. [SW-S45]

Pitfalls

  • Taking a long hot shower straight after the holiday without flushing first increases the risk of inhaling bacteria. [SW-S32]

Search terms

These search terms are in Dutch; only terms that also find a topic in English are links.

vakantie afwezigheid legionella thermostaat

Read also

General information, not personal advice. Check the source and reference date.

Sources

  1. SW-S32 Legionella bij je thuis — Departement Zorg (Vlaanderen) (Reference date 2026-09-27)
  2. SW-S44 Bespaartips verwarming — Milieu Centraal (Reference date 2026-09-27)
  3. SW-S45 Slim verwarmen met een warmtepomp — Milieu Centraal (Reference date 2026-09-27)

Reference date: 2026-09-27 · Translated with AI from the Dutch original.