Here are some ways of identifying, as the homeowner, if you have a problem with the geyser.
Dripping overflows.
Your geyser has three overflow pipes, that can be identified on the side of or at the back of the house. You will notice you should have 1 large pipe and 2 smaller sized pipes that have been brought to atmosphere. If you have no overflows or less than three, please contact Trojan Plumbing for an assessment and one of our maintenance plumbers can make sure your geyser set up is up to standard in Cape Town and all of South Africa.
The set up is:
- 15mm plastic pipe – cold water relief valve(Orange plastic pipe) – normal if it drips every now and then approximately 2.5 liters a day. Once you have a steady drip, then the pressure control valve will need to be replaced.
- 22mm copper pipe – hot water relief valve(must be copper) – Minimal drips are fine. Steady amounts of dripping means water is over heating, tempering valve and thermostat will need to be replaced. Please contact Trojan Plumbing PTY to conduct a geyser service. This service should happen every 2 years.
- 40mm / 50mm Black plastic pipe – drip tray overflow pipe – Any water coming out of this pipe at all means leaking or burst geyser and we would advise on calling Trojan PLumbing PTY immediately.
Geysers are one of those household appliances where it is better to have a qualified plumber attend to any dripping overflow problems than trying to sort it out yourself.
The obvious reason for this would be the safety concerns relating to the geyser. Removing the wrong parts or trying to modify geyser components could not only be a dangerous but could also have an impact on your homeowner’s insurance.
Overheating hot water or no hot water
Ever wondered how the geyser makes the water hot? Unless you have a heat pump or solar panels working with the geyser, your geyser uses a Thermostat. The thermostat draws 2 to 4 KW of electricity (Depending on size of geyser) and uses that power to heat up an element which in turn heats up the water. The thermostat turns on and off as it needs to heat the the water but due to “wear and tear” the thermostat will malfunction and do one of two things –
- Overheat the water and make it boil in the geyser, by staying permanently on. You will notice a spike in electricity usage and water or steam will start to come out the 22mm copper overflow pipe. If this happens it can be very serious, the geyser will burst eventually, either way it’s very important to call Trojan Plumbing PTY LTD immediately 0873573461.
- No hot water, the thermostat has completely stopped working and will needs to be replaced. It is also important to note that the cause of no hot water can be an electrical problem e.g Breaker is faulty on Distribution board or a loose wire.
Water on the ceiling
If you hear water dripping on the ceiling or see wet marks, this is a sign that you geyser could also be leaking from one of the water lines, vacuum breakers, valves or the geyser is in fact burst. This would also be a good indicator to call a professional from Trojan Plumbing PTY LTD – 0873573461. While you wait turn off the power to the geyser, isolate all water and drain all the hot taps
Poor water pressure
When you have poor hot water pressure, you may not get as much hot water supply into your tub, your shower, or in any other areas around your home. This happens if some of your pipes are blocked or dirty, or if you have older geyser systems.
None of these common geyser problems are welcome in any home, so make sure you ask your plumber if your system is updated and maintained enough for you to avoid these. In the event that they become unavoidable, always have your plumber’s number within reach and ask for their help right away.
