Have you just stopped using your washing machine's old hot water tap? Risk accessment

That’s a very worthwhile point to raise. When a washing machine is changed from hot and cold fill to cold-fill only, the old hot supply can end up as a “dead leg” if it’s simply left connected and never used. Stagnant warm water is exactly the sort of condition that can increase Legionella risk, even if the overall risk in a domestic property is usually low.

A few sensible checks are:

1. Identify what was left in place If the old hot tap still feeds a short branch from the main hot pipework and is never opened, that’s the part of concern.

2. Don’t assume “turned off” removes the risk Closing the tap or valve doesn’t necessarily eliminate stagnant water in the pipe leading to it.

3. Check how the pipework has been altered The best solution is usually to remove or shorten the redundant branch as close to the main run as possible, rather than just capping it at the tap end.

4. Consider usage and household vulnerability Risk is more important where there are elderly, immunocompromised, or otherwise vulnerable people in the home.

5. Get plumbing advice if unsure This is really a plumbing/water hygiene issue rather than a washing machine fault, so a competent plumber is the right person to assess and alter the pipework properly.

As a general safety reminder, isolate any appliance from the mains before inspecting internal parts, and use a qualified engineer for any mains, gas, or sealed refrigeration work. In this case, for pipework changes, use a competent plumber.

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