Flooding

If your home is flooded the electricity to the property should be isolated immediately, this would turn off the boiler. Once any flooding has subsided, the complete electrical installation should be checked by a competent electrician, and the boiler isolated until it is checked by a Gas Safe/ OFTEC / HETAS registered service engineer.

If the boiler has come into contact with floodwater it must be checked by a Gas Safe / OFTEC / HETAS registered service engineer. If any electrical components within the boiler have been submerged, they will probably need replacing. Any insulation for the combustion chamber should be checked and replaced if damaged.

No, as long as the heating system has no leaks and system pressure is around 1 bar (sealed systems only), the boiler should work normally. However, if when reconnected the mains water is very dirty, the boiler’s built-in filter may require cleaning by a service engineer. The chances of dirty water reaching your boiler can be reduced by running the first cold water tap in the property (usually in the kitchen), until it runs clear.

Any septic tanks or non-mains drainage systems will need to be checked by a qualified plumbing engineer to ensure they have not been damaged.

We recommend that your plumbing system is flushed out to eradicate any debris and possible contaminants. If you are concerned that there has been further contamination of your system, those competent to do so should disinfect the system. If, after flushing, you still have concerns regarding the colour of the water coming out of the tap (for instance, it is a milky colour) this is probably due to turbulence in the water mains causing aeration of the water. Leave the water to settle in a glass, and it should clear after few seconds.

We recommend that you always boil any open stored water prior to consumption. Preferable is storing water in a clean sterile container with a close-fitting lid (not airtight but excludes light) and is made from a material that will not contaminate the water itself. It could last for several days if kept cool.

It may be worth considering conserving any stored water and flush WCs by utilising the floodwater or rainwater, using a suitable container. If handling floodwater, always use waterproof gloves - water will be contaminated, meaning contact with any cuts or grazes can put you at considerable risk. Keep any stored floodwater out of reach of children.

If you have any concerns over the quality of the water coming from the mains you should not use a dishwasher.