Winter is a time for cold snaps, occasional power failures and a seasonal increase in the incidence of household geyser problems.
Homeowners are well advised to step up their “geyser guard” at this time of year. Water damage following a geyser burst can cost more than a new geyser and its installation, not to mention the inconvenience the homeowner has to endure during the replacement and repair process.
The typical geyser installation is on the roof trusses above the ceiling. In the event of a burst, water can pour down the ceilings, affecting light fittings, walls and furniture and furnishings in the room below.
Short-term insurer Mutual & Federal has experienced many claims over the decades as a result of a burst geyser and has some handy tips to make sure your geyser won’t burst with the first cold snap:
Take a proactive approach, if possible, by consulting a plumber and instituting a preventative maintenance programme to protect the geyser and geyser valve. Timely anode replacement and a regular geyser-valve clean-up can save countless problems.
Have your geyser and pipes insulated, as well as the ceiling.
If you decide against calling in a plumber to implement a maintenance programme, then be on guard for early signs of a geyser problem.
Urgent action is needed if you hear a rumbling from the ceiling. This could be a signal that water in the geyser has begun to boil. Alternatively, steam may gush out when you open your hot-water taps.
If these danger signals occur, switch off the geyser electrical isolator on the main distribution board.
Now turn off the water at the main meter box. Most homes have a stopcock fitted to the inlet side of the geyser.
If possible, look to see whether the geyser, the pressure-reducing valve or the pipes are leaking. This helps the plumber identify the problem.
Call your insurer’s helpline service and ask for the name of the nearest reliable plumber.
If a replacement geyser has to be fitted, it may also be advisable to fit a drip tray beneath the geyser. The tray’s outlet pipe will carry away a lot of the water in the event of a geyser burst at some stage in the future.