Let’s deal with ‘going wrong’ first. For many people, this conjures an image of a burst geyser with water cascading through the ceiling and damaging your exquisite new Persian rug. But that’s a worst-case scenario, as a correctly installed geyser should have a drip tray and exterior overflow pipe to minimise any water damage.

The team at Randburg-based Under Pressure Plumbing advises that water coming from a geyser could merely indicate a leaking drain cock or a damaged flange, which are less serious and less expensive to rectify. If the geyser has burst, then there’s no way to repair it and you’ll need a new one. In many instances, your home (or the complex’s) insurance policy will cover the cost of geyser replacement and/or repairing the resultant damage. But if the cause is deemed to be normal wear and tear, then you may not be covered. Outsurance, for instance, requires you to have optional cover against damage caused by wear and tear.

How do you reduce the likelihood of wear-and-tear damage? Outsurance’s experts suggest servicing your geyser every three to four years if you live in an area where the water supply is of good quality. If the water supply is of bad quality, or where the water is defined as hard, you may want to have your geyser checked every second year.

 “A regular service usually entails the draining of the geyser; checking on the level of degradation of the anode, and checking the element and thermostat. The plumber will need to replace the thermostat if there’s any excessive limescale build-up on the element. He will also need to remove any limescale and sludge from the tank and check the entire unit for leaks,” says Outsurance.

The other concern with geysers is how much power they use – according to Eskom, geysers consume the most electricity in the home.

The simplest tip is to turn off the geyser when you don’t need hot water – for example, during the day when everyone is at work. Under normal circumstances, a geyser’s thermostat will switch on the element to reheat the water 15 to 30 times per day, which is an expensive and pointless exercise. Typically, the water will remain relatively warm even if the geyser is off. So, when you get home, switch the geyser on immediately and within an hour or so you’ll have piping hot water available.

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