To reduce the risk of
Descaling, cleaning and disinfecting shower heads is a necessity. The potential build-up of scale and biofilm will not only restrict the flow of the shower head but could lead to the growth of Legionella bacteria.
Use the steps below to clean your shower head at least once every 3 months to help prevent infections.
Photo: via Unsplash. Could bacteria in your shower make you sick? New research led by the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS) finds that a cousin of the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, called nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), can be found in the aerosol spray from your showerhead.
When it comes to maintaining a clean and functional bathroom, many homeowners tend to overlook the importance of regularly cleaning their shower heads. However, neglecting this essential task can lead to many problems, including reduced water pressure, clogged nozzles, and even the buildup of harmful bacteria.
When you first move into your home, run the bath and hand basin taps continuously for at least five minutes. This will flush through any bacteria. If your shower has not been used for a week or more, run water from both hot and cold supplies through the shower hose and showerhead for two minutes.
Legionnaires' disease, the pneumonic form, has an incubation period of 2 to 10 days (but up to 16 days has been recorded in some outbreaks). Initially, symptoms are fever, loss of appetite, headache, malaise and lethargy. Some patients may also have muscle pain, diarrhoea and confusion.
Stagnant water favours legionella growth. To reduce the risk you should remove dead legs/dead ends in pipe-work, flush out infrequently used outlets (including showerheads and taps) at least weekly and clean and de-scale shower heads and hoses at least quarterly.
Faucets and Showerheads
Kitchen and bathroom fixtures have varying lifespans depending on their quality and usage: Kitchen faucets: 15-20 years. Bathroom faucets: 15-20 years. Showerheads: 10-15 years.
White vinegar is fantastic for cleaning shower heads. The acetic acid in the vinegar breaks down many mineral deposits, including rust and limescale. If you have a fixed shower head, fill a plastic bag with vinegar and tie the bag over the shower head. Leave the vinegar to soak for a few hours, preferably overnight.
A quick summary: they all suggest that the shower needs a little daily TLC and a good cleaning once a week.
To reduce the risk of Legionella growth the HSE recommends the cleaning and descaling of shower heads and hoses at least every 3 months, which is why it is important to understand how to clean shower heads effectively and thoroughly.
Aside from manganese bacteria, rubber seals in your water heater and corroded pipes can also cause black gunk on your fixtures. There's also a slight chance you're seeing mold, though this is rarely the case. Mold typically grows in dark, damp places with little water movement.
Simply hold the can upright 6-8 inches away from the surface and spray for 6 seconds until covered with mist, and this should do the job. Please note: Always use Lysol® products as directed on label.
More illness is usually found in the summer and early fall, but it can happen any time of year.
Testing or monitoring legionella in your water system
Water samples should be tested by a UKAS-accredited laboratory that takes part in a water microbiology proficiency testing scheme such as that run by the UK Health Security Agency.
How you get Legionnaires' disease. You can get Legionnaires' disease if you breathe in tiny droplets of water containing bacteria that cause the infection. It's usually caught in places like hotels, hospitals or offices where the bacteria have got into the water supply. It's less common to catch it at home.
If you're not cleaning your shower head regularly, it's highly likely you've got a case of calcium, hard water, and moldy buildup, which eventually leads to clogged nozzles, a decrease in water pressure, or worse, damage to your hair.
Temperature Control: Ensure your water heater is set to a temperature above 60°C. Legionella bacteria thrive in temperatures between 20°C and 45°C, so maintaining higher temperatures can help prevent their growth.
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) is a bacteria that occurs naturally in water and soil but has also found its way into plenty of showerheads. While many of NTM's 150+ species are completely harmless, others can cause severe lung infections, particularly in people who have a weakened immune system.
If you don't mind removing the head from the shower pipe, you can submerge the shower head in a container full of white vinegar. - Let the shower head soak in the vinegar for a few hours. - Re-attach the shower head to the shower pipe and run water through the head for a few minutes to clear out the vinegar.
Here are some things to do if you have a bathroom that does not get used that often: The main thing is to run water in the sink, shower and flush the toilet at least once a week. This will keep the traps full. A trap that has evaporated will let sewer gas into your home causing odor.