Geyser Maintenance is vital for a safe home

While many homeowners long for a water feature in their abode, one fervently hopes that the geyser installed over the bath, under the staircase or in the ceiling will not ultimately fulfil this role.

It has been said that the energy contained within an overheated geyser can be the equivalent of half a kilogram of TNT.

As such, Bradley Du Chenne, spokesperson for Dial Direct Insurance, has the following advice on geyser safety.

“Geysers can be extremely dangerous if not installed properly. A burst geyser can lead to tremendous damage and loss of property, and obviously, massive insurance claims. In fact, Dial Direct Insurance manages a large number of geyser-related claims every year as a result of bursting or overflowing geysers,” remarks Du Chenne.

Du Chenne says that the major problem is that individuals are largely not aware that their geysers are faulty before it’s too late and the damage has been done.

He says that homeowners need not feel helpless when it comes to managing one’s geyser effectively.

“Always ensure that the geyser’s thermostat is functioning. If the temperature of the water soars above 70°C, the pressure within the geyser increases until the safety valve releases. If the safety and pressure valves fail to release, the pressure builds until the tank ruptures,” advises Du Chenne.

The experiences of a number of plumbers in the country have shown that more than half of geysers have not been installed to industry standards, with around 10% of those considered ‘extremely dangerous’. As a homeowner, it is prudent and practical to have an expert check the state of your geyser fairly regularly.

“Another tip to consider is when leaving your home for a holiday or business trip, remember to switch off your geyser. This has the two-fold benefit of preventing any possible flooding mishaps as well as lowering your electricity bill. In addition, it is advisable to switch off geysers when water services are interrupted as the heating element may burn out if the geyser runs empty,” says Du Chenne

Plumbing regulations for new or replacement geyser installations state that it is compulsory for every geyser to have a safety tray installed under the geyser. It is stipulated that the size of the safety tray be determined by the size of the geyser. The regulations further state that this safety tray be large enough to catch any leaks that might arise for any of the geyser’s valves and fittings.

“Go check your geyser as soon as possible to see if it meets specifications. Then ensure that you have adequate buildings insurance in place, and remember, the choice is yours who to ensure your home with, not the bank who your bond is with,” Du Chenne advises.

Spending that tiny bit of extra time checking that your geyser is in perfect working order means that the potential financial saving on not having to replace goods ruined in the event of a burst geyser can be used for something you really want … like that water feature!