>GEYSERS AND GEYSER REPLACEMENTS
Geyser fault enquiries and burst geysers are so common that we have built a seperate page just for them. The average domestic geyser available on the South African market is of a very poor build quality with 5-10 year warranty being the norm. In other parts of the world, geysers are built to last and warranties of 25 years are not uncommon. A study concluded that around 50% of the geysers bought in South Africa are replacement geysers purchased through insurance companies.
Geyser insurance claims account for the majority of claims made by home owners. It is a good idea to know what you are entitled to in the event of a geyser failure. Policys vary but some are quite generous and allow the policy holder to claim for a certain cost of plumbing labour in a calender year. Some allow any plumber to carry out the work while others insist that only plumbers affiliated to them are used. Enquire about your claim excess and payment procedure
Shut off the mains water and call us.
If the geyser is under 10 years old then it might still be under the manufacturers warranty. Most geysers manufacturers offer between five and ten years cover.
If the geyser has burst then a replacement is required. There are other parts that may have failed though and before the insurance company is called, you want to make sure that it is burst. If you are fairly certain that it has burst then shutting off the water and notifying your insurance company is advisable. At the moment, the majority of insurance providers allow any plumbing company to carry out the work but they may require a written quote to ensure that the amount to be charged falls within the amount covered by the policy.
Which insurance companies do you work for?
A small number of insurance companies will only use plumbers accredited to them. We are not linked to one insurance company. This ensures we carry out work in the best interests of the home/ business owner as our client and not the insurance company. A written quote is usually sufficient for work to commence.
How long does it take to replace a geyser?
It normally takes 2-4 hrs but can take longer depending on the position and installation of the existing geyser.
What warranty do you provide?
We cover all work for 1 year. Depending on the new geyser, the manufacturer will offer a product warranty. If there is a problem with the geyser within the manufacturers warranty period, they will attend and replace the geyser.
What if my existing installation does not conform to code?
We will bring this to your attention asap and discuss remedial action prior to undertaking the additional work.
What if you have to damage the ceiling?
Occasionally we find that the builders have not considered the geyser position when finishing the ceiling works. This creates a problem when the geyser needs to be replaced. We will try our best to accomodate the problem but at times we are required to create a larger access point in the roof or ceiling.
Are you insured?
We have public liability cover and accidental workmanship cover.
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If the geyser is in your loft then the only sign that there might be a fault is the 3 pipes protruding from the roof or below the gutter adjacent to the geyser position. There are commonly 3 pipes which range in size from (A) 40mm drip tray pipe, (B) 22mm TP Relief pipe and (C) 15mm Expansion Relief pipe. If you only have two (or one) of the 3 pipes visible then the installer has terminated the other pipes somewhere else or they may have connected the pipes within the ceiling space. If all three are visible then diagnosis can be done without climbing into the loft.
If water is dripping from:
A - Water has landed in the drip tray. Your geyser has burst or a fitting such as a vacuum breaker or the element is damaged and the drip tray is catching the leak.
B - This pipe runs from the Temperature/Pressure relief valve on the geyser. If the temperature is over 95 degrees celcius or the pressure in the geyser is greater than that allowed by the manufacturer then this valve will let water out until the fault condition ceases. It will be the result of a condition such as a faulty thermostat or PRV. Further action is required if the problem persists.
C - This pipe directs water from the Expansion Relief Valve. When cold water is heated, it expands and this 'extra' water is directed out of the property. It is important that this pipe is not positioned in such a way that it can't be monitored. Continuous dripping means a fault and further atention is required.
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For cost savings, set your geyser to 55° celcius, fit a geyser timer and geyser blanket and turn off you geyser when you go on holiday.
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Ensure all the safety pipe-work and geyser drip-tray are in good condition. It is a matter of "when" not "if" the geyser bursts.
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If your geyser is mounted vertically, consider a bi-annual service to clean out the silt that collects in the geyser. It will be sitting against the thermostat and making the geyser less efficient.
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Consider mounting the geyser outside and ask your insurance company to reconsider your premiums as there is less risk of damage to the property.
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Know where your shut off valve is and periodically check that it is working.
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Shut off the water when going on holiday. (unless you have a solar system)