CH filling loop, disconnect or leave?

matty_hunt

HI. After having a new boiler installed I noticed that the filling loop was connected at both ends (with isolation valves, as is standard). Ive had a look at several friends boilers and they are all connected. I thought the whole reason its a flexible hose is it can be disconnected easily, for prevention of legionella contamination back to the mains supply. I am aware that landlords now have to do a legionella risk assessment on residential property, which is no different to my own home, so am I right in thinking that despite the isolation valves, the filling loop MUST be detached?
Thanks

System

No it doesn't have to be. The filling loop is on the central heating system. If you have a system where the pressure in the CH system is great enough to feed water back to the mains supply then Legionella is the least of your worries.

matty_hunt

!!!!!! wrote: »

No it doesn't have to be.

Thanks. So, basically youre saying even from the view point of the HSE for a risk assessment for legionella bacteria leaving it connected would be fine.

societys_child

Is there a non return valve or check valve fitted along with the isolators?

Looks something like this

Mine has, so I have no worries about water being dragged back into the drinking water should there be disruption to the water supply (which happens too often around here)

alan.t

leave it connected. if anything does fail with check valves etc, you will have water all over your walls/floor etc (chance is minimal), but no reason to disconnect it whatsoever

phill99

For years and years homeowners have gone about their daily business without worrying about legionella. There have been no reported deaths by people contracting the disease in their homes.

HSE get involved and say all landlords have to do risk assessments and now homeowners are panicing too.

You will not die of legionella by having a filling loop CORRECTLY fitted.

matty_hunt

societys_child wrote: »

Is there a non return valve or check valve fitted along with the isolators?

Thanks for the reply. No other valves but the isolation valves, which are these.http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p67155

Thanks everyone else for replying. Looks like I'll be leaving it and forgetting about it!
Cheers.

southcoastrgi

having the filling loop connected has nothing whatsoever to do with legionella, it's to prevent contamination of the mains water should the pressure in your heating system drop to less than that of the incoming mains & the failure of the double check valve, water regs state the hose should be disconnected however i always leave them connected